Saddlebag latch screws

[Uncle Hud]

Are your saddlebag latch screws loctited?

This morning, like a thousand other mornings, I pull into my office parking deck and open the starboard (uphill) hardcase to stash my Aerostich suit.  The lock twisted, then pulled completely out of the latching lever.  Thank the Lord, one of the screws mentioned in the above quote -- which I have never looked at for 50,000 miles -- fell into the plastics underneath and didn't bounce onto the freeway during my 12-mile commute.
 
Took 20 minutes to figure out how everything went back together and screw in the little bastard with my fingers.  I am ever so lucky this didn't launch my hardcase down the freeway.
 
On the way home this evening, I will stop by my local Ace Hardware, find a half-dozen identical bolts/screws and a tube of Loctite, and reassemble BOTH hardcase locks.
 
How many times have I read this and done nothing? Over one hundred. I am embarrassingly chastised, and offer this up only as a forewarning to others: DO NOT PUT THIS OFF! You may find yourself in this situation or worse.

[wheatonFJR]

Almost every single FJR will have this issue. All three of mine have had it.

[BuddhaBiker]

After seeing the TwoWheelObsession YouTube video on this I resolved to check mine soon. However, not soon enough. I was lucky that I was in my garage when the lock cylinder indeed came out with my key, also on the right side. You bet I immediately put Loctite on all the screws. I also used a strong adhesive to attach the Yamaha badges on the bags (also suggested by T.W.O.).


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[BuddhaBiker]

Another good tip of TWO was to order aftermarket keys (precut), as the OEM ones bend very easily and cause problems in the bags or ignition locks. Quibbles on an otherwise well engineered bike, but c'mon mamma Yamma!


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[Redfish]

Discussed many many times. Moved to NEPRT.

Sorry. Could not help myself. Bounce, please don't be mad at me.

Much like HUD, Dad and I discussed this and did nothing. When it finally happened to him and he knew he would not ever find The Correct Screw anywhere I told him to find his third lockset and remove one of those. He had forgotten all about the third lockset but eventually located it. And yes, we used Loctite on his and then on mine.

[wheatonFJR]

This been known since 2002/2003.

Caint y'all read???

[raYzerman]

This been known since 2002/2003.

Caint y'all read???

Yes, and despite what some seem to think, it is NOT in the predelivery instructions for the dealer. It's a DIY project.

[Queensland Ken]

Oh yes it is. In the pannier boxes. All supplied with the protective plastic and Loctite. Page 5 of instructions.

And what dealers also don't know is the Black rubber block mounted to the bike. It's only allowed to be fitted one way.

[Queensland Ken]

Well known since at least 2001 in Australia, lol lol.

[Intech]

What a dork! And I mean that in the most loving way, Hud

[Uncle Hud]

What a dork! And I mean that in the most loving way, Hud

Kisses backatchya, big boy!

[BikerGeek]

I figured the original owner of my bike woulda done that. So I was kinda surprised when, at well over 100,000 miles on the odometer, one of mine popped out at NAFO up in 'Sconsin in 2014. The dealer 250 yards up the road fixed me up, though.

[BkerChuck]

A simple search would've shown this to be a known problem......Noobs!

[Uncle Hud]

Read about it a million times, but, "That will never happen to me."

[Hppants]

Hud - we fish in the same hole. Some times, you just have to beat me in the head with it.

Well - I checked mine this afternoon. One screw loose (how appropriate). The new red bike I bought got lock tighted, but after that bike got totaled, and I bought the current bike, I think I may have forgotten to lock tight them. It's done now and this thread may have saved me from some heart burn.

Thanks Hud - well done!!!

[Intech]

One screw loose (how appropriate).

Just one???

[Hppants]

Yeah - everybody knows that Pants always has a screw loose....

[griff]

This been known since 2002/2003.

Caint y'all read???

Yes, and despite what some seem to think, it is NOT in the predelivery instructions for the dealer. It's a DIY project.

It IS in the US manuals for set up of the bags. It specifically says to use loctite or sumpin like it. I asked the dealer if they loctited the screws and he said they followed the set up instructions. So I checked and they weren't loctited, so the dealer got a bunch of shit from me.