| Author | Message | ||
     Sportyeric |
Beginning to install a set of hard bags. First step is to paint them. First step there is to remove the hardware. The hardware is held on by allen-heads that have a pin coming up the centre so that an allen wrench won't go in. Before I try to dremel or drill that pin out, is there an easier way? | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
YEP....GET THE RIGHT TOOL....OR DRILL A HOLE IN A ALLEN KEY TONY | ||
| Smoke |
autozone had a set of those when i needed them. abought7 or 8 of them in a plastic carrying case with a 1/4 inch bit holder. about $9. have fun with the right tool, tim | ||
| Sportyeric |
I guess that's the obvious answer. I was fearing,"That's a special tool available to S2 mechnaics only." Its a dumb ••• design! I gather its to be theft resistant, which would be more sensible if the hinge hardware on the bottom of the bag had the same. Its to deter lazy thiefs who have allen keys with them but not fancy allen keys. | ||
| Sportyeric |
Next: fibre-glass repair. How to fix cracks? Just out-board of the top hardware there are cracks about two inches long. Should I just work some resin into the crack? Or grind it down some and lay a thin mat of glass? If so, on the outside or the inside? The movement of the cracked material suggests that the outer-most surface glass is fractured and the crack sort of hinges on an intact layer at the inside of the lid. | ||
| Rek |
I had to glass the bags on my S3, used roving and fabric and layered it as thick as possible while still allowing clearance for the soft bags. The areas where the hard bags connect to the frame is also prone to cracking and should be examined before putting away the repair materials. There's some pretty good pictures os the process somewhere in the KV. Rob | ||
| Likacomet |
In regards to cracked saddlebags... I went through the same problem with a 98 S3. After chasing the cracks with fiberglass/epoxy I decided to address the problem rather than the symptom. The constant fluttering of the bags on their mounts are what cause the cracking. I made a bracket that clamps to the frame rails under the seat/tail section that spanned between the bags. Drilled a 3/4" (approx. 17mm) hole in the seat/tail section where the bracket wants to exit through the tail section. Where this bracket meets the inner saddlebag, drilled a hole for a screw to secure the inner saddlebag to the end of this bracket (which is threaded to accept a screw (1/4" or approx. 10mm) from the inside of the saddlebag). Note: This was done on a 1998 S3. I've never seen the frame section under the S2 seat/tail section to see if this will work. Now, the bags are tied to the frame of the motorcycle instead of hanging off of the factory brackets. Greatly reduced flutter, increased rigidity (which all of us guys love-winkwink). Hope this helps. If you need details don't hesitate to ask. | ||
| Doncasto |
You might find some additional ideas here courtesy of Al Lighton: Hard Bag Repair and Reinforcing Project | ||
| Firemanjim |
It's a ghost!!! Hiya,Don. | ||
| Doncasto |
Greetings Right Back Atcha Jim! Did you buy that S2T you linked us to last month? Did the hard bags need reinforcing (token attempt to insert some on topic content)? | ||
| Peter |
Hard bags for the topic police. Hey Don, how's life? | ||
| Doncasto |
Hey Aussie! Life is slow right now. It slowed remarkably when I parted out the S3T, and then got even slower last month when I had my second (left this time) knee replaced. With luck the new steel and teflon after market joint will rehab sufficiently and bend enough to get my foot on the pegs of a new ride (Aprilia Futura? BMW R1200 GS?) The Aprilia would be the next in a series of sport tourers for me while the R1200GS would take me in a different direction entirely - and would require some of those aftermarket hard bags (aluminum boxes aka paniers?) to carry the load. Did I read that you are preparing a Dakar campaign? Good on Ya! Don | ||
| Easy_rider |
Futura? Are those still available down under? My buddy had one, switched to the RSV(?), but he misses the bags....Especially when I pull out the rum! | ||
| Peter |
Don, I hope that knee gets better for you. Bad knees suck. Grizzly has a 1200GS now and loves it.  Dakar is progressing. Today was a red letter day as I sent in the registration forms and sent off the first payment to the organisers  Pete2 Dakar |
