Saddlebag Cracking

Fooch · 02-09-2015, 06:16 PM

2011 Voyager. I dropped it once a couple of months after I bought it new in 2011. I occasionally use TLC bag liners when traveling but have never packed the liner or saddlebags where it would be overloaded. This past weekend I noticed this crack on the left side bag. Checked the right side bag today and that same area is also starting to crack. Any idea what's going on?

Vaqrider2276 · 02-09-2015, 06:34 PM

The inner fairing of my Vaquero cracked after I drilled a smooth hole for a momentary switch to activate my garage door opener. I used a Forstener bit for a smooth hole and it still cracked in a spiderweb fashion. I even put it in an area where I thought there would be no stress.

I was able to fix it using Q-Bond which is a two part glue and powder. It is sandal and I painted it up and it looks like new. I would recommend using it and even backing it up on the other side with ABS glue or something compatible.

Good luck!

Vaqrider2276 · 02-09-2015, 06:37 PM

I just remembered....be sure to "v" grove the crack out with a dremel so the glue and powder have a valley to flow into.

I bought the Q-bond at an auto body supply shop. One kit should have enough to repair both bags.

That really sucks and I hope it all works out.

landman · 02-09-2015, 06:42 PM

let me guess. it's out of warranty.

**GIBBY** · 02-09-2015, 07:08 PM

A washer won't fix that.

cactusjack · 02-09-2015, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landman

let me guess. it's out of warranty.

That wouldn't be covered under warranty anyway, if dropping the bike caused it.

Fooch · 02-09-2015, 08:20 PM

Yes, it's out of the 3 year warranty. Just not sure why both sides are cracking in the same place.

RVTraveling · 02-09-2015, 08:25 PM

From the picture I would guess the catch and latch are misaligned. In the second picture, there is a mark on the top edge of the catch where it looks like something is hitting and riding down the edge. If it's putting pressure on it, it will crack.

That's the first thing I would check out.

redjay · 02-09-2015, 08:27 PM

Those are the first bags on a 1700 that I have heard about with a crack.
I have heard of a few fairings cracking but never a hardbag.

Are you overtightening the bolts or is there a misalignment between the bolt fastening points causing stress on the bag ? Maybe there was misalignment caused in the bag subframe when the bike was dropped ?

Fooch · 02-09-2015, 08:29 PM

I have never touched any of those bolts. The lids always seemed to close okay. I had no idea anything was wrong until I was loading the bags last Thursday when I saw this one.

Peg · 02-09-2015, 10:42 PM

I damaged a bag and the fairing badly when I high-sided my Voyager last Easter. The rear guard got bent out of shape, which cracked the lower part of the bag completely in half, down the front through where it's mounted, and the fairing was broken away from the mount points on the right side... plus cracks & scrapes everywhere.

I took the bits to a plastic welder (you know, the sort of fella that works on plastic car fenders), and he was able to make them look almost like new again. The paint shop did the rest. The welder told me this plastic the Voyager is made from is very easy to work with, and to repair.

There's no sign now that anything was ever damaged.

Once you have the parts repaired (and in there you're lucky... you won't need paint), I'd suggest you check carefully when bolting it back up that everything lines up properly. Those cracks can only have occurred if something was out of line?

H8BUGZ · 02-09-2015, 11:08 PM

My bags close hard. For the first several thousand miles, I was only getting one latch closed. I have to push firmly over top of each latch separately to get them both to click shut. I see no damage after 13,000 miles and hope it stays that way. I did try to adjust the latches, but there is nothing you can really move. The 3 mounting bolts are fairly easy to start.

Peg · 02-10-2015, 02:30 AM

Mine were not easy to latch when I got the bike. I've found that a good squirt of WD40 or similar in the mechanism helps, along with careful closing - as you suggest. Gentle lowering of the lid, then firm pressure over top of each latch till the click is heard.

houndawg · 02-10-2015, 08:28 AM

I just used velcro and put it on the inside of me saddle bag. I also used the velco to hold my rain gear inside the lid too.

