TRI GLIDE SADDLEBAGS AND BUMPER

[glens]

The bottom line is the instructions are wrong - dealer tech just followed them.

I'm not calling you a liar or anything, but I very highly doubt that's what happened.  In your other thread I posted a picture of the template and it did not match the layout of your bags.  There's no way in hell they followed the instructions correctly.

[GaryD]

glen, when this all started, I took the template and and it was dead on. If the instructions would have had one more step there wouldn't have been a problem. Example: Step ?  After sitting the bag on the bottom posts, rotate bag until it is parallel with the fender, then drill upper hole.

OR

If inside bottom posts were about 1/8" higher, all would have been fine.

Take your pick which would be a better install direction.
This time I think the MoCo is completely wrong. It will be couriuos to see if they correct this mistake. Like I said earlier, my dealer has already informed new bag owners on this problem and the solution and let them decide which way they want the bags installed. Now dealers are going to have to convince Milwaukee to update. YEA, LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN.

[razar]

Probably a translation issue from Japanese to English,

[Tsani]

So then you didn't speak with the Dealer Rep.

[GaryD]

razor, you're probably right. The dimensions should have been converted to inches. ROFLMAO

Tsani, no he was suppost to come down on a Thursday and I was going to ride the bike to the dealer for him to see it, but he cancelled.

I had an issue about 8 years ago and that rep did came down and staightened out the problem.
So my record is 50/50 now.

[GaryD]

glens, here are a few pictures of the modified bags.

A lot better looking then the original install.

[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

[truck]

Oh hell yeah that looks better!

[glens]

Okay, in the instructions ( http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/Service/isheets/-J05157.pdf ) there is a picture of the template mounted on the left side.  I've copied it out and rotated it 4° so that the two holes are horizontal.  Then I drew a vertical line midway between them.  It appears as though that line is parallel to the inside edge of the fender.  From the drawing in the instructions, it appears as though both the lower pair and the upper single mount are centered side-to-side.  If this is so, your upper mount point in the fender should be located somewhere on the line in my picture below.  How about providing us a snapshot of the left side from the same perspective, without the bag mounted, so a direct comparison can be made?  As well, one of the back of the bag.

Also, see the parts list attached (taken from the instructions).  In your two pictures of the left side earlier in this thread, which one shows the bag with the part number shown in the parts list for the left side?

When I compare my rotated image to your two pictures just above, it's plain to me that they either did not correctly follow the instructions for affixing the template to the bike, or they did not seat the bag fully down onto both posts before marking the upper hole location.  Based on what I'm seeing in my rotated image, if your posts are horizontal (or at least on a line perpendicular to the side of the fender), the upper mount should've been located on a line parallel to the side of the fender and passing midway between the two posts.  Comparing that to your image of the rear of the bag, that's patently not the case.  They messed up, the instructions are good but they did not follow them correctly.

This reminds me of the time I was installing a large, corner, "Roman" bathtub which had water jets, etc.  There were  4 holes to be drilled through the fiberglass for mounting the two valve handles, the spout and a spray nozzle.  I missed the fact that the hole for the spout was smaller than the other three until such time as I tried to install the spout.  Luckily I had the presence of mind to call a buddy who had a lathe in his garage and had him cut me a piece of aluminum ~3/16" thick with an outer diameter of 1-1/8" and with a concentric 7/8" hole.  Solid as a rock and no harm, no foul.  He charged me nothing and saved me about $1200 plus a few hours labor.  I messed up then and your guys did this time.

It looks a lot better, I'm glad it worked out for you.  I just hope the one lower mount point is still sufficiently in a slot.  It looks "from here" like it'd be mostly in a hole.

[GaryD]

glens, both hole on the bag sit on the posts as per the instructions. There was one other way they could have modified the bag brackets, and the way I would have prefered, leave the top hole alone and weld a small half moon plug( about 1/8" high) in the bottom inside hole. That way the bag would lean about 1" to the outside up at the top.
I hope that's clear - sounds confusing to me. LOL

Back when I complained about the bags the dealer called me in to see how the template was installed, it was as your picture shows and per the instructions. If you look closely at the template, it is quite possible to be off about 1/16" and to me that would be enough to throw the top off enough so that the bags looked crooked. I'm going to re-re-read the instructions again. The first time I read them there seemed to be missing a step.
Anyway, it's over and I'm satisfied. Now I can't wait for summer so I can see what all the hubub on the heat issue there is. Hopefully I have done enough to lower it to my satisfaction.