Seat Lock/Latch Not Working - What Now?
07-31-2011 | 02:54 PM
#1
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SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,858
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Seat Lock/Latch Not Working - What Now?
I had this happen once before but somehow managed to get it apart without much fuss. This time I'm not so lucky. Something is up with my seat lock and it's not pulling the latch cable. I think the cable itself it disconnected. Honda did a really good job of designing the seat so that you can't get in there easily to steal stuff under the seat. That neat feature is causing my some greif now.
Anyone else have this happen to them? I'm looking for a good solution before getting violent with it.
Anyone else have this happen to them? I'm looking for a good solution before getting violent with it.
07-31-2011 | 03:55 PM
#2
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Tampa, Florida
If you have the stock undertail you might be able to get in there by removing the two plastic pop screws at the rear. It should give you enough room to at least get a hook in there to pull the cable.
07-31-2011 | 04:49 PM
#3
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SuperBike
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From: Fort Wayne, IN
The stock rear fender extends all of the way forward to the battery. There is no way (that I know of) to remove it without already having the seat off. If it's possible let me know!
07-31-2011 | 06:24 PM
#4
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You sure it is the cable and just not a stubborn seat position. I had a heck time getting my seat off when i bought my bike. Someone posted up on the original SuperHawk site (RLZ) years ago that once you got the seat off to take a hammer and slightly knock the metal latch loops forward maybe an 1/8" to allow seat to go on and off better.
Sorry not much help with how to get yours off.
Sorry not much help with how to get yours off.
07-31-2011 | 06:51 PM
#6
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From: Madison, WI
First, take off the seat cowl (if you have one on). I think what Tomzxt was saying, is you can loosen up the rear cowl by taking out the 2 black pop screws. So you won't be able to take off the whole tail cowl, but you can raise it up a little (too far and you'd break the front tabs which bolt to the subbie). Then you should be able to see under the seat and hook it with a hangar. Might require you to have a helper or briefly morph into an octopus.
07-31-2011 | 07:34 PM
#7
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SuperBike
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From: Fort Wayne, IN
Yeah, I'm almost positive it's the cable. I take my seat off quite often (that's why it's a big deal). I've tried and tried all of the typical things, the key is just moving the catch. I've already modified my hooks to make the off-and-on easier.
I can't get to my rear two screws because the seat is in the way. Looks like I'm going to have to figure out a way though as that's also been the only option I can see. Was kind of hoping someone has been through this before and knew a trick.
I can't get to my rear two screws because the seat is in the way. Looks like I'm going to have to figure out a way though as that's also been the only option I can see. Was kind of hoping someone has been through this before and knew a trick.
07-31-2011 | 09:21 PM
#10
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From: San Clemente, CA
Refer to the "Post Whoring Newbie Thread".
Just kidding. I've had to use alternative methods to get car hoods open when the cable is broken. I'll go check my bike and see if there's any way to get in there with a long screwdriver or something.
Just kidding. I've had to use alternative methods to get car hoods open when the cable is broken. I'll go check my bike and see if there's any way to get in there with a long screwdriver or something.
07-31-2011 | 09:45 PM
#11
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From: San Clemente, CA
There's a depression in the undertail where the original tool kit goes (it starts about 3 1/2" forward from the rear of the flat part of the tail section, looking from underneath). To the left of it is a narrower depression, rounded and about 1" wide. Looking from underneath, if you drill a hole at the rear of the narrower depression, you should be able to get a narrow blade screwdriver up to trip the catch. Push it to the left.
Good luck.
Good luck.
07-31-2011 | 11:37 PM
#13
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From: Tampa, Florida
Just made this video for you. Same thing as I wrote to do above. Only thing I didn't mention in the video is once you have the seat off check to make sure the white plastic part of the cable is in its spot to keep the slack out of the cable so it works properly. It's the first spot I point to on the video.
‪Honda Superhawk seat removal‬‏ - YouTube
‪Honda Superhawk seat removal‬‏ - YouTube
08-05-2011 | 11:25 PM
#18
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Squid
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 70
From: Tampa Bay Area, USA
If you have a tool kit or some power bars or something under the seat, they might have slid forward against the two seat hooks, making it feel as if your release cable is not working, because the hooks won't release properly. Or, something might be wedged under the latch release, again making it seem as if the cable is not working. As someone else said, try pushing the seat down/try pulling the seat up while you wriggle the key back-and-forth, or maybe do something--but not too drastic--to get the under-seat cargo to shift in a good way.
After you get the seat off, there are one or two plastic tabs somewhere under the seat pan that I vaguely remember having cut off with diagonal cutters to prevent this sort of thing from happening so easily. ....I believe that there was a thread on the old SuperHawk Forum illustrating the seat pan plastic-tab-ectomy.
cheers,
--Professor Chaos
After you get the seat off, there are one or two plastic tabs somewhere under the seat pan that I vaguely remember having cut off with diagonal cutters to prevent this sort of thing from happening so easily. ....I believe that there was a thread on the old SuperHawk Forum illustrating the seat pan plastic-tab-ectomy.
cheers,
--Professor Chaos
Last edited by ProfChaos; 08-05-2011 at 11:58 PM.
08-11-2011 | 05:59 PM
#19
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SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,858
From: Fort Wayne, IN
The problem is that the cable sheath is slipping out of the holder where it connects with the latch. I know that from previous experiences with this bike.
I've been so busy lately that I really haven't had any time to mess with it. Once I get back in town I'll try some more and hopefully get some success.
I've been so busy lately that I really haven't had any time to mess with it. Once I get back in town I'll try some more and hopefully get some success.
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