Saddlebag rivet method?

[DanM]

How are you guys forming new rivets inside the bags, such as the bottom clips and the latches? Thanks!

[38 el]

On later model fiberglass bags? (square, Panhead and Shovelhead style?)
I made a tool in the lathe that forms the heads over with very little effort.

My friend at the local chopper shop in town has a tool the forms them, looks like a huge set of pliers, sort of, but only works on tourpac lids and upper saddlebag lids that it will fit over. Inside saddlebag brackets, on the bottom of the bags, are hard. It helps to have an extra set of hands to hold them while riviting.

[portagepan]

The replacements for the bottom clips on the fiberglass bags that HD sells are just pop rivets. That is what I use. They work fine. All of the rest of the 1/8" diameter rivets I use a hand rivet squeezer, and dies. I takes a deep throat to do the emblems on the bubble bags. They are 1/16" rivets, semi tubular. Buying a squeezer is rather expensive, unless you are a nut like me, I have two. Some HD shops will loan you theirs, with a deposit. Some good hardware stoers have rivets, otherwise, I use Hanson. Mike

[DanM]

thx for the tips, especially the rivet source and description.

Dan

[portagepan]

Just use regular steel, zinc finish. I tried the stainless. They are hard as a rock! Got a bi=unch of them with no use. Oh well.........I learned, to save somebody else the trouble. The rivets are oval head, and don't forget the washers on the inside. Harley does sell the rivets. At a ridiculous price! Mike

[Bob Farr]

Dan,

I have a c-clamp like tool with a forming tip that rolls back the hollow rivets nicely. Even the tough stainless ones. It's more controllable than hammering and you can get just the right compression on the rivet.

The clips on the bottom of the bag will require a long drift/hammer technique, but you can use the die from the c-clamp device on the outside with success if you have a good helper. I'll loan the c-clamp tool to you if you promise to mail it back. I might even have some extra rivets laying around. Send me a PM if you're interested, or email me at robertfarr68@hotmail.com

Bob