Access to compartment under the seat problem

Hi guys, 

I don´t know what happen but i can´t open the seat of my bike.
I have the key, but when i use it nothing happens, the seat don´t open.
Have anyone passed through this situation? 
How do i get to open the seat? What is my choices? Besides go to the mechanic spend a lot of money.


Cheers,

Nuno Ferreira

It's a cable operated lock mechanism under the saddle, consisting of a 6mm steel hoop on the saddle base which engages in a slot in the frame, where there's a sliding locking bar which is in the unlocked position when pulled to the left.

I've just been out to the garage to look at mine, and the frame plating round the lock prevents you getting to the cable entirely. 

Perhaps the inner cable has snapped or rusted into place. Alternatively, it's not unknown for something to jam in the lock (like a set of light waterproof trousers).

Only way I can think of to get to it is to lever the plastic saddle base upwards on the left hand side just above the lock barrel, and try using a screwdriver with a 90 degree bend (approximately 75mm from the tip) to get into the slot (located midships about 25 mm to the rear of the lock barrel) from above, and bear down/pull the locking bar back towards the left hand side.The taper on this bar is on top, so you might get some purchase. The problem with this is that you might damage the saddle base in the process.

Have you tried pressing down on the saddle whilst you turn the key? Mine is quite stiff unless I do that and take some of the load off the mechanism....

Hi guys, 

Thanks for the reply's, i will try that. First the easy one.
I will tell you about it.


Cheers,

Bigster

I bet the cable has snapped (assuming it all worked previously).

I *think* that some other people have had this problem - as I recall there isn't an 'easy' solution, other than levering the seat off, doing whatever damage has to be done.

Hopefully someone that has had to do this will notice this thread and share their experience...

Hi guys, 

Tried the easy solution (push hard in the seat and rotate the key), can´t open the seat.
I will try the other solution...


Cheers,

Bigster

I thought it might help to know what you're (not!) looking at:



The cable goes in at the left hand side, where you can see the silver outer. I wonder if you could grab and pull that outer enough to release it.

If you remove the left underseat panel it's possible you might be able to disengage the catch with a long screwdriver from the underside.  At the very least it'll let you know if the cable has snapped.

My seat sometimes slips forwards off it's hinge, which jams the lock. Pushing it back remedies this. Worth a try?

Hi

Slight thread high-jack; is it normal for the seat to pull up half an inch or so before the lock stops it?

When locked I mean, mine pulls up at least that much.

Hi Celt500,

It's not unusual for there to be a bit of play especially if the loop on the seat is a bit worn.  The seat pan itself isn't the most rigid either.

Hi guys, 

The problem was that the cable snapped. Strange because its a steel cable.
So the problem is solved. 10€ in the workshop and more 8 € to buy the cable.


Cheers.

Glad you got it sorted.

A good squirt of gt85 down it from time to time should increase it's life. I do mine when I lube my other cables if I remember.

That´s a good advice. Thanks.


Cheers.