Vetter hard bags but no keys...

I was just given a pair of Vetter Hard bags that was on a XS11 Special but there's no keys to go with them. The fellow who had them sold the trunk and gave the keys away with that. I have the mounting hardware but there's two locks on each bag; one to open the bag and the other to release the bag so you can carry it like luggage.

I wrote Craig Vetter & he gave me a link to his site where he says there's no replacement keys for them and to drill the lock mechanism out and then buy a new replacement and modify it to fit. That won't help the lock that releases the bag from the bolted on hardware. What is offered is near the top of the following URL.

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Vet...questions.html

I tried the double sided key from my Vetter V faring in hopes but... no cigar, it won't fit in the lock.

Here are some shots of one of the bags & you can see the door lock in the first photo & the mounting hardware lock in the 2nd photo. The 3rd lets you see the back of the locking mechanism:








Anyone have this issue before & know how I might best deal with a missing key since I can't get one from Vetter? If you have the same bags could you send me a photo of the kind/shape of key that it uses so I can show it to a locksmith?

Thanks!

 

Any locksmith worth his salt will have this thing open and a new key cut in nothing flat...cost on the other hand...well that's another issue.

 

These locks are fairly conventional "cam locks" - available most anywhere. The one that holds the bag to the frame rotates a brass piece that spreads the spring "fingers" apart so the locating pin can be removed. This brass piece is also NLA so be careful and don't lose any parts. You can spread the spring apart manually to get the bags off and then you can remove the lock barrel from the bag (there is a ring nut that holds the barrel on the bag's mounting tab). You might be able to get the bag panels off by removing the hinge screws. If you do, then the bag panel locks can be removed in a similar way.

A locksmith should be able to "pick" each of the 4 locks but it may take time (and time is $). If you are able to remove the locks, you could also get replacement cam locks (get them from a locksmith so you can get locks with matching keys).

 

I tried all the local locksmiths & none felt they had the blanks. I'm thinking they really don't want to deal with small stuff. I found one lock maker who opened the case but couldn't get the frame lock open & he's going to see if he can make a key from the case lock to open the other locks.

More... I'm having doubts though that the frame is designed to fit the XJ1100, I was told the XS Special has the same bolt-on pattern & this came off a Special but it's not looking like it wants to bolt onto hole locations/bolts in the frame. I may need to fabricate a proper mount if I get stymied. If anyone has an XJ1100 with this kind of Vetter bag attached, please remove the bag & post a photo of how the bag frame is attached to the bike frame. That would be a big help.

Thanks!

 

I was going to suggest him picking the easiest one and trying to make a key for it that will then fit the other lock.

or, do what i did, I got a trunk with my bike but the keys were gone. I got the po to give me the number of the guy that had the bike before him, and i called him up and asked him about the keys. he said he would look around and turns out he found them in the back of some drawer.

it never hurts to ask, perhaps you could track down who he sold the trunk to and convince that guy to get a spare made and mailed to ya. i wouldn't have a problem doing that if someone asked me.

good luck and throw up some pics once you get those bad boys mounted!

 

Yeah, finding the top's owner for the key would be wonderful. Problem is these bags have been sitting on a shelf wrapped in plastic bags for the last "22 years" & he sold the top back then because he didn't like the added upper weight & knew he wouldn't use it again. He wanted to use the bags so they stayed in storage but minus the keys. Now he has a Harley with matched bags so these went on the block when he uncovered them as he preps to move to a new house.

He was charging for them but didn't realize the keys were gone. It was then he gave them to me but didn't have the time to ship. I did though have to drive a long way & over a bridge that has a $6.50 toll each way so they still cost me the same if I'd picked them up locally.

 

Search your local area for a shop that repairs luggage. I found one near Seattle that had blanks in stock for my Samsonite hardbags. Vetter bags might be less common, but they might have something close. Good luck.

 

Try Ace Hardware for blanks.

 

In your search bar type, vetter hard bags,replacement keys then frequently asked questions.

 

Sucks about the lost keys.

Finding a REAL Old-School locksmith is not easy. Luckily I have at least one in my area (until they also are gone).

As far as blanks... I'm not sure how "standard" the keys Vetter used back in the day. My first set of Vetter luggage and fairing had a total of 5 different keys. So either they set was hobbled together or locks were replaced over the years.

I swapped out the locks for a second set and now I'm down to 2 keys for all 6 locks.

The locks are normal cam style locks, however the square socket for the lock arms are NOT the same size as modern locks.

Get the locks open/off (hopefully picked and not drilled out) and take them to the store/locksmith to get same/similar sized locks. Then you will probably have to get creative to make the lock arms (and block for the frame lock) to work.

Rarely you might see a lock set on ebay as well! However prices will vary.

 

From here: http://craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fai ... tions.html



"How do I get new keys for my Vetter equipment? (Nov 2009)
"I'd like to get all new locks with the same key."
Craig answers: There are no keys. The numbers on the lock mean nothing.

Well, we have a problem here.

Here is what you do:

For locks that are locked: With a 3/16- 1/4" dia. drill bit, drill thru where your key goes.

This messes it all up so you can use a screw driver to turn the lock.

Take the old lock to any locksmith store and buy a replacement lock.

The new lever that comes with your lock will work fine for the tonneu and the saddlebag doors.

However... You will notice that the square cam at the bottom of the lock is larger than the original Vetter cam, so the Vetter lever will not work.

Here are my suggestions to replace the saddlebag locks. The locks we used "seem" to be made today. They look exactly the same. But the little square cam that holds the lever is much bigger now. The only way you are like to solve your problem is to take one of your lock assemblies to a locksmith and have him order as many as you need for all your locks - all with the same key. The fairing cover parts will go on easily as mentioned above. The saddlebag door and Tail trunk door will work also using the supplied lever.

The locks that hold the bag are the problem. They must have the square cam filed down to fit the original Vetter brass cam. The brass cam also will probably need to be drilled out a bit because they use a larger screw today.

This works. I have done it."



Hope that helps...