RT Pannier Lock Mechanism?

[Randyjaco]

The right pannier bag refuses to lock in place. I cannot get the handle to lock down. There seem to be several plungers that must me depressed in order for the handle to lock in place. I can't get the handle to lock down on or off the bike. Can someone please school me on how that mechanism works?
BTW it is a 2017 RT

TIA
Randy

[BoB21]

Same, I rarely take left pannier off. When I do, have to wiggle the pannier around using knee and one hand. There is some free play. Do not use much pressure on the handle until it's happy to go down/in place, ie don't force it. Bit of a bugger to strip pannier apart apparently so don't want to unless have to. Obviously can't say yours is exactly same but worth a try.
Don't think handle goes down on pannier off the bike. Might be wrong on that and not happy to try.

[scunny12]

Ditto, my left pannier is difficult. On and off several times just at point of giving up and it locates-damn thing is infuriating.

[Steve398]

+1

[Randyjaco]

Thanks for the responses and the commiserations.
I found this in th history of this site.


Dealing with the innards of these panniers is a royal PITA. Reassembly can be very tedious.

I also found that pounding on the top of the pannier will help release those pins shown in the video. So for the time being the pound method will be employed.

[BoB21]

Yeah don't fancy doing that.

[Mark S.]

As near as I can tell, he removed some parts and reassembled the pannier. Do the parts removed serve any purpose? What am I missing?

[Randyjaco]

BMW thiught it would be a good idea to prevent the handles from locking when the panniers are off the bike. That is what those plungers do. As long as I haven't left the keys in the pannier, I don't care. Eliminating those plungers facilitates the reassembly process.

[mikeromo73]

WOW! This video is EXACTLY what I was needing. Took my left pannier off and won't go back on. Disassembled, cleaned, and greased it functioned perfectly. Went to reassemble covers and the handle wouldn't lock down. I'll be back into the internals and remove those little plungers. Thank you for the clear process.