Unlock your locked trunk on the 1500, by Bill Thomas and Don Wiggins



Start with a good, stiff coat hanger. 1. Bend a 180 degree hook in one end with about a 1/2 inch radius. 2. measure down 8 inches from the hook and bend 90 degrees. this "arm" should be in line with the hook. This not only governs how far the wire goes in but also lets you tell which way the hook is pointing. Ok, here's where luck comes in. The trunk latches are actuated by a rod that runs across the inside of the trunk at about the same height as the key lock. It connects the center lever and the key to the actual latches. You're going to catch this rod with your hook and pull down. 3. Under the trunk where the three levers are; Insert the hook between the left saddlebag lever and the trunk lever, towards the rear of the slot. Go in until about one inch of the coathanger is still out with the bend pointing to the rear. Picture this, the hook is seven inches in the trunk at the back and pointing to the rear. 4. Work it around and feel for the rod, anything the hook catches on is worth a pull. You have to pull a little hard but not hard enough to straighten the hook out. Sometimes the trunk is a little hard to open due to gasket pressure on the latches, if you think you are pulling on the rod but the trunk won't pop, try putting a little pressure down on the lid to relieve the pressure on the latches. This usually is not necessary. When it opens, and it will, look to see what is wrong before it falls closed again, that will really make you mad. Bill Thomas (Peddler) More from Don Wiggins The instructions to build a tool for your very own Start with a good, stiff coat hanger. 1. Bend a 180 degree hook in one end with about a 1/2 inch radius. 2. measure down 8 inches from the hook and bend 90 degrees. this "arm" should be in line with the hook. This not only governs how far the wire goes in but also lets you tell which way the hook is pointing. Ok, here's where luck comes in. The trunk latches are actuated by a rod that runs across the inside of the trunk at about the same height as the key lock. It connects the center lever and the key to the actual latches. You're going to catch this rod with your hook and pull down. 3. Under the trunk where the three levers are; Insert the hook between the left saddlebag lever and the trunk lever, towards the rear of the slot. Go in until about one inch of the coat hanger is still out with the bend pointing to the rear. Picture this, the hook is seven inches in the trunk at the back and pointing to the rear. 4. Work it around and feel for the rod, anything the hook catches on is worth a pull. You have to pull a little hard but not hard enough to straighten the hook out. Sometimes the trunk is a little hard to open due to gasket pressure on the latches, if you think you are pulling on the rod but the trunk won't pop, try putting a little pressure down on the lid to relieve the pressure on the latches. This usually is not necessary.