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[1abastarsmda]

I don't know if this has been posted here at some time, but since I just ordered the billet tour pack hinges tonight, it got me to thinking about the very first mod I did to my bike.

We all know that the hinges on the tour packs are not real sturdy.  The first thing I did the day I brought my bike home was unscrew one end of the tour pack lid support cable, tied a knot in one end of the cable, and put it back together.  That shortens the cable just slightly and stops the tour pack lid just short of putting all the weight on the hinges. 

This is probably the quickest and easiest modification I can think of and it sure will save you the grief of your tour pack cracking at the hinge.  I've seen that on way too many bikes and I don't think I will ever have to worry about that problem now.

I tied mine at the top end (where it mounts to the lid) as it seemed to be hidden better there, and unscrewed the end mounted to the base of the tour pack so you can pull the knot through easier.  The knot will tighten up a little more with some use, but thus far, I have not seen a need for a second knot.

[Gone Fishin']

I don't know if this has been posted here at some time, but since I just ordered the billet tour pack hinges tonight, it got me to thinking about the very first mod I did to my bike.

We all know that the hinges on the tour packs are not real sturdy.  The first thing I did the day I brought my bike home was unscrew one end of the tour pack lid support cable, tied a knot in one end of the cable, and put it back together.  That shortens the cable just slightly and stops the tour pack lid just short of putting all the weight on the hinges. 

This is probably the quickest and easiest modification I can think of and it sure will save you the grief of your tour pack cracking at the hinge.  I've seen that on way too many bikes and I don't think I will ever have to worry about that problem now.

I tied mine at the top end (where it mounts to the lid) as it seemed to be hidden better there, and unscrewed the end mounted to the base of the tour pack so you can pull the knot through easier.  The knot will tighten up a little more with some use, but thus far, I have not seen a need for a second knot.

Great! Even I could do that.

Ride safely,
Louis

[1abastarsmda]

Hey, I said it was an easy mod.  You won't see me coming up with anything too extravagant, but I thought this was a good one to share since I never saw anyone else doing it...or until I pointed it out to a few people.

[AXIL]

 just a side note for any one installing billet hinges for the first time, run a tap thru the treads to clean em up before
install, don't remember the size but it is s.a.e. other than that a breeze.  oh, use purple or blue loc tite.     axil

[1abastarsmda]

just a side note for any one installing billet hinges for the first time, run a tap thru the treads to clean em up before
install, don't remember the size but it is s.a.e. other than that a breeze.  oh, use purple or blue loc tite.     axil

Not quite sure what you are saying here.  I assume you mean the threads in the new hinges themselves.  Aren't they taking the screws well?  Doesn't help much if I don't have a tap set.  Should we be trying the screws in all the holes first to see that they screw in well before attempting installation?

[REGGAB]

I don't know if this has been posted here at some time, but since I just ordered the billet tour pack hinges tonight, it got me to thinking about the very first mod I did to my bike.

We all know that the hinges on the tour packs are not real sturdy.  The first thing I did the day I brought my bike home was unscrew one end of the tour pack lid support cable, tied a knot in one end of the cable, and put it back together.  That shortens the cable just slightly and stops the tour pack lid just short of putting all the weight on the hinges. 

This is probably the quickest and easiest modification I can think of and it sure will save you the grief of your tour pack cracking at the hinge.  I've seen that on way too many bikes and I don't think I will ever have to worry about that problem now.

I tied mine at the top end (where it mounts to the lid) as it seemed to be hidden better there, and unscrewed the end mounted to the base of the tour pack so you can pull the knot through easier.  The knot will tighten up a little more with some use, but thus far, I have not seen a need for a second knot.

Great idea.  Thanks for sharing!   

[LarryB]

Dave, you don't have a tap set? Keep one handy, I find a need for mine at least once a month, remember, two bikes. Also you need to have an EZ out set. and of course with the taps come the dies.

[1abastarsmda]

Dave, you don't have a tap set? Keep one handy, I find a need for mine at least once a month, remember, two bikes. Also you need to have an EZ out set. and of course with the taps come the dies.

How is it that you need one once a month and I have never found the need to have that around?  I'm not even sure I would know what it is that you are suggesting I get.  EZ out gets something out that you broke the head off, I assume.  Taps?  Rethread something that's stripped?  Dies...can't come up with what they actually do.  I've been lucky enough to go for 50 years without needing these tools.  After that statement, you know that I'm going to need them soon, so give me the brief education on what to get and where to get it without excessive cost...in case I still find no use for them.

