OEM Top Case Warning!!

[nitramshirley]

I think I am f#&!ing screwed. I am have been struggling with the OEM top case key cylinder install for hours and have my case locked in closed position and cannot get it opened without feeling like I am going to either break my spare ignition key or some cheap plastic piece in the case locking mechanism. Its is going to take an engineer or something to figure this mess. I am going to take back to the dealer I bought it from and have them figure it out.
I am so damn pissed off right now I could scream. IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DAMN HARD TO INSTALL!!!! WTF!!!
It pisses me off that this top case deal is bringing me down from my one week high of owning the S10.
There I said it and feel slightly better now. I'll go for a spin on the S10 sans top case and maybe that will help even more.

I TOTALLY AGREE with STPanther! did you find an easy way to break into the box? I discovered this thread too late and now can't unlock the box due to following the precise instructions on the enclosed paperwork. UNBELIEVABLE that Yamaha has not fixed the diagram on the instructions. I bought my box online, so I am truly screwed. I'm going to have to crawl into a dealership and beg for a fix. They will have to break into the box somehow, then I'm going to have to re-install the lock....IF they don't break the latch. This is incredibly annoying. Anyone have tips on how to move the latch without the bloody lock being used?

 

[julfinfax]

Aunt: How did Jim do his history examination?Mother: Oh, not at all well, but there, it wasn't his fault. Why, they asked him things that happened before the poor boy was born.
Teacher: What is the plural of mouse?Pupil: Mice.Teacher: Good, now what's the plural of baby?

 

[fredz43]

Aunt: How did Jim do his history examination?Mother: Oh, not at all well, but there, it wasn't his fault. Why, they asked him things that happened before the poor boy was born.
Teacher: What is the plural of mouse?Pupil: Mice.Teacher: Good, now what's the plural of baby?

Hey mods. WTF?

 

[Ramseybella]

Yes, on purpose and by accident. ::013::

Thats a Stupid Question!
Aren't we born Stupid?

::003::

 

[htuter]

I have my lock cylinder replaced 2 times each time it was big pain and enourmous efford to reinstall the lock. the worrying part the lock has somehow loosen and fallen while I was riding and the top case remain locked with out any lock cylinder on it.
2 times replaced under warranty. I am using the last one more than 1 year without any promblem and I am checking the screws behind the lock regularly and lever let them loose to prevent that situation

 

[Geekay]

Have you used threadlock on those little screws? Is it worth doing? Worrying that the lock mechanism can fall out and leave the case locked shut!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[djm_ct]

The only issue I've had with my factory cases is one of the cylinders falling out due to the little screws in the back. Luckily it fell inside and I was able to retrieve it easily.

I have noticed people mentioning lubricating the locks with WD40, etc. This is a bad idea! It's never a good idea to use a liquid lubricant on locks. It attracts dust and grit that stick to and wear away at the inner workings of the cylinder. Use dry graphite. Just shoot some into your locks occasionally and they should work smoothly.
Also always push down on the lid to relieve the pressure before turning the key. Hope this helps.

 

[BravoBravo]

The only issue I've had with my factory cases is one of the cylinders falling out due to the little screws in the back. Luckily it fell inside and I was able to retrieve it easily.

I have noticed people mentioning lubricating the locks with WD40, etc. This is a bad idea! It's never a good idea to use a liquid lubricant on locks. It attracts dust and grit that stick to and wear away at the inner workings of the cylinder. Use dry graphite. Just shoot some into your locks occasionally and they should work smoothly.
Also always push down on the lid to relieve the pressure before turning the key. Hope this helps.

::026:: on using graphite rather than WD40, and also to pressing down on the lid. I have found this is the key to smooth opening and closing of the OEM top box.

 

[Boulder]

OMG

You guys are killing me!!


Very first thing to do even if they are brand new!!

Dont use oem screws go get some stainless steel screws that are a little longer to be able to fit a nut lock washer on (only longer to accommodate a lock nut washer) so it screws in same amount as oem screws.. Then use blue locker. Since i did this I have had zero problems. I ride jeep trails and single track up to 80 MPR with oem panniers. Not any issues at all at 12k miles. Yes stock I had both pannier locks fall out.

