Trunk handle, but not yet. Asking for suggestions

[C-dub]

It looks like I caused my own problem a little sooner than may have eventually occurred naturally eventually.

One of my trunk rattles might have been loose U latches caused by loose screws. I think back and I may have lost one of the screws because I tried the other one and it wouldn't thread, so I found a slightly larger one that worked. For a while. I eventually fell out and wouldn't thread at all anymore. The other one won't tighten or come out. The other latch is fine and neither screw is loose. SMH

I searched here and found a couple suggestions then asked the mechs at the dealership. It seems the best option is to get a handle that would require drilling holes for bolts to go through and into a metal nut that would solve the problem. They ordered one from Wingstuff of Kuryakyn directly that said it was in stock, but then a week later we get a message saying it is backordered until mid-September.

So, I'm going to be drilling holes anyway, but am looking for suggestions regarding going ahead and drilling the holes now and putting something else in place until the handle arrives. My first thought was something like the little round reflector screws that hold license plates onto their holder. Or just a plain black screw and a rubber or some kind of synthetic washer between the screw head and the plastic. I wonder if either of those would even work.

[Rambozo]

Pictures might help. Also a link to the handle.

[C-dub]

Pictures might help. Also a link to the handle.

Here's the handle.
https://wingstuff.com/products/4034-red ... unk-handle

I don't have any pictures, but I'm also not sure how any other pictures would help. For the handle there will be two holes drilled into the trunk for both latches since the each have two screws. Eventually, those screws will be replaced with bolts that will go into the handle. However, since the handle is on backorder I'm wondering if there is something else that can be used temporarily so I can use my trunk with confidence. Currently, since one latch is good and the other only has one screw halfway in it is very loose and both times I;ve had to open it was worried it would not latch shut securely. Both times it did. Whew

[Rambozo]

Ok now that I read the instructions I understand how this handle works. I have a different kind of handle so I wasn't clear on what you were after. I don't see any problem in drilling out the screw bosses and using nuts and bolts in the interim. I did something much like that when I removed the trunk rack that was on mine. I used stainless carriage bolts, o-rings to seal, and acorn nuts inside, so nothing sharp to slice open my hands, or cargo. I have some pics in this thread.

viewtopic.php?p=377560#p377560

Something like that would keep you going until you get your handle. I would also put some masking tape over where you are going to drill to avoid the paint chipping as the drill breaks through.

[C-dub]

I would also put some masking tape over where you are going to drill to avoid the paint chipping as the drill breaks through.

I am worried about that and hadn't thought about how to prevent it yet. Prepare yourself for a dumb question. I'm planning on drilling from the inside out since I know exactly where the holes are on the inside, but the masking tape goes on the outside, right? lol I warned you.

Then, as for drilling, I was wondering if high speed or slow would be better. I'm thinking low to avoid as much heat as possible. I think that might also help to avoid that chipping issue. What was your experience when drilling?

[DenverWinger]

You could drill small pilot holes from the inside to outside, then change to correct size drill bit and re-drill the pilot holes from the outside.

[MikeB]

Here is a You Tube video of Chris Caliente installing a Kuryakyn 3215 handle and why he had to install it.



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[C-dub]

Here is a You Tube video of Chris Caliente installing a Kuryakyn 3215 handle and why he had to install it.

That is the same handle that is on backorder for me. Thanks MikeB. Looking on utube is not my goto source for stuff yet. Every now and then I think about it, but usually only after someone has reminded me.

[MikeB]

That handle looks to be unobtainable online. You may have to canvass local, and not so local, accessory retailers to see if they have that item on the wall somewhere.

[C-dub]

That handle looks to be unobtainable online. You may have to canvass local, and not so local, accessory retailers to see if they have that item on the wall somewhere.

That's what it looks like. It is supposedly on backorder until mid September. That's why I'm thinking about something temporary to secure the latches so I don't worry so much about it failing when I'm away from home and can actually use my trunk again. I've only opened it twice in as many months now and held my breath and crossed my finger both times. Fortunately, and I don't know why or how, but it latched both times and the display confirmed that.

[Andy Cote]

Before you drill the holes, keep in mind that they may NEVER come back in stock.

[C-dub]

Before you drill the holes, keep in mind that they may NEVER come back in stock.

Aww man, what's with all the negative waves?

I've considered that , but I have to do something even if I only end up with black screws. I need to be able to trust that my trunk will latch properly.