[1abastarsmda]

Dave, you don't have a tap set? Keep one handy, I find a need for mine at least once a month, remember, two bikes. Also you need to have an EZ out set. and of course with the taps come the dies.

Larry,

I do have a few pieces here that I purchased to get bolts and screws out that I stripped or broke the heads off.  I just checked and it looks like to get a good kit, I'm talking about spending a bundle.  I just read an article that said to stay away from the cheap kits, as they won't get me far.  I have a good friend that owns a nice sized body shop one mile from my home.  I would assume that he would have a good set.  I'll be at his shop around 11am this morning for a Christmas party, so I'll make sure he has what I need.  He has 3 Harleys and owns something like 23 cars, besides his racecar, so he usually has anything I need (of course, no core bits).

[sportygordy]

I don't know if this has been posted here at some time, but since I just ordered the billet tour pack hinges tonight, it got me to thinking about the very first mod I did to my bike.

We all know that the hinges on the tour packs are not real sturdy.  The first thing I did the day I brought my bike home was unscrew one end of the tour pack lid support cable, tied a knot in one end of the cable, and put it back together.  That shortens the cable just slightly and stops the tour pack lid just short of putting all the weight on the hinges. 

This is probably the quickest and easiest modification I can think of and it sure will save you the grief of your tour pack cracking at the hinge.  I've seen that on way too many bikes and I don't think I will ever have to worry about that problem now.

I tied mine at the top end (where it mounts to the lid) as it seemed to be hidden better there, and unscrewed the end mounted to the base of the tour pack so you can pull the knot through easier.  The knot will tighten up a little more with some use, but thus far, I have not seen a need for a second knot.

Someone, and i wish i could remember who or where, has a kit out that replaces the cable with a hydraulic dampening rod much like what is used in auto hatchbacks. This would be the way to go. only problem, got to find out who has it.   

[REGGAB]

Someone, and i wish i could remember who or where, has a kit out that replaces the cable with a hydraulic dampening rod much like what is used in auto hatchbacks. This would be the way to go. only problem, got to find out who has it.   

Hehehe.  With my luck, I'd break the damping rod.   

[LarryB]

Any time you work with Billet parts, you run the risk of needing to clean up the threads. more so, re tapping the whole thing. Dave, remember the story I told about breaking the exhaust bolt off and then the ez out snapping off in the bolt, then drilling and retapping a new hole. So, they are good to have on hand if needed.

[JR]

How is it that you need one once a month and I have never found the need to have that around?  I'm not even sure I would know what it is that you are suggesting I get.  EZ out gets something out that you broke the head off, I assume.  Taps?  Rethread something that's stripped?  Dies...can't come up with what they actually do.  I've been lucky enough to go for 50 years without needing these tools.  After that statement, you know that I'm going to need them soon, so give me the brief education on what to get and where to get it without excessive cost...in case I still find no use for them.

A Die is used same as a Tap to clean, restore, or cut threads. Only a Die is used on bolts or studs. It would be the female version of the Tap. "Where to get without excessive cost?" I would watch out. This is one of those tools you don't want cheap! Break a tap or EZ out in a hard to get at hole and you'll wish you wouldn't have gotten a cheap set. When needed, which is not very often, they are worth the money. A good set is very exspensive. I would buy individually. In a set you won't use half of what you get unless you work on other stuff. This is just my opinion and I know what they say about opinions!

                                                                   

[1abastarsmda]

My friend told me he would even put them on for me if I remembered to grab him a set of these next time they are available.  I must have spoken with 20 - 25 guys with Ultras last night and they all wanted to know where I was getting these hinges they heard about already.  It sounds like these would be a very hot item if they were made available for widespread purchase.  I assume they will fit a regular Ultra, not just the CVO.

I get some satisfaction by doing these things myself, so I'm not going to have him put them on for me.  I may pick up a cheap tap and die set at Harbor Freight as a just in case though.

[1abastarsmda]

Well, that gets me back to where I don't want to go out and put too much into a set when I have access to a good set closeby.  That was my understanding, that buying a cheap set could get me in more trouble.  If I do get a set, what should they be made of?  In looking around, I see that there are sets made of lots of different materials, much like drill bits.  What should I be aiming for in a quality set?  Luckily, I'm not in immediate need, so I can casually shop for a set.