Just get better screws "phillips" stainless steel and lockwasher and blue lock. You will be good. Mine have not come loose once now with 12k after mod. They are solid.

But if you want be a baby and complain to yamaha how shitty they are.. To me they work great!! Just need to fix. Cost me 3 dollars.
As far as opening and closing-man up and yes as above stated press down on lid to open and close. Works fine. Add wd40 if needed. No big deal to push down and twist while opening and shutting. I like it as when doing this I know for sure it is locked securely before I walk off.

My panniers were free so damn I don't care if I have to be careful and finicky with lock to make sure it is sealed. Takes less then .5 seconds per lock to check.
Yes when I damage these to the point of replacement I will get Jesse or Trax someday but so far no damage. And they do the job perfectly.

boulder

 

[fredgreen]

When you pay what Yamaha is asking for luggage, you shouldn't have to dick around with anything! Not longer screws, Loctite, specially formulated dog shit, nothing! These latches are pure crap! Shame on Yamaha for putting this junk on the market. I have the technical ability to make them stay together and function, but I shouldn't have to do a damn thing other than mount them on the bike and drive. Now post rant, I dissembled the lock and sprayed all the mechanism with dry graphite spray. The catching that is felt while locking the box is a metal tab on the back that locks into a plastic cam (genius idea there Bullwinkle). The key can be remove from any box while on the bench by hand closing the latches that hold the box to the bike, rotate the key to lock position and remove it.

 

[VPS1]

This may be an obvious question...... I bought my bike used so I am not sure what has or hasn't been done with these locks. I have looked inside the cases and see two screws above the lock area and 2 below. Are these the 4 screws or are the ones we need to change behind this plate they hold on? Thanks!

 

[Boulder]

Agreed Fredgreen..

You shouldn't have to mess with anything if you pay premium or even less price for these panniers. But it is what it is. I would have been pissed also if I paid $1,100.00 or whatever they are selling for. If i knew the issue I would of gotten Jesses instead or touratech.

My bike came with them so $3.00 to fix. And getting the turning key technique down so I don't scream and throw the panniers into the lake worked for me. So now I can go right up and open mine just fine without frustration and loss of time.

Nova Scotia-I am planning a trip up there this year. My ancestors are from there.


Cheers,

Boulder

 

[Boulder]

This may be an obvious question...... I bought my bike used so I am not sure what has or hasn't been done with these locks. I have looked inside the cases and see two screws above the lock area and 2 below. Are these the 4 screws or are the ones we need to change behind this plate they hold on? Thanks!

No not those screws don't mess with those!
They are the two screws inside the end of the lock cylinder.

Signs of bad lock that will fall out eventually-The cylinder should be flushed with the mechanism in the front of the pannier and not protruding with no movement. If there is modify immediately.


Peel off the rubber lid in the center. Use a screwdriver or some strong fingernails to pull off.

Then you will see the lock cylinder and the two screws I am talking about. They hold the lock in place.
You will need the goofy star wrench to get those screws out.
Those two screws are made of cheap aluminum or really crappy metal and strip easily from the vibration of the bike or threads are so cheap they just strip over time.
Go get better screws that match thread pitch and size. Dont reuse OEM ones they are crap.
Hence the falling out of the cylinder (locks) while riding and frustration of turning the keys-when cylinders move the lock becomes very finicky to catch gears so loose cylinders compound the finicky issue by 10 fold.

There should not be any movement of those cylinders if so yours is going bad and will fall out at some point.

If someone upgraded the screws they shouldn't be starred, cheap metal, and or you will see lock tight blue paste on them or a lock-nut on them.

Be careful as you will need to put pressure on the starred cheap screws while turning as star head strip easily while taking out.

I would replace the starred head OEM screws with better type.

One last thing for everyone. if your Cylinder happens to fall out and you dont find it and your box is locked (latched shut) There is hope. You can place your finger in the hole and twist to open. Your finger will catch the ridge that needs to be moved to open. Yes it hurts a little but only way to open it unless you have a screwdriver you can do that also but you have to make sure you find the right ridge that moves to move the latch uptop. And you need to do this while pressure on top of lid.

