Making a quick mount for my Pelican Case and FJR.

[Tango Sierra]

Last winter I bought a used luggage rack from a forum member and since I already own a Pelican case I started planning a way to mount it. I had glanced at a few FJRs with a Pelican including Rick Corwine's bike but it seemed those were direct bolted to an aluminum plate. I wanted a quick release mount so I could roll the Pelican into my motel room at night.

I started out emailing Mike at Farkles by Maple ( http://maplefarkles.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) asking about his quick mount option for a Pelican Storm case. Turns out his mounts won't work with a non Storm version of the Pelican like I have. He did tell me about a trolling motor quick mount ( http://greatlakesskipper.com/minn-kota- ... et-1862014" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) he bought to experiment with but didn't get very far. He said he had cut off a small piece and didn't have the hardware for it anymore but that I could have the mount for shipping costs. (If you need an auxiliary fuel tank for your BMW or FJR contact Mike. Really nice guy who spent a lot of time with me without making any money off me. When I inquired about another of his products that is an option on his tanks he referred me to a cheaper source.)

Now I can't usually figure out how to open the grocery bags when we return from the store but I decided to try and design a mount for my Pelican with the trolling motor mount that Mike sent me. I designed the system except for the security latch which was done by the welding shop I tasked for the machining process.

Before starting the project I installed the 'Stiffy" subframe brace from Garauld which was easy peasy.

Here is how the two parts of the mount interlock.


I had the mount cut to 9.5 inches long. One half of the mount was attached to the Pelican's roller handle frame.


I had the mount half with the stop pin mounted to the luggage rack. The luggage rack was drilled and threads tapped for the bolts that hold the quick mount to the luggage rack. These bolts extended through the luggage rack and I added nuts on the underside to protect the threads plus hopefully make the attachment stronger. A hole was bored in the quick mount to have access to one of the bolts that hold the rack to the motorcycle. Also a hole was bored in the luggage rack for the security latch.


This is the security latch. Just a aluminum rod welded into a piece of aluminum block with a hole for a padlock.


The security latch drops in the hole behind the quick mount, blocking the mount halves from separating.


I added a keeper made from weed trimmer string so I don't set the latch aside and forget about it and end up loosing my case while going down the highway.


Job done.




I know it's not pretty but tell me what you think.

[nvmike24]

Well Done is my first thought.

[Name Etc.]

Excellent! Mine is just screwed down.

[Intech]

Nice job Tom!

[HotRodZilla]

I think it's cool. "Pretty" is secondary!

[CraigRegs]

Looks like kind of a narrow bearing surface for the case. How's it holding up?

[Tango Sierra]

I only have 500-600 miles on the bike since installing the Pelican case but the mount is stronger than you think. The machine screws holding the metal mount to the rolling handle frame are backed by metal bars that were tapped with threads for the screws. That is a lot stronger than the six self tapping screws that hold the polypropylene handle frame to the polypropylene case but those self tapping screws are more spread out further strengthening the structure. If anything the Pelican itself is coming apart before the quick mount separates from the handle frame.

The NAFO trip in September and the Hooterville trip in October should put a lot of stress on the setup. I will keep checking the Pelican's self tapping screws for structural integrity during those trips.

See you at NAFO.

[CraigRegs]

The NAFO trip in September and the Hooterville trip in October should put a lot of stress on the setup. I will keep checking the Pelican's self tapping screws for structural integrity during those trips.

See you at NAFO.

Look forward to seeing that setup in person.