Removing sides & latches from OEM hard bags?

[nh7robmw]

I am getting ready to prep my bike for painting and I would like to remove the outer half of each saddlebag.

I also want to remove the latches if possible, but it seems as though they are riveted on.

Anyone know how I might accomplish this?

[58058D]

My experience was simply for replacing a damaged inner half of a newer style, but yes it is riveted. I drilled them out. I did not have a high enough quality replacement rivet, so I simply used the right size nut/washer/bolt combination and put some locktight on the threads outside. For sure others have done it, and perhaps with a better quality rivet for replacement, you could go that route. Not sure about the older style latches.

[walterK75]

I want to do something similar. I need to separate the lid from the base of the bag, but can't figure out how the two halves come out of the bottom hinge. Any suggestions?

[nh7robmw]

Wooee, that looks kinda tricky to me---that fiberglass is fragile and brittle in my experience. Plus there's no room on the outer side of two of the four the rivets to hold a nut in place, as far as I can see.

But thanks nonethelss, since you've done it it is obviously possible.

Mine are the 3rd generation bags, btw, made in 1994.

[nh7robmw]

PS: Is there a trick to get the halves to separate? Will I need to lift one end of the grooved runners up over a plastic nib to free it loose? Not sure, obviously, how I go about this.:blush

[shakeybone]

The hinge halves should slide off to the outside. Start in the middle between the two hinge halves and give a light tap to get them started and they will slide right off.

[toddlamp]

As mentioned above there are 2 black rubberish or plastic hinges at the bottom that slide off.

As for the latches, they are really easy to drill out. Just be careful to not drill out any of the plastic. From what I saw there is a slight ledge that helps the rivet hold when expanded.

You can pick up a rivet gun and rivets at Home Depot. The diameter was a stand size (I believe 1/8"). I can't remember the length, but I believe it was 1/4". I used the steel ones but i'm sure you could use aluminum ones.

[nh7robmw]

Thanks, Todd; that helps to know; I'll stop by Home Depot tomorrow and check out the rivet tool for sure. Thanks to the other posters, too.

Imagine I need to pull the middle part of the hinge thingy over the plastic nib or stop in the middle to free it before it will slide off, right?

[toddlamp]

Thanks, Todd; that helps to know; I'll stop by Home Depot tomorrow and check out the rivet tool for sure. Thanks to the other posters, too.

Imagine I need to pull the middle part of the hinge thingy over the plastic nib or stop in the middle to free it before it will slide off, right?


Start in the middle (where the two hinges meet) and tap the hinge toward the outside end. It will slide off the rail. I used a flat head screw driver and tapped that with a hammer