Seat lock stuck problem

[White Dog_imp]

Re-reading your post #31 above, it sounds as if you expect the seat to pop loose by just turning the key. That's not the way the CB1100 setup is. You have to turn the key to the 5 o'clock position, the helmet latch has to have moved down, then reach behind the helmet latch and pull the seat latch down. The helmet latch should move freely. The seat latch can be a bear, usually due to the bar attached to the seat pan not fitting far enough down into the latching mechanism shown on the parts fishe I posted. Therefore, upward pressure to the seat may be needed in order to get the seat latch to move.

It just could not be that simple. No way.

Could it? Hasn't he had the seat off many times before?

But your post makes perfect sense, it's just so obvious. But how could he have removed the seat in the past without pressing the seat release? Or maybe the seat release was previously "stuck" in the depressed position and finally returned to the locked position?

This thread is driving me bonkers, the mechanism is just so simple it shouldn't be causing such trouble. I wager he's gotten a rag or something stuck directly in the catch.

It just could not be that simple. No way.

Could it? Hasn't he had the seat off many times before?

But your post makes perfect sense, it's just so obvious. But how could he have removed the seat in the past without pressing the seat release? Or maybe the seat release was previously "stuck" in the depressed position and finally returned to the locked position?

This thread is driving me bonkers, the mechanism is just so simple it shouldn't be causing such trouble. I wager he's gotten a rag or something stuck directly in the catch. I could not find any reference in the OP posts that he had actually depressed the seat latch--only that the key would not turn far enough. It only needs about 1/4 turn to get from fully locked to the open position. I've done this many times. Still have to struggle with the key sometimes. Cantankerous procedure. Then, there is the key removal but that is for another day of woes.

Anyone ever "penny" a door shut? The process is that you shove a penny (or a few stacked pennies) in the crack between the door and the frame near the latch mechanism. This wedges the latch against the strike plate and the friction created makes it difficult or impossible to turn the door knob.

I wonder if there's something wedged inside against the seat latch which is preventing you from fully turning your key. Maybe not even wedged so much as blocking the lock from turning to its natural stop.

I believe the seat latch is dependent on the key being turned first. The helmet latch moves downward as the key is turned. Then, and only then, can the seat latch be depressed to release the seat.