Pillion seat latch - help!

[skybluebird]

Maybe it's just me being thick, but I'm damned if I can get the pillion seat to latch closed on my '03 GS. The latch seems to move ok and the seat is sitting flush on it's little rubber bungs so doesn't look like it'll push down any further, yet the latch won't engage the bracket on the seat pad. It's a bit embarassing having to ask, but am I missing something? Must be the heat getting to me!

 

[Manni]

I would check first if there is something in the toolbox that's making a bumb preventing for the cover to close properly, then I would check the cover itself and especially the movable part of the lock. Then if all is right I would put all my weight on the rear left side of the pillion seat (locking at the topbox from the left side of the bike) to close it (that's what I have to do everytime I take it off). It *should* click... Good luck!

 

[Steve]

Mine always used to give me trouble as well. I just packed out the "hook" on the seat with a couple of washers and it was fine.

 

[skybluebird]

Thanks, guys. I'd tried with the toolbox cover completely off )I'd had the tools out & thought I may not have repacked them tidily. No joy, the seat seemed to be flush against the subframe.
Packing out the bracket seems a good idea, maybe it's not extending far enough to move the latch aside? Will try it tomorrow, it's nearly bedtime!

Cheers!

 

[shready]

Mine did that too, I found that the bolt holding the lock to the frame was loose and the lock had slipped a little. Unfortunately the whole bloody lock has now snapped so don't force it!

 

[essbee]

Mine has been like it since new. I manage to lock it in place by placincing chest across saddle while stood allong side and gently applying body weight until it clicks locked.

 

[Burfcontrol]

Mine was the same. I happened to be at a dealer and asked a mechanic if he had any ideas..... He just clenched his fist and gave it a bloody good whack! worked a treat. Repeated myself a few times and it must have got the message 'cos now it's fine.

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

just don't buy one off steptoe!!

 

[shready]

just don't buy one off steptoe!!

I tried to but you had bought his last one.

What's wrong with it then??

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

i had to pack it with along cable tie so that it would lock...and left the other end of the cable tie in such a way that once the seat locked i could remove the cable tie...if i didn't remove the cable tie the seat wouldn't open again.


it was a fine line between locking and opening.


but that's what you get for dealing with those London Dancing types

 

[littleredrooster]

Mine always used to give me trouble as well. I just packed out the "hook" on the seat with a couple of washers and it was fine.

Yup - I had to do exactly the same thing. Could never figure out why though, as it was OK when I bought the bike.

 

[Bryn]

Sometimes helps if you turn the key in the lock at the same time as pushing down, then release the key...

 

[Steptoe]

i had to pack it with along cable tie so that it would lock...and left the other end of the cable tie in such a way that once the seat locked i could remove the cable tie...if i didn't remove the cable tie the seat wouldn't open again.


it was a fine line between locking and opening.


but that's what you get for dealing with those London Dancing types

it's your poxy T/T dual seat - how'd you think your 1st lock stopped working - send it back and i'll refund your £10 -

18 hours getting to the hogroast sums you up

 

[Nige]

Sometimes helps if you turn the key in the lock at the same time as pushing down, the

I agree with that although it didn't help me every time. I finally packed the hook out with three washers either side and also bent it slightly so it met the latch at a different angle (bent towards the fron of the bike). Before I was finding that with the two locators in place at the front of the seat the hook was too far away from the latch. Now it seems to work fine. I guess the tolerances are such that on some bikes the hook isn't quite in the right place.

 

[skybluebird]

Thanks, Nige, I'm going to try that. I've put just 1 washer per side (not tried it yet) but think a couple more would give a better chance. Will try the bend thing, too. The latch works fine, I can trigger it by pushing an Allen key down on it, it just looks like with the seat fully, err, seated (!) the U-bar doesn't reach far enough to engage. Weird, cos when I got the bike, it worked.

I tried the seat-punchy, lock-turny, lying on seat, and loud sweary techniques last night, with no luck. I've seen salesmen at Mill trying some of these, obviously it's not just me and/or Big Yella with this problem.

 

[Paul Breeze]

Angle of the dangle

My problem wasn't one of length but angle .......


Yes, I'm talking about the latch.............



Take the pillion seat off, remove the "U" latch, put the "U" part in a vice and GENTLY twist the mounting tangs ... yes, both and yes, in the same direction!!!! ... so that when you refit the latch the bottom of the "U" is tilted slightly forward ...

Presto ... totally solved my problem ...... now, if only the others were as simple to fix...... cheers, Paul

 

[skybluebird]

Paul, yep, mine also turned out to be the angle of dangle, that fix sounds like it should sort it long term.