Left saddle bag will not open
- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Left saddle bag will not open
Hello,I read the thread about the emergency plunger,but I could find no information on what to do if that didnt work. It is the front latch that is not releasing. Any help with this issue will be appreciated.
- Goldwinger365
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2017 6:24 pm
- Location: Madison,Wi. USA
- Motorcycle: 1994 GL1500 Aspencade
2006 GL 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
I had my right saddlebag stuck shut,used the plunger,still wouldn't release,held down on plunger while using palm and tapping in latch area,finally opened,found the latch hooks were loose and twisting sideways. Once I tightened them in proper position, have worked perfectly. Hope this helps.
- GoldWingrGreg
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Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Are you able to open the other door using the "plunger" method. If so, try removing the rear, inner, center cover inside the trunk. It only takes a minute ... 5 screws with the center 3 being machined type. Once the cover is off, remove the cable and try pulling on it further. If that does not work, then the hinges will need pulled from the underside to the bike. I believe those bolts are tamper resistance torx bolts.
- tamathumper
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Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Is the saddle bag crammed full of stuff? If so, the stuff might be pressing out pretty firmly on the door, so pressing inward with your palm in the area where the latch is stuck while you pull the release lever might help the latch actuate.
'03 GL1800A - Warning: fopen() [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Sense of humor not found on line 2
- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Hey goldwinger365,tks for the resonse,I've tried ever combo ( while holding the plunger in)finesse to beating the crapp out of it . The front latch will just not release.Goldwinger365 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 11:44 am I had my right saddlebag stuck shut,used the plunger,still wouldn't release,held down on plunger while using palm and tapping in latch area,finally opened,found the latch hooks were loose and twisting sideways. Once I tightened them in proper position, have worked perfectly. Hope this helps.
- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Thanks GoldwigrGreg, I will investigate thos angles further ,the right side is operating perfectly fine.GoldWingrGreg wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:16 pm Are you able to open the other door using the "plunger" method. If so, try removing the rear, inner, center cover inside the trunk. It only takes a minute ... 5 screws with the center 3 being machined type. Once the cover is off, remove the cable and try pulling on it further. If that does not work, then the hinges will need pulled from the underside to the bike. I believe those bolts are tamper resistance torx bolts.
- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
No tamathumper there is only my rain gear plenty of room for that.tamathumper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 2:37 pm Is the saddle bag crammed full of stuff? If so, the stuff might be pressing out pretty firmly on the door, so pressing inward with your palm in the area where the latch is stuck while you pull the release lever might help the latch actuate.
- C-dub
- Posts: 600
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Previous bikes:
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Re: Left saddle bag will not open
I hope you're able to resolve this without spending a bundle. That front latch on mine broke on a recent trip and wouldn't latch. I had a roll of duct tape with me and taped it up to the roof of the bag and it then latched.
When I got home and to my dealer a week later they covered it under warranty. Would have been roughly $900 + labor.
When I got home and to my dealer a week later they covered it under warranty. Would have been roughly $900 + labor.
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- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Ouch! Thats what I'm afraid of c-dub,hopefully I can get it open without the dreaded dealership greasing lol.C-dub wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:31 pm I hope you're able to resolve this without spending a bundle. That front latch on mine broke on a recent trip and wouldn't latch. I had a roll of duct tape with me and taped it up to the roof of the bag and it then latched.
When I got home and to my dealer a week later they covered it under warranty. Would have been roughly $900 + labor.
- joeincalif
- Posts: 847
- Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:39 am
- Location: Fresno, Ca
- Motorcycle: 1997 Gold Wing SE
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
If all else fails you can probably find a used bag on line or from a trike dealer and rip the old one off the bike. It will be a lot cheaper than paying a dealer

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IF YOUR BORN TWICE YOU WILL DIE ONCE
- Maddman
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:51 pm
- Location: New port richey fla
- Motorcycle: 2006 gl 1800
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Tks Joe,thats not a bad idea to keep in my pocket.
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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Re: Left saddle bag will not open
I had this happen to my GL1500 trunk - nothing I tried would get it to release, even trying to release it from underneath, fishing up to the mechanism.
What I ended up doing in the end was removing the seat, drilling a small hole in the front of the trunk (where it would be covered by the seat), and fit tools through there to disassemble the latching mechanism from inside. I fished an endoscopic camera with a light in so I could see what I was doing.
Once finished, I bonded a new piece of ABS over the hole I had drilled. Good as new!
What I ended up doing in the end was removing the seat, drilling a small hole in the front of the trunk (where it would be covered by the seat), and fit tools through there to disassemble the latching mechanism from inside. I fished an endoscopic camera with a light in so I could see what I was doing.
Once finished, I bonded a new piece of ABS over the hole I had drilled. Good as new!
- Wingsconsin
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Re: Left saddle bag will not open
Good grief -- I would be tempted to buy a new bag and smash the old one open with a big a$$ hammer ..WingAdmin wrote: ↑Sat Dec 29, 2018 5:56 pm I had this happen to my GL1500 trunk - nothing I tried would get it to release, even trying to release it from underneath, fishing up to the mechanism.
What I ended up doing in the end was removing the seat, drilling a small hole in the front of the trunk (where it would be covered by the seat), and fit tools through there to disassemble the latching mechanism from inside. I fished an endoscopic camera with a light in so I could see what I was doing.
Once finished, I bonded a new piece of ABS over the hole I had drilled. Good as new!

Postings are my opinions based on experience and acquired knowledge.
Your results may vary. Universal disclaimers apply.
Munk's Maxim -- There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle
Your results may vary. Universal disclaimers apply.
Munk's Maxim -- There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle
- gbearth
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 12:18 pm
- Location: Surrey, England, United Kingdom
- Motorcycle: Gold wing 1500SE sold
Goldwing 1800 GL
Re: Left saddle bag will not open
I had this problem and no matter what I did it would not open. As a final attempt I removed the saddle and saw there is a row of nuts and bolts holding the 2 half’s of the pannier together. A bit tricky I removed as many as I could without stripping out other bits. Then gently prised the 2 parts apart. I found they where quiet flexible. I was able to shine a torch through the opening and with a modified wire coat hanger flick the bar that opens the catches. What a relief. I mended the Brocken part of the latch and reinforced it so it won’t happen again.