Triumphrat

soonerfan85 · 05-07-2007, 01:53 PM

I ventured outside yesterday afternoon to attempt to load a new ECU map with my new TuneBoy and find that I can't get the rear seat cowl off. The key will turn about half way then nothing. It looks as though last time I installed the seat cowl I didn't get the plastic leg piece that's underneath the front of the cowl fitted correctly under the seat bracket, and now there's enough pressure on the rear locking mechanism to prevent it from releasing the locking pin. I've tried pushing down on the cowl above the area where the locking pin is located while the daughter is operating the key but as of yet have had no success getting it unstuck. In a moment of temporary insanity last night, I took a very long screwdriver and pried around on the plastic leg thinking I might be able to loosen things up a bit. You guessed it, now it's worse than before.

If I were to cut the locking mechanism cable would that release the lock pin? If so, is there a place where I can access the cable? Seems there's not much one can do to the Tona without first removing that blessed seat cowl! :evil:

soonerfan85 · 05-07-2007, 11:45 PM

Introduced some dry graphite lubricant into the lock hoping that might be the problem, but no luck. The key still turns about half way but that's all. I can hear as well as feel the locking mechanism underneath the seat moving as I try to open it. I was able to get some WD40 srayed onto the cowl lock pin, but but no amount of pushing and pulling on the seat cowl seemed to help.

Any ideas out there?

If I have to cut the seat cowl to get it off, how much do replacements run?

05-08-2007, 02:52 AM

Sorry, I don't have direct experience with newer bikes like yours, but I did just have a similar problem with the seat lock on my '96 Trident.

On my bike, it seems like the lock mechanism is made of Nylon, & it just wasn't catching. I discovered that I could remove the back plate from the opposite side with a #3 Phillips & remove the cable from the lock mechanism. After that, it became a simple matter of pulling on the cable to open the seat lock.

I left the lock in place, but kept the cable disconnected & zip-tied it to the luggage frame. Now, if I want to remove the seat, I just reach behind the lock & pull on the cable.

Cutting the cable on my bike would NOT have helped: releasing tension does nothing; adding tension is what opens the mechanism.

HTH,
-Kit

soonerfan85 · 05-08-2007, 10:24 AM

kitNYC said "Cutting the cable on my bike would NOT have helped: releasing tension does nothing; adding tension is what opens the mechanism."

I think you're right. I came to that conclusion after giving it a little more thought.

I managed to slip my big honkin screwdriver under the seat cowl and pry the plastic leg on the underside of the cowl seat into the correct position under the seat bracket, but the lock still doesn't work. I'm now inclinded to think it's either a problem with the lock/key mechanism or the cable rather than the lock pin mechanism beneath the seat.

Didn't see an obvious path to access the cable but will look more in hopes of releasing the cowl as you did on your OLDER trumpet.

Thanks for the info.

Speed3 · 05-08-2007, 04:26 PM

I remember reading about a solution to the stuck cowl on t595. There is a way to free it without breaking it. Go on the site and do a search, and hopefully you will find your solution!

soonerfan85 · 05-08-2007, 05:23 PM

You don't happen to remember the solution do you?

Can't seem to find any threads about stuck seats. Nothing in the knowlwdge base either. About ready to :hammer:

Speed3 · 05-08-2007, 10:18 PM

Alright, I dug around the t595 forums and found something that might help. Read it and see what you can do. Remember, necessity is the Mother of invention!

soonerfan85 · 05-09-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

On 2007-05-08 20:18, Speed3 wrote:
Alright, I dug around the t595 forums and found something that might help. Read it and see what you can do. Remember, necessity is the Mother of invention!

Thanks for looking Speed3. Did you intend to post a link????

I did find one thread that suggested pushing the back of the seat forward to access the front seat bolts. Once the seat is removed it's said you can access the cable mechanism. However, I don't remember ever seeing the cable exposed with the seat removed?

[ This message was edited by: soonerfan85 on 2007-05-08 22:05 ]

Speed3 · 05-09-2007, 01:45 PM

Yeah, that was the one. I forgot to post the link. Be careful twisting the key in the release lock, as the metal is soft and the key can break off. I've seen it happen. There has to be a way to get the thing off.

soonerfan85 · 05-15-2007, 02:19 PM

Had some time this morning to work on removing the stuck rear seat cover as I got the day off work thanks to a small earthquake. You're not going to believe what the problem turned out to be.

See anything odd in the picture below?

Seems a small stone became wedged in the seat retension mechanism, not allowing it to operate. I never would have gotten the seat cover off if I hadn't torn off the cover and got a look from above.

Thanks to all who took time to post possible solutions.

[ This message was edited by: soonerfan85 on 2007-05-16 22:07 ]