Trunk Latches

And you thought the Russians had sloppy quality control. The Early URALS and all Dnepers had poor fits but the Red Chinese have them beat hands down for shabbiness.

Drill out the rivets on the right latch, shim it out to match the left side and rivet or bolt it back together. You ma need a dab of touchup paint.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Thanks, Lonnie.

I would have to agree that they aren't built the best although so far the trunk has been the most aggravating. Would have liked to buy a better sidecar but would be eating weenie water soup if I had.

We put a 105 miles on it yesterday and had a lot of fun.

I am surprised that the wheel bearings don't have a cover on them also. Kind of like the other stuff that comes from China huh.

Drilling the rivets out will not be a problem because I plan on repainting the side car this summer.

My bike is black and I had thought about painting the sidecar hot rod primer black rather than glossy. Have you heard anything negative about doing that?

Thanks for the help and I think I have my pipes sold so will be looking for the windshield and apron soon.

Fred

The old Flat Black hotrod primer from 1950 is all the rage now.
Harley has the Retro flat Black and other flat tones in their '09 linup.
Old is the new, new.
We used to keep our roadsters in primer because we were always modifying them and it was "affordable". Really affordable touchup after it came in rattle cans. I had friends who waxed their Black primered rods.

Lonnie

Lonnie wrote:
>>I had friends who waxed their Black primered rods.<<

With a mix of oil and kerosene ? Not too shabby a look really. Then we found clear paint over flat worked...WOW.

Lonnie, I will give the Harley site a look see on the primer.

I may just give it a try.

Fred

Not really a related subject, but this thread is the closest I have found for this tid bit of knowledge. If you have a Champion Escort or perhaps any Champion sidecar, the key for the trunk will also unlock the juice machines found in most hotels/motels offering a breakfast service. They usually lock these wonderful little machines after breakfast, but after a long, hot, sweaty ride while touring I really enjoy some OJ to get some much needed potassium back into my old body. OJ and some bananas really do the trick. Just don't get caught and tell them I told you about this.

Uber

paint finish: just don't wash, the mud makes it look great.

Latches with adjustment are great, but might dismantle from vibration, and not adjustable ones might bend (specially cheepies like on Sputnik and far east)
Something has to cead, so a little rubber might make the trick.
Sven

Sven the bugs kind of blend right in with the mud also.

I did put a piece of rubber on the corner that was latching and for some reason the other side latched. Must have put a little twist on the trunk is all I can think of.

We have good latches but if I used an after market adjustable latch I would probably need a way to release the seat without opening the trunk in case something went out of adjustment and trunk wouldn't open.

Fred

Helo Fred,
that bad quality?

Well we say:
How to you recognize the happy biker?
- When the flies are smiling in between the teeth.

Here where I live most of the year we do not have to hastle with flies, but when the wasps and may bugs come - duck.
More often you have to take care of land slides, drunken, bicicles without light, dogs or find your way through the strand crabs invading the beach roads... These oportunists invade the road to eat their crunched companions... just like human bussines men!!!!

Regards
Sven

had thought about painting the sidecar hot rod primer black rather than glossy. Have you heard anything negative about doing that?
==================================================================
Unless you clear coat it you will wish you hadn't done that, bugs, bird crap (really hard to get off), oil stains are next to get off unless clear coated plus it will turn gray in areas, maybe Armor All would keep it decent.

I believe they make a flat top coat paint, that has the look of the primer but is put on as finish coat. I saw it on one of the gearhead shows on tv.

I have the exact same issue with my CJ trunk. There is too much play in the sliding mechanism and that is why it does not latch. i will try a shim between the mechanism first before drilling out the rivets to see if this works. Also, keep an eye on the rubber bushings up front. change the Chinese bolts and nuts before you have a problem. Oh, and watch out on the connections to the bike if they are Chinese,change them too!

David, maybe I should have bought a Ural, huh. I will look at shimming the slam lock also.

What's the deal with the the front rubber mounts. Something wrong with the rubber or is it the bolts that hold it together?

If by connection you mean how it is hooked up to the bike I don't think there is any issue there. I believe the guy who installed took care of that.

The 4 nuts and bolts that hold on the metal piece that holds the rubber pieces if the original chinese nuts and bolts are still there they will loosen unexpectedly. replace with western made nuts and bolts.

Originally written by Fast Fred on 6/8/2009 8:05 PM

David, maybe I should have bought a Ural, huh. I will look at shimming the slam lock also.What's the deal with the the front rubber mounts. Something wrong with the rubber or is it the bolts that hold it together?If by connection you mean how it is hooked up to the bike I don't think there is any issue there. I believe the guy who installed took care of that.