Seat release mechanism seized

[maikhoepfel]

Howdy,

I always struggled to get the seat off my rusty R1100GS (more in my introduction) and decided to have a closer look on Sunday.

That meant I took off the seats, the big silver luggage carrier and assorted bits till I held the mechanism in my hand. It's basically a long tube with two levers. One lever releases the rear seat, the other one the front. They're both actuated by turning the key -- or so you'd think. The lock cylinder on mine doesn't move the slightest, and liberal amounts of WD40 haven't changed the fact. I inspected it closely, and I'm sure it's the lock that's at fault; the lever mechanism works just fine.

So while I don't want to rule out that it's just the wrong key, I'm quite sure it isn't. At least the key works on the panniers, and helmet lock. It doesn't look like there's a non-destructive way to exchange the lock cylinder, and I couldn't come up with an intelligent way to actuate the levers in any other way (don't care too much about it being secured by a key).

So, any ideas how to fix the mechanism? Or can I replace merely the lock cylinder, or the entire part?

Thanks!

 

[Timolgra]

Just replace the barrel.
Normally they get stuck if the plastic fixing is broken though

 

[MikeO]

Hi Maik,

It's a crappy bit of design.

Remove the entire lock/catch mechanism from the bike. You access the lock cylinder by taking the back off the mechanism (IIRC there are several screws and the plastic parts clip together). This allows you access to the end 'tumbler' of the lock barrel, which is spring-loaded. Release the tension on the tumbler with the key in place and you should be able to draw the lock barrel out, allowing you to re-code the key (if necessary) or un-seize the mechanism.

I hope that will make sense as you approach the job...

Mike

 

[maikhoepfel]

Hi guys, thanks for your posts.

How do I get the barrel out without breaking the plastic around it?

@Mike: I already had the mechanism apart and your directions make sense. I looked at the back of the lock barrel, but didn't see a way to remove the tumbler. It sounds like I'd need to be able to turn the key to release the tension? That's my problem, I can't do that.

By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by tumbler - Google just comes up with pics of the Batmobile But I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same thing.

 

[MikeO]

Hi guys, thanks for your posts.

How do I get the barrel out without breaking the plastic around it?

@Mike: I already had the mechanism apart and your directions make sense. I looked at the back of the lock barrel, but didn't see a way to remove the tumbler. It sounds like I'd need to be able to turn the key to release the tension? That's my problem, I can't do that.

By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by tumbler - Google just comes up with pics of the Batmobile But I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same thing.

Maik, I'm not sure if tumbler is the right word - there are several metal wafers in the lock, all but one of which retract when the correct key is fitted, as in this picture:

The bottom one is always sprung out - you just need to push it back in and the whole lock barrel should pull out - no need to turn the key. That's assuming the CORRECT key is fitted...

Hope this helps...

 

[Smug]

Look at the barrel assembly from the opposite direction to where the key fits. Use a thin spike to push back the last lever which holds the lock barrel in the plastic housing. The whole barrel assembly should then slide out.

Carefully remove the key and then remove the levers and springs noting which lever goes in which slot. Clean it all up and put it back together. When the levers are in the correct slots and the key is inserted, none of the levers should protrude.