Part # 4654117
Krauser Classic Replacement Lid Lock

I bought & installed the Krauser lid locks on my 1978 BMW R 100/7's hard bags. The note about installation is an understatement. Fortunately, I am a retired mechanical engineer and journeyman machinist with a machine shop. The diameter of the hole in the aluminum bag frame needed to pass the new lock cylinder is so large that most of the aluminum frame material is removed. As noted, the mounting holes on the new locks do not line up with the old rivet holes in the bag frames. Since so much of the aluminum frame material was removed to drill the hole for the lock cylinder, I made stainless steel reinforcing plates to go inside the bags. These span the large hole for the new lock cylinder. The short screws furnished by Siebenrock would not work with the addition of the reinforcing plates, so I tapped the lock bodies 8-32. I used machinist's layout methods to pick up the centers of the new screw holes and used the reinforcing plates as drill templates for the new screw holes. I'd suggest offering reinforcing plates which will also serve as drilling templates for installing these locks on the older style bags. I made the reinforcing plates out of some scrap 1/8" thick stainless steel plate. I used 8-32 socket head screws to secure the new locks, a stronger mounting than the self-tapping screws furnished with the locks. Another problem with these locks is they promptly spit out their detent balls, MIA. I made new detents by turning them from some drill rod, adding a 0.093" diameter straight shank which goes down inside the detent spring on the lock, and a spherical end. This keeps the detent balls captive. I was surprised when the new locks spit out the detent balls. Seeing the problem would only recur if I replaced the balls, I made the 'captive' design. Seems like German engineering & craftsmanship fell a little short on this product. A few changes in the form of better detent parts, and offering an additional kit for installation on the old/early style bags would be a good thing.

While I did get these latches installed, they are definitely NOT plug and play. While they warn you a new hole must be drilled for the lock tumbler, they don't tell you the other mounting holes don't line up with the rivets you drilled out on the old latch. One is close, so you can slot it a bit, but the other one is not even close. A template would make this easier, but none is supplied (or any instructions). If all these holes don't line up just about perfect the lid edge won't seat into the sealing gasket on the other side, so it doesn't close far enough to latch. Plan to enlarge and shift holes a bit, because even with careful measuring it is still a bit of trial and error. Possible, yes, definitely not easy. There aren't any other real options that I'm aware of, so I made it work. Still better than buying new bags, or installing another set of used latches.

Locks looked good quality but they do not fit my early Krauser bags for my R90S. Description should be changed on this part to say does not fit early krauser bags. I was excited to use them on my side cases before a trip but I was disappointed.