{"product_id":"latch-kit-for-apimaye-ergo-hives-and-nuc-hives","title":"Latch Kit for Apimaye Ergo Hives and NUC Hives","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"message-list_1779472369.712539\" aria-setsize=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-roledescription=\"message\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_RPCLkbyzy0?si=l1H68fx0kz5gZ1Wz\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003eUpgrade your older Apimaye Ergo Hive and Apimaye NUC Hive with the new Apimaye Latch Kit, designed to add the 2026 quick-release bottom board feature to existing hive setups.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003eUntil 2026, Apimaye Ergo and NUC hive bodies were mounted to the bottom boards with screws for maximum strength and security. The screw-mounted system remains an excellent option for beekeepers who frequently move hives, operate in areas with bears or other wildlife, or use their equipment for swarm catching and colony relocations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003eStarting in 2026, Apimaye introduced an alternative latch-style mounting system that allows the brood box to be separated from the bottom board more easily when desired. This retrofit kit allows owners of older Apimaye hives to add that same latch functionality to their existing equipment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe kit includes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2 bottom board latches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2 brood box grooves\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16 rivets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstallation Requirements (Watch the installation video at the bottom)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTo install the latch kit, you will need:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrill\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e15\/32” drill bit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRivet gun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhillips screwdriver\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eFeatures\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesigned for older Apimaye Ergo Hives and NUC Hives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdds the 2026 latch-style bottom board system to existing hives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAllows easier separation of brood box and bottom board when needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenuine Apimaye replacement and upgrade components\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for beekeepers who prefer latch-mounted hive setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eImportant Notes\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003eThis conversion kit does not allow the beekeeper to rotate hive boxes. The bottom-most brood box used with the bottom board has a shorter front wall to accommodate the hive entrance, while the upper deep and medium supers have a longer front wall design. Because of this, upper deep and medium supers cannot be used as the bottom-most box in the hive configuration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003eThe installation process also requires the hive to be turned upside down in order to remove the original mounting screws. Because of this, the conversion cannot be performed while the hive is actively in use by a colony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003eAfter installation, if the latch tension is not to your liking, it can be adjusted by gently bending the wire portion of the latch to modify the curvature and overall length of the latch assembly.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstallation Instructions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMake sure the hive is completely empty before starting the installation.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlace the groove piece into the groove slots located at the bottom center of the hive side walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMark the hole locations for drilling, then remove the groove piece.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrill 4 holes at the marked locations. Be careful not to drill through the opposite side of the wall. Apply light pressure while drilling.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlace the groove piece back into the slot on the side wall and install the rivets using a rivet gun. Due to home installation conditions, the piece may end up slightly tilted. This is normal and does not affect functionality.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTake the latch piece and lift the large release mechanism (the flat piece with Apimaye branding) to at least a 45-degree angle. This creates latch tension. Increasing the angle will increase latch tension.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlace the wire portion of the latch onto the mounted upper groove piece, then gently position the latch assembly onto the bottom board.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMark the locations of the two diagonal mounting holes on the bottom board (top left and bottom right, or vice versa).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRemove the latch piece and drill through the bottom board at the marked locations.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReposition the latch onto the bottom board and attach it using the rivet gun.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrill the remaining two holes and secure them with rivets using the rivet gun.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRepeat the same procedure on the opposite side of the hive.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlip the hive upside down and remove the screws securing the bottom board. The 10-frame Ergo Hive uses 6 screws, while the 7-frame NUC Hive uses 4 screws.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Apimaye USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48309477245177,"sku":"ERGO-LATCH-KIT","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0263\/9901\/5011\/files\/Ergo-BB-Upgrade-Kit.png?v=1779484888","url":"https:\/\/apimaye-usa.com\/products\/latch-kit-for-apimaye-ergo-hives-and-nuc-hives","provider":"Apimaye USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}