Good luck,

Boulder

 

[VPS1]

Thanks Boulder, that is very helpful. It didn't seem like those were the correct screws. I will get this done!

 

[fredgreen]

Agreed Fredgreen..

You shouldn't have to mess with anything if you pay premium or even less price for these panniers. But it is what it is. I would have been pissed also if I paid $1,100.00 or whatever they are selling for. If i knew the issue I would of gotten Jesses instead or touratech.

My bike came with them so $3.00 to fix. And getting the turning key technique down so I don't scream and throw the panniers into the lake worked for me. So now I can go right up and open mine just fine without frustration and loss of time.

Nova Scotia-I am planning a trip up there this year. My ancestors are from there.


Cheers,
I did the same as you, took about an hour to get them set up to my liking. Still think the plastic latch is a cheap piece of crap, but then, I bought the bike with the bags on it. If I had bought those bags, I would have took them back to the dealer and demanded my money back, them bought Jesse's to go on it.
Boulder

 

[rbernie]

I installed the top case on my 2013, using the factory directions, in about fifteen minutes without issue. Looking at the pictures in the instructions carefully, especially the depiction of the lock orientation and such, is important - kinda like putting together Ikea furniture. I had to hunt around to find my anti-tamper T10 torx bit, but it was easy peasy once I had that. You cannot get a regular T10 bit in the screw; you have GOT to use the anti-tamper version.

I took the opportunity to put medium loctite on all of the lock cylinder screws while I was installing the top case, including the side cases, thanks to the tips that I read here. Hopefully that'll serve me well.

I have found that the top case is too small to hold my size L Shoei Neotec, but it'll hold my Arai regular/non-flip size L helmet. For light/bulky stuff that I take on the road with me, it's working out well.

I also like the fact that I cannot start the bike without having the key OUT of the OEM luggage. I have learned the hard way (locked out of a Givi top case on the road many moons ago due to leaving the key in the lock and having it fall out) that a single key forces a discipline that serves me well when I'm weeks on the road and many miles from useful help.

 

[Pilotuh1b]

I've just picked up my S10 with OEM panniers and I had a bit of a time learning the locks initially, but pushing the lids down as you turn the key is the secret.

If you have a look at the underside of the lid, when it's open, there are two small spring loaded tabs which put pressure on the latch when it's locked.

Anyone got a single handed way of taking the boxes off the bike yet?? One benefit I see of OEM luggage all round is being able to open all three boxes on the bike together. It would get my goat to have the topbox 'lock' the panniers. ::010::

I've ordered the OEM topbox and I am glad i read this before trying to fit the tumbler. I guess the biggest take away is to go slow and expect it to be fiddly with poor instructions. ::022::

Thanks everyone,
Pilotuh1b

 

[McBride]

I am totally amazed at the price we paid for yamaha panniers that I think are so cheaply made. Almost everything in the locking mechanisms are plastic, and no lube at all. I am use to Yamaha screwing us on prices, but this blows my mind. I just hope the S10 is built better. I sure wish I had some Yamaha stock. Lol

 

[trikepilot]

I have all three cases - never a single issue. BUT ... I am very careful and have read all these threads on proper care and feeding.

I don't get all the indignation. Does any manufacturer make OEM luggage that is as good as the aftermarket stuff out there? They all are cutting costs and corners and to get the cheapest gear they can to maximize profits.

Just do your homework and they will do just fine!

 

[Pilotuh1b]

I have all three cases - never a single issue. BUT ... I am very careful and have read all these threads on proper care and feeding.

I don't get all the indignation. Does any manufacturer make OEM luggage that is as good as the aftermarket stuff out there? They all are cutting costs and corners and to get the cheapest gear they can to maximize profits.

Just do your homework and they will do just fine!

Agreed. If you treat them right they are as good as any other bikes OEM luggage.

The one exception is BMW by Touratech, they are very different to Honda Crosstourer or Triumph Tiger OEM luggage.

Pilotuh1b