Saddlebag piping cord re-insertion???

[showme]

I'm new to the forum, which I found while looking for a fix for a problem I'm having with the leather saddlebags on my 2003 Indian Chief motorcycle. Here's the problem- the plastic piping cord that was installed when making the bags is working it's way out, and I'm looking for a way to get it back in place. There are 3 different places it's coming out. One, the one that concerns me the most, is the perimeter of the "lid" of a bag, and the other two are inside the bag. The lid cord has come out about 8" or so, and I've been trying to shove it back in, but I'm not having much luck. (At first I thought it was moving along pretty well, but it just pushes itself back out after forcing it in.) It's about 5" from the end of the piping run, but there's about 6" of cord still sticking out.

  There's also another repair that's over my ability, which are tears worn by the metal support wire that run the perimeter of the top opening. I have no idea what to do about those, but maybe someone can give me some information on how to get those fixed, also.

I'm really glad to have found this sight, because I've always wanted to get into leather work after a very short leather tooling class I took way back when in the 70's when I was in junior high. Now that I'm retired, (Ironworker, local 396, St. Louis, Missouri), I think it would be great to have a new hobby to utilize my time. Thanks for any comments or suggestions on my 'saggy bag' trouble. Lee Butcher, leather apprentice.

[alpha2]

I don't know how tight it is, but I'd try spinning it in. That is, chuck an end in a drill and slowly spin it while trying to insert it. If it's really still a tight fit, maybe take it all the way out, lube it and try again?

Then find a way to crimp the end shut to preclude it happening again.

Jeff

[Mark842]

I would replace the piping. Not sure if that is something you would want to take on buy yourself. From the pictures it looks like about a 3/16" welt cord was used..well they used plastic. I would use polyester or foam welt cord and glue it in place when you make your piping. You just need to find yourself some black 2 oz leather, a strip about 1-1/2" wide and they length you need to make the span around the lid. I lay my leather strip flesh side up, cover it with original dap glue from Home depot. Run your welt cord down the center and then fold the leather over it. I then use a modeling spoon and run it along the side of the cord to get a nice even look. Let dry and your ready to go. Then cut the stitches out holding the old piping and hand saddle stitch the new one on through the same holes. You can pick up black waxed thread, needles and a stitching awl fairly cheap.

 For the rim where the metal wire is exposed. I would use about a 8-9 ounce black latigo. Cut a strap about 4" long for each side. fold it over the top where the wire is showing so you have roughly 2" down the inside of the bag and 2" down the outside. Use Barge glue to glue to the bag and then run three tubular rivets from the outside in. This should take the stress off the leather where it is tearing and spread it out a little.

[brmax]

It really should have been sewn in, or the ends folded in itself and sewn over.  This is the standard anyway.  In that outdoor kind of saddle bag it does need to be what it is or a poly style cording for outdoor. 

I would pull it and trash it. If it was possible to get something through there to help feed another that would be great. But maybe another piece of the same or similar could be used, though sewn at the end somehow. 

 

Good day

Floyd  

[kgg]

Hi Showme,

Nice Bike. What I would try for the lid which appears to plastic tube is see if a straighten out wire close hanger would fit inside the tube. If it fits I would oil the wire hanger and push it through the length and buckle the ends under the small leather straps that are held by the Chicago screws.  If not I would probably remove the plastic tubing and replace with a coat hanger or some other semi flexible metal and buckle the ends under the small leather straps that are held by the Chicago screws. This would also add a bit of firmness to the edge of the lid. 

[showme]

Thanks very much for the answers, folks! At this point, if there is any sewing or 'remove and replace' repairs, I would have to let someone else do it. Although I'm the kind of guy who will attempt anything, I also know that, in most cases, anyway, that if it's my first attempt, I may have to re-try it a few times, which could really make a mess of these old bags. But at least I understand what I'm up against now. I even thought about spraying some lube like a silicone spray up into the opposite end's opening to try to get it to slide in. The twisting idea sounds like it might work (or twist the end of the cord off?) but that's worth a try. Thanks again, and I'll update this post when I've gotten a little further on it. Much obliged to you all! Lee Butcher