. . .

Here in New England we ride for six months a year, and then work on the bike for the other six months.

In cleaning-up the saddlebags found the hinge half-off.

So, what's the best way to proceed from here? Any tricks to taking hinges off and putting them back on again?

Tap them off carefully from one end (note that there's a small plastic raised tab holding them on so I go from the other end of the hinge) with a flat bladed screwdriver, or other suitable tool, and they'll slide right off.

They're part number 46 54 2 300 039 and retail (in the US) for about $5.00 each. There are four per bike. When touring I carry two spares in case of a pannier-twisting fall down. The sloppy mud track on the way back from Camooweal Caves, Queensland took a pair a coupla years ago.

+ 1 ....

I'm using a small hammer and a small piece of hardwood when tapping the hinges
off and on.

Two Wheels Better wrote:Tap them off carefully from one end (note that there's a small plastic raised tab holding them on so I go from the other end of the hinge) with a flat bladed screwdriver, or other suitable tool, and they'll slide right off.

Sounds right. Whoever put mine on put both tabs on the inside, so one will have to come off backwards to begin with.

Thanks All.

Two Wheels Better wrote:They're part number 46 54 2 300 039 and retail (in the US) for about $5.00 each.

Yup, or if you do like I did not long after buying mine many years ago, you walk into a BMW dealer, you'll pay ~$30 each

Last year I paid about AU$8.00 each at Morgan & Wacker in Brissy. They're $5.59 here in Seattle. But we all know there is the tyranny of distance (and a dose of extra margin from the distributor) in OZ.

Thanks again.

Ordered four new hinges from local dealer (120mi from here).

With shipping they came to $8.50 each.