Side case issues

[Mlr]

I’m looking for some advice. I got an 07 this summer. I’m having trouble with both cases. One won’t open even though the key turns freely and the other won’t close, also with a working key. Both are off of the bike if that matters. Thanks in advance
Maurice

 

[Al st1100]

I’m looking for some advice. I got an 07 this summer. I’m having trouble with both cases. One won’t open even though the key turns freely and the other won’t close, also with a working key. Both are off of the bike if that matters. Thanks in advance
Maurice

07 what? Your avatar shows a v-strom

 

[Sadlsor]

Early on, I had a similar issue with the bags on my 2008, and posted photos showing how I disassembled the larches and repaired them.
Don't know if that post and thread are still here after The Big Move... I'll look for it.

 

[Mlr]

07 what? Your avatar shows a v-strom

St 1300.

 

[Mlr]

Early on, I had a similar issue with the bags on my 2008, and posted photos showing how I disassembled the larches and repaired them.
Don't know if that post and thread are still here after The Big Move... I'll look for it.

Thanks. I'm pretty much stuck at this time.

 

[sirbike]

Liberally spray wd40 into the cracks and crevices around the latch handle might to enough of the mechanism to free up the latches.
WD40 is not a great lube but it is thin enough to spread around inside there.
Worked for me anyway.
Also pushing in on the cover will relieve some friction as you pull the latch handle.
You could get the open bag to latch by spraying lube past the latches as well as the crevices around the latch handle.
I’ve had this fix work for a year or so then need spraying again. Boeshield T9 is probably better for lube once freed up.

If you are mechanically inclined then what i have done and suggest is to disassemble the whole mechanism and lightly coat it all with grease. Should be good for a few years.

 

[Gus1300]

Did they work when you got the bike or have they always been like this?

I would suggest, and it's probably the only option right now, working on the one that won't close first.
Disassemble, see if there are any broken or missing parts, clean and re-lube once you know everything is there. After that you'll have a better understanding of how the lock and its "safeties" work that maybe that will help give insight as to how to approach the one that won't open.

I'd have to look at mine to see if you can get to the hinges from the outside, maybe measure and drill a couple small holes to push the pin(s) out but even then the lock will still need to unlatch at some point to free up the business side and provide access.

Can you describe further what you're seeing the latches do with and without the keys in them, turning, etc? That might help with ideas from others.

 

[Sadlsor]

Can't find my thread from years back.
I remember, I started taking them apart after seeing the parts list on ronayers.com.
The illustration shows how it is put together, so I basically reverse engineered it as i took them apart.
Once the inside of the latch was exposed, I saw where the flat spring had shifted out of place, and I was able to put it back without breaking anything or having to order parts.
It's a fairly simple mechanism, but the pieces have to stay in place and line up, for it all to work.
Maybe I can find the pictures.

 

[motornut]

I had a problem with mine also, mine was fixed with a spray lube with a bit more staying power than WD40, although I did not use a spray grease because of dust contamination.
I do think latches like this are designed to operate with out much lube because of dust retention .
Clean and dry is probably best. I still spray a lube into them, because I can't not lube them Bloow them out first and use a thin fluid spray,
I have had access to some ZEP Teflon spray which somewhat dries out and leaves lube behind

 

[Gus1300]

might a garage door spray lube work as well, without residual stuff to capture dirt?

 

[Mlr]

Did they work when you got the bike or have they always been like this?

I would suggest, and it's probably the only option right now, working on the one that won't close first.
Disassemble, see if there are any broken or missing parts, clean and re-lube once you know everything is there. After that you'll have a better understanding of how the lock and its "safeties" work that maybe that will help give insight as to how to approach the one that won't open.

I'd have to look at mine to see if you can get to the hinges from the outside, maybe measure and drill a couple small holes to push the pin(s) out but even then the lock will still need to unlatch at some point to free up the business side and provide access.

Can you describe further what you're seeing the latches do with and without the keys in them, turning, etc? That might help with ideas from others.

