Cant get the seat lock to unlock.

OK, then I refer you back to my original post 15. I'm not trying to sound like a wiseass, but are you aware that on the back of the locking mechanism, where you insert your key, that there is a little lever that needs to be pushed down once you have turned the key 3/4 of the way.

While its possible you might have the wrong key, it would be a coincidence if you could still turn it 3/4 of the way. That's as far as its designed to go.

In your post that I just quoted, you didn't mention whether or not you tried to move that lever. Did you?

I understand you need to get to the battery.

 

Are you still struggling with this?

If so I suspect something stowed under the seat is putting the seat latch pin under tension and preventing the latch releasing as it should. I have annotated your photos to show what needs to happen - which may help you to release the seat by using a combination of lubrication and brute force.

Picture one



The pink arrow shows the release cable which should move to the left (bigger arrow) when you turn the key - so get someone to turn the key whilst you look from underneath to see if the cable moves. If it does not move then I guess the cable may have snapped or come off from the key mechanism, with the end now dangling free somewhere beside the battery. In which case you will need to use some thin nose pliers to reach in and grab the cable and then pull on it and hopefully that will allow you to pull the cable enough to release the seat. (On the vtecs the seat normally needs to be lifted up and pulled slightly backwards at the same time).

If you can see that the cable is moving but nothing is happening then it is likely that the latch pin is probably stuck and needs lubrication and/or physical persuasion to release.

which brings us to Picture two



The metal hoop which is marked by the arrow is actually attached to the underside of the seat and there is a simple sprung loaded latch pin which passes through it. As you turn the key the cable is meant to pull back against the spring and in the process should withdraw the latch pin. Then all that is stopping you from lifting the seat free is gravity/rust.

So start by spraying WD40 of equivalent oil spray on and around that metal hoop. Then get your friend to turn the key and try to pull seat back and upwards whilst from under the bike you get a large screwdriver and try and lever/push on the metal hoop. If necessary you may be able to free the latch pin by putting a thin blade screwdriver into the small gap beside the metal hoop.

Hopefully with a bit of wriggling the thing will eventually come free and will probably reveal whatever it was that was jamming the seat in place. If it like the UK VFRs - you may find the motorbike manual (which is a small but very thick book) is stowed under the seat and if it was not properly tucked away it is possible that someone was in too much of a rush to put the seat back on and simply forced the seat down until it latched - but as a result the whole seat is placing tension across the seat latch pin preventing it from releasing. It may be worth checking to see if there is any sign that the seat is not sitting evenly/correctly. If so you may also need to employ the services of a Harleydood to sit on the seat whilst you and your friend try to get the seat latch pin to move back and release the seat.

Hope that helps - let us know how you get on.

 

Sometimes those release mechanisms get sticky. The lock claw and the loop are hard steel. The pulldown latch is not. Had to stick a dowel into the hole on my 91 (yes the famous mach 1 91) and give the dowel a whack with a hammer to free it up.

I know... a broomstick works too.. and SnapOn probably has a $250.00 tool for just this purpose. Gimme cheap on this one..

 

It Wooooooorked!!!!!! She's charging and I'm smiling. Needle nose did it. You guys are the best.

 

Good, now while you're battery is charging, clean and lubricate the latch, cable, lock assy and make sure it works properly and smoothly before you slap the seat back on. Also, you might wanna locktite the latch bolt and snug it down good, they seem to have a tendency to come loose and the latch then explodes into several tiny pieces that you may never find again. Ask me how I know