Kawasaki Concours Forum

Concours 1400 (C14) FAQ => C-14, aka Concours-14 GTR 1400 => Body and frame => Topic started by: Rick Hall on May 19, 2011, 10:07:16 PM

Title: Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: Rick Hall on May 19, 2011, 10:07:16 PM
Admin note: Originally posted by "Rhino" on: August 24, 2010, 07:56:51 pm

I didn’t like having to turn on the bike every time I wanted to get into the glove box. But I do like the pseudo security of having a locking glove box. My solution was to install a small nearly invisible latch that would allow me to open the box with 2 fingers with the bike off but still works normally when the bike is on.

First remove the box from the bike, remove the solenoid cover and the solenoid.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/dissassemled.jpg)

Drill an 1/8” hole in the plastic release lever right above where the solenoid touches the lever.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/holeinlever.jpg)

Drill an 1/8” hole in the plastic cover at the center bottom of the flat part. This should be right above the bottom of the lever when the cover is installed on the box.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/holeincover.jpg)

Now take a piece of coat hanger wire about 2 ½” and bend a small jog at one end.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/bentwire.jpg)

Insert the jog into the hole in the lever.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/wireon.jpg)

Re-install the solenoid

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/wirewithsol.jpg)

Re-install the cover while threading the wire through the hole. After the cover is install you will have about an 1 ½ “ of wire sticking through. Bend the wire in half on it self.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/wirecomingthrough.jpg)

Now bend the wire down 90 degrees so that when you push the end it will push on the lever inside to allow the button to open the box.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/leverbentover.jpg)

Now re-install the box and using 2 fingers you can easily open the box.

(http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac177/sreinschmidt/2fingeroperation.jpg)

Unless you know about this latch the box will appear to remain locked.
Title: Re: to be filed in: C-14 section. "Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: tonedeaf on May 20, 2011, 08:43:10 PM
I wish mine worked well enough to need this truely nifty mod!
Title: Re: Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: longrun on August 09, 2011, 11:19:27 AM
I was all set to do this mod, but I was thinking I had seen a post somewhere about another way to allow power off access to the glovebox.  While I had mine apart, I was trying to think of what that other way might have been.  I think I "discovered" it.  It is even more discreet, IMHO.  Since I didn't take pictures of how I did it, I just tweaked one of the OP's shots.

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/paulweit/Connie/glovebox.jpg)

I just cut the bottom rectangular portion of the solenoid cover away. Now you just reach under the box and press upward on the bottom of the solenoid with a finger while depressing the catch topside with your thumb.
Title: Re: Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: Rhino on August 09, 2011, 11:55:26 AM
I originally did almost the same thing. Drilled a hole in the bottom and put a cut off nail through the hole. But it was more difficult to stretch my hand down in there while pushing the latch button. So I ended up with this mod that I can do easily one handed.

I was all set to do this mod, but I was thinking I had seen a post somewhere about another way to allow power off access to the glovebox.  While I had mine apart, I was trying to think of what that other way might have been.  I think I "discovered" it.  It is even more discreet, IMHO.  Since I didn't take pictures of how I did it, I just tweaked one of the OP's shots.

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/paulweit/Connie/glovebox.jpg)

I just cut the bottom rectangular portion of the solenoid cover away. Now you just reach under the box and press upward on the bottom of the solenoid with a finger while depressing the catch topside with your thumb.
Title: Re: Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: longrun on August 09, 2011, 12:34:37 PM
I did test the reach before cutting and it didn't seem to be an issue for me, but I can see how it could be a two handed operation for some.
Title: Re: Adding hidden mechanical unlock to 2010 glovebox
Post by: justbob on October 13, 2011, 05:57:29 PM
IIRC all I did was install a nylon bushing around the solenoid pin, which activates the mechanism all the time. I simply push the button to open the lid anytime.  I dont have the option of locking it by doing it this way but I dont feel the need to lock it anyway.