Fixing Gray Plastic vs Black Plastic Saddlebags - Updated

[Snuff™]

My step-son wants another set of saddlebags.  Which set is easier to make repairs, early Twin Cams vs. Newer Twin Cams?   I will be making modifications to make them fit  '91 EG.  Thank-you

[Boe Cole]

Can you elaborate on 'repairs'?  Major rebuild or minor hole patching?

[Snuff™]

To make '93 and up fit a '91, the front vertical half of the right saddlebag will need to be cut out to make room for the battery.  Metal or fiberglass will need to be used to mold to shape.

[phatbob]

In my opinion it is easier to fix the fiberglass bags. They are made out of SMC resin, so if you do make repairs use SMC resin.

[serider]

Snuff, I've got a set of each (02RK, 05EG), both need repair. Let me know if you are in the market for a set. I'm sure we could work something out.

[Boe Cole]

Given what you are trying to do, I personally would go with fiberglass but I've had experience with it and very little with the plastic.  I believe you have to 'weld' it which would make forming pieces very difficult in my opinion.  Have "bondo'd" the plastic in the past and was not impressed with its ultimate rigidity.

Just my $0.02 worth.  If you are good with welding plastic, and can form the pieces you need, it may be the better way to go for you.

I'd like to see how they turn out and what you ultimately decide to do.  Please do a follow up post when you get it done and how you did it.

[Nebraskarider1]

Try seattledyna, I think his website is Mikeshawgpaint.com  he talked about doing repairs on the 2 different types of plastic in another post and which products to use on each one

[cycleman11]

I've had experience with the fiberglass bags, fit a 60/70's pair of panhead bags to an 08 Softail.  The brackets can be adapted from the 60/70's  generation of bike and with using the quick release mounts for the rear trunk carrier, it will space them out enough to clear the swingarm, which is an issue on the softails. You have to change the mounting holes a bit ( takes a bit of grinding etc ) but they bolt up fine.

It will also depend on what size of bags you are going to put on.  Think everything through before you start, measure twice as they say.

[Snuff™]

...I'd like to see how they turn out and what you ultimately decide to do.  Please do a follow up post when you get it done and how you did it.

Here's the Project.  My old '91 FLHS Wineberry Pearl,  The bike is 99% orig and have the part to turn it back to 100% (as you may tell, I'm an AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club of America) member).  I sold the bike to my step-son about 8 years ago.  He wants to now change the color (which I never did like the color when I bought it, but too cheap to pay to have it done) to Flat Black or Black Hammer Finish Rustoluem (both of those being suggested by me).  As of tonight, we now have replacement parts to do this and keep the orig pcs. untouched.

The issue with the saddlebags are '93-'13 bags will not fit, do to the battery mounted outside the frame/behind saddlebag.  Because of the lack of bodywork experience, I think it will be much easier to relocate the battery inside the frame fabricating a battery tray and using a slightly smaller battery vs. cutting the newer saddlebag and molding it like the original.  The side cover will be cut (see blue line in pic) and existing battery tray carefully removed from the saddlebag guard.  This should keep bodywork to a minimum.

Here's some pics to show the beginning of the project.  The last 2 pics are of the damage to the newer saddlebags.  I'll give Mike (Seattledyna) a call in the near future about his expertice.  Mike's painted my inner fairing 2 years ago using a Marbleizing technique

[hbkeith]

Why are you wanting different bags ? if you go with old bags like early shovelhead bags, the locks and hinges are not the greatest (had more than 1 lid fly down the road). That newer style you have there looks like fiberglass (pre 04),cut out the batterybox area off your stock bags ,make cut out and mount to those newer bags you have, both are fiberglass I believe

[Snuff™]

Why are you wanting different bags ? ...

He wants to paint the bike a different color...and have the option to return the bike back to original, be it 10 or 20 years later.  That bike has been in the family and he want to keep it in the family instead of getting another bike, just wants a different look.

...if you go with old bags like early shovelhead bags, the locks and hinges are not the greatest (had more than 1 lid fly down the road).

If you put a pin through the front clip of the saddlebag it keeps the skid marks off the color side of the lid.  Then just do what most of us did on those bags, "Bungee it down." 

...That newer style you have there looks like fiberglass (pre 04),cut out the batterybox area off your stock bags ,make cut out and mount to those newer bags you have, both are fiberglass I believe

The whole point was to keep the "Original Paint" bags in original condition for future use.  I did have a thought to wrap the orig bag in cellophane wrap and lay fiberglass mat/resin to mold the shape, cut that section out of the newer bag and fiberglass it to the newer bag.  But because of the lack of body work experience, for me it would be easier to relocate the battery. JMO

[hbkeith]

Ok got ya  , hell it might be worth checkin with a body man then ,that aint much work for a guy that does it everyday, might be cheap. but it still sucks putting bungees on a new paint job 

[Snuff™]

.. but it still sucks putting bungees on a new paint job 

I remember that.  Still got them.   B&B (Bags and Bungees)   

Note the pins thru the clips.

[Slammers]

 

[555]

 What your looking for is a saddle bag off a 2005 road king police. The Abs is where you bat is now.

[Snuff™]

Here's an update to this topic showing saddlebag mods.

Thanks Doug, Steve and Mike!

http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,62921.msg672805.html#msg672805