02-09-2015, 06:16 PM	#1
Fooch Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 95	Saddlebag Cracking 2011 Voyager. I dropped it once a couple of months after I bought it new in 2011. I occasionally use TLC bag liners when traveling but have never packed the liner or saddlebags where it would be overloaded. This past weekend I noticed this crack on the left side bag. Checked the right side bag today and that same area is also starting to crack. Any idea what's going on? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

02-09-2015, 06:34 PM	#2
Vaqrider2276 Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 20	The inner fairing of my Vaquero cracked after I drilled a smooth hole for a momentary switch to activate my garage door opener. I used a Forstener bit for a smooth hole and it still cracked in a spiderweb fashion. I even put it in an area where I thought there would be no stress. I was able to fix it using Q-Bond which is a two part glue and powder. It is sandal and I painted it up and it looks like new. I would recommend using it and even backing it up on the other side with ABS glue or something compatible. Good luck! __________________ Vaqrider2276 2011 Vaquero 1700 Black
	0

02-09-2015, 06:37 PM	#3
Vaqrider2276 Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 20	I just remembered....be sure to "v" grove the crack out with a dremel so the glue and powder have a valley to flow into. I bought the Q-bond at an auto body supply shop. One kit should have enough to repair both bags. That really sucks and I hope it all works out. __________________ Vaqrider2276 2011 Vaquero 1700 Black
	0

02-09-2015, 06:42 PM	#4
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	let me guess. it's out of warranty. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
	0

02-09-2015, 07:08 PM	#5
GIBBY Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Osceola,WI Posts: 3,084	A washer won't fix that. __________________ Mike "GIBBY" Gibson Osceola, WI VBA # 1279 2011 National Rally 2012 NCR Rally 2012 Antlers Rally 2013 National Rally 2013 Antlers Rally 2014 NC/SC Rally 2014 Antlers Rally 2015 VRA/VBA Rally 2016 NCR Rally 2016 Antlers Rally 2017 Antlers Rally 2018 NC/SC Rally 2018 Antlers Rally 2019 Antlers Rally 2020 Antlers Rally 2022 Antlers Rally 2023 Antlers Rally 2021 Indian Roadmaster Limited 2022 Indian Roadmaster Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

02-09-2015, 08:20 PM	#7
Fooch Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 95	Yes, it's out of the 3 year warranty. Just not sure why both sides are cracking in the same place.
	0

02-09-2015, 08:25 PM	#8
RVTraveling Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Dallas Tx Posts: 77	From the picture I would guess the catch and latch are misaligned. In the second picture, there is a mark on the top edge of the catch where it looks like something is hitting and riding down the edge. If it's putting pressure on it, it will crack. That's the first thing I would check out. __________________ Ken 2006 Nomad 1600 Dobeck TFI, Chuckster intake, stock exhaust, coasters VBA #02973 _______________ If life gives you lemons, add gin and tonic!
	0

02-09-2015, 08:27 PM	#9
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,977	Those are the first bags on a 1700 that I have heard about with a crack. I have heard of a few fairings cracking but never a hardbag. Are you overtightening the bolts or is there a misalignment between the bolt fastening points causing stress on the bag ? Maybe there was misalignment caused in the bag subframe when the bike was dropped ?
	0

02-09-2015, 08:29 PM	#10
Fooch Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 95	I have never touched any of those bolts. The lids always seemed to close okay. I had no idea anything was wrong until I was loading the bags last Thursday when I saw this one.
	0

02-09-2015, 10:42 PM	#11
Peg Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Coast, North Island, New Zealand Posts: 1,375	I damaged a bag and the fairing badly when I high-sided my Voyager last Easter. The rear guard got bent out of shape, which cracked the lower part of the bag completely in half, down the front through where it's mounted, and the fairing was broken away from the mount points on the right side... plus cracks & scrapes everywhere. I took the bits to a plastic welder (you know, the sort of fella that works on plastic car fenders), and he was able to make them look almost like new again. The paint shop did the rest. The welder told me this plastic the Voyager is made from is very easy to work with, and to repair. There's no sign now that anything was ever damaged. Once you have the parts repaired (and in there you're lucky... you won't need paint), I'd suggest you check carefully when bolting it back up that everything lines up properly. Those cracks can only have occurred if something was out of line? __________________ Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold)
	0

02-09-2015, 11:08 PM	#12
H8BUGZ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midwest Posts: 273	My bags close hard. For the first several thousand miles, I was only getting one latch closed. I have to push firmly over top of each latch separately to get them both to click shut. I see no damage after 13,000 miles and hope it stays that way. I did try to adjust the latches, but there is nothing you can really move. The 3 mounting bolts are fairly easy to start.
	0

02-10-2015, 02:30 AM	#13
Peg Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Coast, North Island, New Zealand Posts: 1,375	Mine were not easy to latch when I got the bike. I've found that a good squirt of WD40 or similar in the mechanism helps, along with careful closing - as you suggest. Gentle lowering of the lid, then firm pressure over top of each latch till the click is heard. __________________ Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold)
	0

02-10-2015, 08:28 AM	#14
houndawg Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Joplin, Mo Posts: 70	I just used velcro and put it on the inside of me saddle bag. I also used the velco to hold my rain gear inside the lid too.
	0