Seat lock broken on '02 Hornet?

ginllfixit · Nova Slayer Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Karma :

Hi all,

Yesterday I tried to fit some panniers on my '02 Hornet 600. Took the seat off as normal, placed the straps underneath, and put the seat back on (which required a little more force than usual.)

Since then, I've been unable to remove the seat and turning the key in the lock doesn't seem to 'catch' the lock like it used to. There doesn't seem to be enough resistance when I turn it.

Has anyone had any experience of this before? I can't tell if the straps of the panniers are stopping if from opening, or the lock itself is buggered.

Many thanks in advance.

Paddy Blake · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Karma :

You will need to push down hard on the back of the seat as you turn the key.
Make sure you don't knock the bike over.
Get someone to hold it if you can.

That_Hornet · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Karma :

Could try standing on the left, grabbing the right hand side of the seat, where the exhaust hanger is, then tugging firmly backwards following the run of the bodywork while turning the key. Works 90% of the time.

Secondly try to turn the key and hit the rise of the seat backwards with the palm of your hand.

If this fails you need to try to remove the pannier straps. Making sure that the panniers are not stopping the seat.

All the seat lock is doing is pushing a leaver releasing a latch that lets the seat go.

HTH.