Seat lock stuck problem

[dsinned_imp]

What a terrible design. As I recall "all" CBs (going back in time to my 1979 CBX inherited similarly troublesome seat locks. I had hassles with my 1992 Nighthawk as well. But not as bad as the CB1100. Frankly, I have no clue why this time it has become such a big problem. In all prior cases, just wiggling the seat would eventually allow the key lock to unlatch the seat. I just can't get it to budget past the 5 o'clock position. ;-((

Can I still try unscrewing the key lock by removing the two break off screws? Are they accessible from the outside of the bike? Isn't the latch cable right behind it once its taken off?

[White Dog_imp]

Does the helmet latch move down? The key will not, by design, move past the 5 o'clock position. If your key moves that far, the helmet latch should have also dropped down. Then, try some of the things already mentioned--like applying pressure to the back of the seat while pulling down on the seat latch located behind the helmet latch. If all else fails, drill the bolt, buy a new lock assembly and install. Once you get the seat off the bike, adjust the bar which is bolted onto the seat pan by adding washers to the mounting bolts between the seat pan and bottom of the latching bar.

[dsinned_imp]

You mean the break off screws will not simply screw out (forcibly) with a screwdriver?

[Lord Popgun]

No, they are security screws. I haven't looked THAT close at them, but I think they have to be drilled and replaced with new ones. Just look at yours. There is no screwdriver slot.

When you torque them in, the head breaks off so a thief can't just unscrew them and get your seat off.

[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.

[Ulvetanna_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.

[emptysea]

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.

[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.

[emptysea]

Right, White Dog, but I thought that the OP mentioned that the helmet hook did not lower, either. I'm not sure if I read that correctly though and I'm not going back. LOL. So, it was my thought that possibly something is pressuring the lock mechanism to keep it from turning fully. I'm going to fart around with this when I get home. Closing the office at 3:00 today for Thanksgiving so folks can spend time with their families....I guess farting around with the seat latch on my bike is "spending time with my family" LOL

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Very easy to bend the key whilst it's in the seat lock, too. I have taken to moving VERY slowly when doing anything around my bikes. Snap that key off, ya could be stranded.