Left saddle bag will not open

[Maddman]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Maddman]

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.

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.

[Maddman]

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.

Thanks GoldwigrGreg, I will investigate thos angles further ,the right side is operating perfectly fine.

[Maddman]

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.

No tamathumper there is only my rain gear plenty of room for that.

[C-dub]

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.

[Maddman]

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.

Ouch! Thats what I'm afraid of c-dub,hopefully I can get it open without the dreaded dealership greasing lol.

[joeincalif]

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

[Maddman]

Tks Joe,thats not a bad idea to keep in my pocket.

[WingAdmin]

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!

[Wingsconsin]

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!

Good grief -- I would be tempted to buy a new bag and smash the old one open with a big a$$ hammer ..

[gbearth]

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.