[Jsk301]

Yep mine broke while out of town. Since it’s a work bike and not under warranty I just drilled away. Put 2 screws with rubber washers on the outside and lock washers with blue thread lock on inside and went on no more problem. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do..if I can figure out how to add a photo I’ll do that. Tech challenged.

[Andy Cote]

At least you can do both latches for symmetry.

In your case, another location to bolt up a pair of strobes/leds. You can never have too many!

I've been thinking about this. Maybe a good place to create a mount for a dash cam?

[tamathumper]

Yep mine broke while out of town. Since it’s a work bike and not under warranty I just drilled away. Put 2 screws with rubber washers on the outside and lock washers with blue thread lock on inside and went on no more problem. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do..if I can figure out how to add a photo I’ll do that. Tech challenged.

May want to make absolutely certain that none of that blue thread lock gets on the plastic. Whatever plastic it touches will embrittle and crumble.

[Jsk301]

At least you can do both latches for symmetry.

In your case, another location to bolt up a pair of strobes/leds. You can never have too many!

I've been thinking about this. Maybe a good place to create a mount for a dash cam?

Well, she’s approaching 200k miles so I keep her stabled unless the new 2012 I just put in service needs a break! I just couldn’t buy a new one at twice the cost, and the 2012 only had 4K miles on it..

[C-dub]

Yep mine broke while out of town. Since it’s a work bike and not under warranty I just drilled away. Put 2 screws with rubber washers on the outside and lock washers with blue thread lock on inside and went on no more problem. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do..if I can figure out how to add a photo I’ll do that. Tech challenged.

Good to know. I'm going to have to do something by Thursday because the wife wants me to take her to Guthrie, OK, to see some old friends that will be in town there. I'll get over to my little hardware store in the morning before work tomorrow to get the nuts and bolts and washers and then drill away Thursday.

[Andy Cote]

Good to know. I'm going to have to do something by Thursday because the wife wants me to take her to Guthrie, OK, to see some old friends that will be in town there. I'll get over to my little hardware store in the morning before work tomorrow to get the nuts and bolts and washers and then drill away Thursday.

You could use some of the little plastic covers over the screw heads. They come in different sizes; usually available in white, black or chrome. They are in the Hillman hardware drawers at most hardware stores.

[Andy Cote]

Well, she’s approaching 200k miles so I keep her stabled unless the new 2012 I just put in service needs a break! I just couldn’t buy a new one at twice the cost, and the 2012 only had 4K miles on it..

Understand completely. The 2018 had just come out and I chose a 2015 with 2000 miles for half the price of new. Of course I'm trying hard to make up the difference on accessories.

[C-dub]

Well, she’s approaching 200k miles so I keep her stabled unless the new 2012 I just put in service needs a break! I just couldn’t buy a new one at twice the cost, and the 2012 only had 4K miles on it..

Understand completely. The 2018 had just come out and I chose a 2015 with 2000 miles for half the price of new. Of course I'm trying hard to make up the difference on accessories.

I'm not sure how they would attach since the heads are pretty small and, although not really flush with the trunk lid, they don't really stick out much either. Although probably temporary, I did find black bolts and washers, so they aren't horribly obvious.

I drilled the first two holes for the problem latch this morning and discovered my bolts were too short. I thought I had 1.5" bolts, so off to the hardware store as soon as they opened at 0730 to get 2" bolts. Those worked great, but I then discovered I only bought 1.25" bolts yesterday and 1.5" might have actually worked fine, but the 2" still work. I'll take care of the other latch later this afternoon. My next discovery was the angle I drilled the holes at was slightly off and the bolt heads are not exactly flush with the trunk lid. However, since I got a neoprene washer against the lid then a flat metal washer between it and the head it's all good for now and the trip tomorrow. I'll be more careful when I drill the other two holes two get a better angle.

One good thing I discovered out riding today was that much of my trunk rattle was gone.

EDIT:
Good grief!!!

I did the other two holes for the other latch and was careful to correct for the poor angle on the other latch. It works, but I went the wrong way and made the angle worse slightly. I put the bit into the hole first to see exactly what the angle was and got that correct, but didn't think about the angle of the outside of the trunk lid. The holes are not that different, so I didn't really mess up the first two that much since it is the outside slant that is causing the issue. I can only hope that the handle, if and when it arrives was designed with this in mind.

The latch works perfectly. It's just that the heads on the bolts are at a funky angle. I hate drilling holes in things.