i'm nervous...

[nomad]

got my new saddlebag rails in today and they look great! i must have laid them on the bag a dozen times and measured....just can't bring myself to drill the holes!!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif man, what a nerve wracker........i've been to gadget's site. any other tips before i go at it? ;)

[paul]

Measure twice, (three, four....) times cut once. Seen tape suggested to protect the edges. Personally, I would buy a brand new bulit point bit, and pilot the hole with a very small bit first. Not possible to have too sharp an instrument. Maybe a heavy tape on the inside and go slow to prevent break-out.

Good luck. Oh, and beer in the freezer for afterwards.
Just had a brain-fart. Haven't done this mod, so this is just hypothetical, but how would it work using the semi-soft rubber hole gromets that you push into the hole and they are hollow. Usually used for running electronics through?

[Netnorske]

Mine are due to arrive soon as well. I remember a thread about this awhile back but can't find it now. I do remember macmac (where's he been anyways...?) had some good advice about mounting them.

If I remember what he said...do use the tape to cover where you are gonna drill....don't use the seals they send, but rather use the rubber seals you would find on roofing screws (much longer life)....and measure your holes with the seals in place under the rack for a truer hole placement. Other than that....be sure....be very sure...!

I am going to take the plunge soon as well....but am rather caught up in researching a trunk and rack for the time being! Best of luck and let us know how it turns out... ;)!

Cheers...Kris

[rksaw]

Nomad,
I haven't done that mod yet, but even within the last 3 months there has had to have been 3 or 4 others who have had your same concern and each were glad when they finally took the plunge. I'm sure you'll do a great job, and we all will be waiting for the pictures when you get it done.
Rich

[aj]

Good luck man, I get nervous using a soft cloth on the duco!

[fish]

I would be too

[ridemslow]

Use masking tape, measure, mark and just lay the rails on top of the tape to get an idea of how it looks and where to do the drilling. Thats what I did. Used blue painters tape, so it didnt leave gummy glue behind. Once holes are drilled, you can't undo it easily, so be careful to be right.

[phenrichs]

+1 on the painters tape. That is how the dealer would do it.

[nomad]

ditto on the painters tape...and good advice on the washers too. i guess i will be doing this later on today. i'll let you all know how it went....

[superduty]

I just did this two weeks ago. I took the bags off the bike and bolted them together back to back on my workbench. Covered the area with blue painters tape as others suggested. I used a brad-point wood bit and it worked well. Once I got one installed, having the bags bolted together allowed me to get the second one lined up with the first.

[bigdog]

Good luck, I had the dealer do mine when I bought the bike, so I don't have any good tips for you other than maybe putting some liquid paper on the rail stand-off's to mark the bags where you want to drill.

[blowndodge]

Leave your gun in the house in case you f*ck up!

[refugio]

Be carefull.........You only get one try to get it right...

[nomad]

I just did this two weeks ago. I took the bags off the bike and bolted them together back to back on my workbench. Covered the area with blue painters tape as others suggested. I used a brad-point wood bit and it worked well. Once I got one installed, having the bags bolted together allowed me to get the second one lined up with the first.
thats a good idea...think i might try this. thanks!

[nomad]

Leave your gun in the house in case you f*ck up!
http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[coldfingers]

One more thing, after you get it all drilled out, don't over tighten the bolts or screws when you are mounting the rails. I had a friend who did this and cracked the fiberglass afterwards. I'm sure you will do fine.

[caddman11]

Cover the whole top in tape before you measure, drill or anything. I didn't and ended up with a deep scratch from my measuring tools. TAPE EVERYTHING!!!!!!

[cactusjack]

Don't drink the beer until AFTER you're done. I always forget this part myself and end up with a mess.

[nomad]

quick question...i bought the MC enterprises racks and i noticed that the attach points don't seem to sit flush on the saddlebag. does anyone else have these? before i drill i want to make sure i cover all the bases. if these are messed up, i will send them back and get something else.

[Top Cat]

I have heard of some rails not sitting flush. It would seem to me they would not sit right if they weren't flush.
I have the four rail, I think the MC's are three. I can't remember what brand mine are.
I didn't tape anything, just set the rails on the bag where I wanted and drilled the holes. I don't reccomend this method :-[ I put a deep scratch down the right bag and the left bag the holes had to be reamed out a bit to fit the posts.
Thats all beter now as the painter fixed all my screwups before he painted my bike http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[nomad]

well, all i can say is "BOOYA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i didn't remeasure. i didn't think twice. i just grabbed the drill and hit it before i chickened out. they fit like a champ! no re-drilling...etc. man, what a relief!! thanks for all the good advice guys! pics to follow.

[Netnorske]

quick question...i bought the MC enterprises racks and i noticed that the attach points don't seem to sit flush on the saddlebag. does anyone else have these? before i drill i want to make sure i cover all the bases. if these are messed up, i will send them back and get something else.

Nomad,
I recently bought a set of those and sent them back for the same reason. Nothing seemed to sit flush and they just teetered funny. The mounting points in no way lined up with the bags themselves. Heck...they may have sent you the crappy ones I just returned....eeesh... :-/

[Netnorske]

well, all i can say is "BOOYA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i didn't remeasure. i didn't think twice. i just grabbed the drill and hit it before i chickened out. they fit like a champ! no re-drilling...etc. man, what a relief!! thanks for all the good advice guys! pics to follow.

That gives me great hope for my upcoming project.... :)!!

[nomad]

quick question...i bought the MC enterprises racks and i noticed that the attach points don't seem to sit flush on the saddlebag. does anyone else have these? before i drill i want to make sure i cover all the bases. if these are messed up, i will send them back and get something else.

Nomad,
I recently bought a set of those and sent them back for the same reason. Nothing seemed to sit flush and they just teetered funny. The mounting points in no way lined up with the bags themselves. Heck...they may have sent you the crappy ones I just returned....eeesh... :-/
yep, these were like that...didn't exactly fit flush. the guy at mc told me that the rubber grommets that came with it would make up for it and that they were designed that way. (?) i went ahead and used them. i guess he was right, because they look o.k. :)

[coloradontexas]

where did you order them from?

[nomad]

where did you order them from?
dennis kirk.

[bigjohn]

I got mine from JC Whitney. Used painters tape to keep from scratchign the surface, too much. Got 'em lined up where I wanted them, marked the location then drilled. Yep, had to ream one or two holes out slightly. The rubberized washers have done an excellent job of waterproofing and leveling the slight wobble.

[reaper]

Measure several times, take a deep breath and pull the trigger
Of course it's easy to say, I'm not the one drilling.
Oh yea don't forget to breath after words. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[schoeney]

Just slap them on and start drilling....if you screw it up new bags are only what? Maybe $1400 apiece?

[nomad]

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/amokman/camerapics118.jpg

the finished product...

[radco]

I AGREE on Painters tape... ALSO START the hole with the drill in reverse,, it will slid through the paint with less chanve of chipping,,, Move up to proper size but,, start it in reverse as well,,, then after you get the bevel go in forward gear,, and slow.............

[bigjohn]

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/amokman/camerapics118.jpg

the finished product...

Them looks familier...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b111/jhprice/Naomi/Sale%20Pics/100_1649.jpg