My tank bag (SW-MoTech EVO DayPack) isn't waterproof, just water resistant. So on days when I ride to work, if there is a chance of rain I put the tank bag into the top box for protection.
I just beat the rain to the office this morning. The pull wire for the bag latch won't move, so the bag won't come off the tank ring. Argh! I'm standing there as the rain starts. After several seconds I give up and put the rain fly on the tank bag. Good thing I didn't have to stop for gas this morning.
Once the rain moves through, I go out and take a look. Fortunately the screws to remove the bag from the latch mechanism are easily accessible from inside the bag, under a velcro flap.
After unscrewing the bag, it still takes a minute or more of fiddling with the latch to release it from the ring. Once removed, it takes great effort to pull the latch wire with enough force to move the mechanism.
Upon disassembling the mechanism, all the pieces are hard plastic except the pull wire and the return springs. There is a wheel inside that turns a small amount when the wire is pulled. The turning of the wheel causes 2 plates to slide away from each other, releasing the latches from the tank ring.
It's hard to see in the next picture, but I've moved the wheel with my right thumb. You can see that the 2 plates are separated by a few millimeters; compare it to the picture above that shows the plates close together.
This last picture shows the mechanism disassembled as far as I cared to take it. On the underside of each plate is a tab that fits into a slot in the wheel. It's hard to visualize, but when the wire is pulled and the wheel turns, the tabs slide in the slots and move the plates to release the latches. The springs then push the plates back together when the pull wire is released.
There doesn't appear to have ever been any grease or other lubrication in the mechanism. This mechanism has worked flawlessly the entire time I've had it, over 3 years. I've ridden in the rain some lately, but it has never been a problem before, even when I was caught in a big storm in Wyoming in 2018 where the rain was blowing horizontally. There doesn't appear to be any signs of wear or friction on any of the parts. I wonder what caused it to start sticking.
I used some Molykote 111 grease we have here at the office to lubricate the mechanism and now it operates smoothly. The product sheet says it has "excellent water resistance" and is "compatible with many plastics and elastomers." Fingers crossed that the lube doesn't harm the plastic of the mechanism. If so, new mechanisms are available for about $53.
I just beat the rain to the office this morning. The pull wire for the bag latch won't move, so the bag won't come off the tank ring. Argh! I'm standing there as the rain starts. After several seconds I give up and put the rain fly on the tank bag. Good thing I didn't have to stop for gas this morning.
Once the rain moves through, I go out and take a look. Fortunately the screws to remove the bag from the latch mechanism are easily accessible from inside the bag, under a velcro flap.
After unscrewing the bag, it still takes a minute or more of fiddling with the latch to release it from the ring. Once removed, it takes great effort to pull the latch wire with enough force to move the mechanism.
Upon disassembling the mechanism, all the pieces are hard plastic except the pull wire and the return springs. There is a wheel inside that turns a small amount when the wire is pulled. The turning of the wheel causes 2 plates to slide away from each other, releasing the latches from the tank ring.
It's hard to see in the next picture, but I've moved the wheel with my right thumb. You can see that the 2 plates are separated by a few millimeters; compare it to the picture above that shows the plates close together.
This last picture shows the mechanism disassembled as far as I cared to take it. On the underside of each plate is a tab that fits into a slot in the wheel. It's hard to visualize, but when the wire is pulled and the wheel turns, the tabs slide in the slots and move the plates to release the latches. The springs then push the plates back together when the pull wire is released.
There doesn't appear to have ever been any grease or other lubrication in the mechanism. This mechanism has worked flawlessly the entire time I've had it, over 3 years. I've ridden in the rain some lately, but it has never been a problem before, even when I was caught in a big storm in Wyoming in 2018 where the rain was blowing horizontally. There doesn't appear to be any signs of wear or friction on any of the parts. I wonder what caused it to start sticking.
I used some Molykote 111 grease we have here at the office to lubricate the mechanism and now it operates smoothly. The product sheet says it has "excellent water resistance" and is "compatible with many plastics and elastomers." Fingers crossed that the lube doesn't harm the plastic of the mechanism. If so, new mechanisms are available for about $53.
