I just got back from a ride from OK, TX, and NM. One of my bags sits lower than the other and rubbed some of the paint off of the cover. Took it by a dealer and they said that the warranty doesn't cover paint. But they couldn't figure how to get it to set like the other side which is about 3/4 of an inch above the cover. Any one else have this? Any ideas?

 

Perhapsyou have lost the rubber bumpers on the bottom of the bag that sits on the support or the rubber seal on the inside of the cover.

 

That was my initial thought. But not the case.

 

You might want to remind your dealer that theHARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE PREDELIVERY AND SETUP MANUAL says that they are to:

"INSTALLING SIDECOVERS AND SADDLEBAGS

Check that each saddlebag is firmly seated on its saddlebag

bottom support rail. Check that adequate clearance exists

between saddlebags and sidecovers. The front and rear

mounting brackets of each saddlebag have slotted mounting

holes (on the bracket ends which attach to the motorcycle) to

allow for vertical adjustment of the saddlebag. If adjustment is

necessary, loosen the bolts which secure the saddlebag

mounting brackets to the motorcycle. Press down and to the

rear firmly on closed saddlebag, and then tighten the bolts to

60-96

 

Most definitely- fatboylust is right on the money. Call the HD customer service center and report the issue to them and explain that the improper set upby the dealeris what lead to the damage. What ever you do, DON'T SETTLE FOR THEIR BULLSH*T. Be extremely pissed off and demanding. We pay too muck f**king money for these bikes to have to put up with bullsh*t. Persistance usaully pays off.

 

I had this issue... called Corp to get the monkeys to do their job. Sundowner seat is famous for doing this. Bike ordered with the Sundowner seat on it...

 

Mine did the same thing. Even though it wasn't covered under warranty the SM got a custom painter they use to repaint my side cover free of charge. It all comes down to the bags being adjusted correctly at set-up.

Of course if you took your brackets off for any reason, such as to install docking hardware or whatnot, chances are they are not lined up exactly like they were. There is alot of fine tuning involved with those brackets to find just the right spot where the bags will sit right in their supports and still not rub the side covers.

 

GRRRREAT post, FBL--you absolutely, positively nailed it.

 

Thanks for the help guys.

 

B/S on the warranty! Just got my left lid replaced and dealer called me to let me know the sidecover was in - yes, under warranty. I don't know who paid for it, dealer or HD, don't care -- it wasn't me. While they were at it, they put in some spacers to ensure it doens't happen again. Oh, and they immediately adjusted the bags when I first took it back to them. This was at the 1K checkup.

Ditto - call HD if your dealer won't help you.