Top Box Holding Water

[FlexibleToast]

First off, I wasn't sure if my post should go here or under Modifications, sorry if I chose incorrectly. Anyway, after rain or washing my bike the top box holds water. There is no water in the interior of the box, but if I remove the top box and tip it over a bunch of water pours out. I'm sure the water is collecting between the outer and inner shell. My local Triumph dealer said they've never seen that before and tried applying silicon around the hinges, but that didn't help. Before I dig into it myself I figured I would ask if anyone has had a similar issue. Is there a seal that may need replaced, or a drain that maybe got plugged? I'm thinking of drilling a couple holes to create my own drainage and never having the problem again.

[AZBob]

It's totally normal. Be careful where you drill holes, there are wires in the box.

[FlexibleToast]

Normal to get water in there? That's a crappy normal. That's a lot of water that gets caught in there and sucks when taking off the case and having to wait for all the water to pour out. I know that case has wires in it, it is powering that outlet after all. Like I said, hopefully someone has had and solved this issue before me and has some input.

[rvbobby]

Doesn't sound normal to me.I have driven through hours of rain at a time and never got a drop of water in my cases.

[AZBob]

Originally Posted by rvbobby

Doesn't sound normal to me.I have driven through hours of rain at a time and never got a drop of water in my cases.

Not inside, between the inner and outer shell -- there's nothing preventing water from getting in there as the two pieces are not sealed and there is no lip. Having said that, the only time most people get more than a little water in there is when someone is overzealous with a hose or pressure washer.

[FlexibleToast]

I tend to leave my top box on, so even the rain seems to fill it up. It's not as if it is leaving the box in between rains. Seems like bad engineering to not include a drain of some kind.

[ShaunDW]

If I wash my bike (with the top box attached) on the side stand, then afterwards put it on the main stand, water runs out of the top box from somewhere. If I wash it on the main stand, then put it on the side stand, water runs out of the top box from somewhere. Even if I wash it on my inclined drive (which necessitates using the side stand), then move it into my garage, which is flat, and leave it on the side stand, water runs out of the top box - and again if I later put it on the main stand.

This annoys me insofar as it leaves watermarks on the bike after I've cleaned it, but doesn't unduly bother me otherwise. If it did then I would take the top box off to wash separately.

Maybe it could do with a better drainage path for any water ingress, but I can see how it would be pretty hard to seal effectively.

[FlexibleToast]

Originally Posted by rvbobby

Doesn't sound normal to me.I have driven through hours of rain at a time and never got a drop of water in my cases.

To be clear the water isn't inside the case. The inner portion of the case is totally dry, the water is getting between the two shells of the lower portion of the case. I only notice it when I go to remove the top case and a bunch of water comes pouring out as I tip the case on its end to carry by the handle.

Originally Posted by ShaunDW

Maybe it could do with a better drainage path for any water ingress, but I can see how it would be pretty hard to seal effectively.

For you and I it would be a lot easier to create water egress for sure. For the engineers at Triumph I can't imagine it being too difficult to make a rubber gasket. I'm surprised that neither seem to be there, it's as if they hadn't considered water collecting between the two shells.