I can’t see any movement with latches as the key is turned. Nor do they move when pushed. I haven’t tried any lube yet as there are higher priorities. Thanks for the info
M

 

[Tdinova]

Push up on the bottom and pull back gently to open. My 07 does it also. Keep giggling until they pull open. Once open spray silicone spray in the hook holes while moving the opening latch. Once they work good, spraysilicone when they start acting up

 

[MI-St1300]

I can’t see any movement with latches as the key is turned. Nor do they move when pushed. I haven’t tried any lube yet as there are higher priorities. Thanks for the info
M

Going out on a limb here based on what you said. I don't believe the key actually has anything to do with the latches. It only prevents the latch handle from opening (or occasionally preventing the latch handle from closing completely). In other words I don't think you can see the key do anything. I usually have to put pressure against the lid with my leg to get the handle to release from the notches.

 

[ST Gui]

Also check the screws in the hinges at the bottom and make sure they're tight. Loose screws can allow the 'lid' to sag messing with the alignment and possibly the latch mechanism.

I wouldn't use WD-40 for anything these days except for actually trying to displace water from some mechanism. I'd use some actual lube that doesn't turn into a gummy mess down the line. I'd try a dry silicone lube spray. The carrier might be enough to loosen any stuck bit. If not there are plenty of other products like Break Free or Rem Oil or plenty of other stable lubes.

 

[jfheath]

If you can't get the case open, then this is not going to be a great deal of help - although it might make you aware of what is happening inside.

I've not published this before - mainly 'cos just after I had written it all up, someone else posted exactly the same information - that one was better ! But right now, I can put my hands on my document. I'd have to go searching for the other one - sometime between around 2019 and 2021.

Edit. I can’t find that one, but @Michael brooks posted a good collection of photos here: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/threads/st1300-side-pannier-disassembly-painting.138653/

If you want detailed photos of any of those in my pdf file - I've still got the original JPGs - roughly 4k x 3k

The only time I have ever got stuck opening from the outside, it has been to do with a combination of lid needing to be pressed in; handle being in the wrong position; inner handle being in the wrong position; key being partly turned. If you do it in a rush, it is easy to get something jammed and the only way to release it is to work systematically and find out which bit is topping another bit from moving. Soemetimes it requires a couple of corrections.

 

[Larry Fine]

Rebinds me of my old '64 Chevy van with a worn shifter that would occasionally go into first and third.

 

[Sadlsor]

I found the photos (March 2020) where I disassembled my pannier to resolve a very sticky lock mechanism. Hopefully you can figure out something by viewing them. If I recall, there is a flat brass piece that had shifted out of place, and this prevented the metal "latch" from engaging the cutout in the plastic handle. The 6th photo titled ST1300 bent leaf spring shows where mine had left its home and had to be wrangled back in place. This was all in 2020, shortly after I got it from my brother-in-law. Hope it makes sense when you see them.
Darn. They all uploaded as a .zip file.
I gotta get to work, I'll come back to this later today and upload the individual pics. and the uploaded file is too large.
I've edited this post a few times since I first put it up today.

 

[Igofar]

Problem resolved.
Move along folks, nothing to see here….
The white courtesy phone rang, I answered, we talked for a couple minutes, and all is good.
Over a dozen replies and nobody saw the most obvious detail
I let the OP explain if he wants to.

 

[MI-St1300]

Problem resolved.
Move along folks, nothing to see here….
The white courtesy phone rang, I answered, we talked for a couple minutes, and all is good.
Over a dozen replies and nobody saw the most obvious detail
I let the OP explain if he wants to.

I'm guessing he wasn't opening the latch handle which I was kind of hinting at when I said the key itself doesn't actually open the latches. Guess I should have elaborated on that. My bad!

 

[Mlr]

Problem resolved.
Move along folks, nothing to see here….
The white courtesy phone rang, I answered, we talked for a couple minutes, and all is good.
Over a dozen replies and nobody saw the most obvious detail
I let the OP explain if he wants to.

Thanks to all that tried to help. It was an issue of not knowing how the latches work. Igofar provided the necessary info and problem solved. Addressing the root cause of problems is almost always a challenge and creates lots of bandaids. Big thanks to igofar. He seems to know some stuff…