Fixing Givi topbox? - pin missing

[VladTepes]

When I opened my top box the other day I noticed the hinge pin on the LHS missing. It's OK when closed as still has 2 solid points of attachment - other hinge and main latch. But it's sub-optimal when open, and no doubt placing additional pressure on the remaining working hinge.!

I tried making up a replacement hinge pin using a piece of coat-hanger wire (right diameter), held in place with some tape, but that lasted not long at all.

Anyone have any idea how to fix these things?

Ta.

edit: I have email givi themselves but am not optimistic of any reply.

[KiwiCol]

You'd have to cut the new pin a little longer than the hinge & 'pien' the ends over.  Basically, make the ends too fat to through the hole anymore, also could put a wee blob of epoxy on each protruding end & that'd also sort it.

If you were going to to the epoxy way, I'd do 1 end first, prior to installing it, that way you've only got 1 end to look after.  There are some good 'metal' epoxys out now & 'go off' in under 5 min.  SCA & Repco have them

[VladTepes]

Some pics:

[VladTepes]

You'd have to cut the new pin a little longer than the hinge & 'pien' the ends over.  Basically, make the ends too fat to through the hole anymore, also could put a wee blob of epoxy on each protruding end & that'd also sort it.

Peening was my first thought too but the end on the inside of the hinge (i.e. closest to the other hinge) appears to be blind - as far as I can tell.

[KiwiCol]

Hmmm, put a new bit of coat hanger in there, then drill through the outside bit of the hinge, through the new pin & out the other side, put a sml keeper pin in there to hold the new coat hanger bit in there?


"Plastic weld" the open end once a new shorter pin is put in there?  Do the same thing, but fill with epoxy instead of plastic weld?

[gsxbarmy]

If the inside is blind then I think I'd cut another piece of coat hanger, tap it in so that the length equivalent to the outside bit of the hinge is still showing, add glue to the piece of coat hanger still showing and then tap it in (so effectively what you are doing is gluing the pin to the outside edge of the hinge.

Alternately the other option (if you are worried about gluing too much) is to cut the new pin about 2-3mm shorter, rap that in completely, then glue a piece of hanger wire in 2-3mm long in that remaining space. If you guys have stuff like gorilla glue down under that would do it.

[Hooli]

From when I rebuilt a pannier I smashed on a BMW who was inconsiderately driving on his own side of the road and doing nothing wrong as I totally screwed up an overtake....

I think the original pins are stepped, so the bit that fits into the outer part of the hinge is thicker & holds it in place. You can buy the correct parts with a bit of googling but I'd guess it's £5-10 for just the pin.

[ARH]

Agree with Hooli... will be an 'interference' fit.  Unless you can get a pin with the right profile gluing it in place is probably the best option...

[Dusty ST]

If you can get a size, do a search on Ebay (or similar!) and get some nice stainless pins - like these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-steel-304-pins-closure-elements-4-mm-x-50-mm-10-M1U5/302668334331?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D52543%26meid%3Dda1223b2cb644368b45a63729e523154%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D282947110782%26itm%3D302668334331&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[gsxbarmy]

Givi Spare Parts:
https://tourandride.com/cases-and-accessories/givi/spare-parts/case-components

And the Hinge Pins...
https://tourandride.com/cases-and-accessories/givi/spare-parts/case-components/z195-hing-pins-detail

If you search on the part number - Z195 - you may find a supplier "local" to down under

[Kiwifruit]

Mike try a model shop. I remember some suspension pivots had a straight shaft with a self tapping thread at the head end.
Failing that drill out the blind end and get a tiny fine thread screw and nyloc. They do make them real small.

[VladTepes]

I better find one local - ex-UK is £7.30 + £9.00 postage 

That's $29 of our earth dollars... for a pin !

A brand new similar Givi topbox is $254.15

So the pin would essentially cost 11.5% of the cost of the lot ! 

[KiwiCol]

How about take the other one out & get the local machine shop to whip you up a copy?   Just be minimal steel involved, bit of lathe time but that's bugger all. 


Or take it to the model shop like KF suggested & see what they have? 

Wrecker, see if there's a box in parts on the wreckers site.

Might be just easier to buy the pommy one, albeit, more expensive, but least you know it'd fit.  But $29 for a bit of coat hanger wire?  Yeah, mabe not then.

[KiwiCol]

Or Leave the box shut?  Or take it off?  Or have a supply of precut coat hanger bits avail inside for when it falls out?  Just a wee bit of brainstorming on it for ya.

[Hooli]

I better find one local - ex-UK is £7.30 + £9.00 postage 

That's $29 of our earth dollars... for a pin !

A brand new similar Givi topbox is $254.15

So the pin would essentially cost 11.5% of the cost of the lot ! 

When I smashed the outside half a givi pannier & needed that plus a hinge and a few other small bits it came to the same price as a pair of new panniers...

Seemed rude to have a single pannier sat around though so I did fit it. Givi parts are as much of a rip off as suzuki so we should be used to it by now.