Interstate Trunk Question

[Lyle Laun]

The opening lever under the trunk quit working (cable problem ?) and I can still open the trunk with the key. My question is - do I need to dis-assemble the inner trunk ?, and is it basically just a matter of removing all the screws that appear to hold the liner in ?

Thanks
Lyle

[Gondul]

I don't have a solution for you, but I just picked up a trunk for my standard and noticed the lever during disassembly.

I have no idea how the lever is supposed to work... it does not appear to do much of anything.

[old2soon]

         The lever underneath the trunk-had to look at a parts fiche-is to release the trunk from the mounting. The key is supposed to unlock the trunk only. It sounds like a cable problem. At Partzilla at this time that cable shows unavailable.  Have Not looked lately but maybe the cable can be lubed in place? The I/S my brother has is over at his shop. We will be at his shop later today and have a look see peek-a-boo.  Maybe others will chime in here but none the less we'll have that peek-a-boo. I have NOT checked any other suppliers other than Partzilla but more and more of our parts are NOT available.  RIDE SAFE.

[Earl43P]

Stating the obvious, but is it locked?

You can remove the key with it locked (vertical?) or unlocked (horizontal).
Try both ways. The handle only works in the unlocked position and feels completely loose and disconnected when locked.

As I recall, vertical key, turn it left, trunk opens.
Turn it right and remove it is unlocked and restores the handle function.

[PatrickDoss]

         The lever underneath the trunk-had to look at a parts fiche-is to release the trunk from the mounting.

Not sure how you got that from the diagram, but the lever is to open the trunk. To remove it from the bike requires removal of 6 small bolts from the inside of the trunk.

Stating the obvious, but is it locked?

You can remove the key with it locked (vertical?) or unlocked (horizontal).
Try both ways. The handle only works in the unlocked position and feels completely loose and disconnected when locked.

As I recall, vertical key, turn it left, trunk opens.
Turn it right and remove it is unlocked and restores the handle function.

Earl raises a good point and is correct about its standard operation. If it is unlocked, you can remove the taillights (the two screws from inside right behind each) and see if the cable has slipped off its holder or something. If you have small enough hands, you could possibly even reach through the taillight opening to work on it. But if you have to replace the latch or can't fit your hands through the taillight holes, you must disassemble the ENTIRE trunk, OFF the bike. I just had mine apart yesterday. The service manual shows how, but if you don't have one and find that's what you need to do, report back and one of us can type you through it.

[Steel cowboy]

Under the trunk weather stripping there are a bunch of small screws, removing them will separate the inner tub from the outer tub. You don't have to remove the weather stripping just move it over. I belive the hinges and mounting bolts under the inner caps in side the trunk have to come off too, as well as the 4 tail light assembly nuts.

[gordonv]

Very seldom do I even lock my trunk, only if I leave my co-riders purse in there. Otherwise (I even forget how) it's turned to the left and key removed, and then I open it only by using the lever under the left side of the trunk.

But as stated, when in the vertical position, there is no force on the lever, as if the cable is broken. Having never taken the trunk apart, but I have looked at the fiche, it must be fully disassembled to get to the inner lever. This includes the removal of the bolts holding the trunk to the frame.

[bikerboy1951]

What no one tells you that after you remove the trunk from the bike and taken all the screws out, you still,have to remove the rubber grommets in the bottom of the trunk.  The inner liner then lifts out and any work needed on the cable can be made.

Brad

[Lyle Laun]

Thanks everyone, I will remove the liner and check to see what happened to the cable.

Lyle