Modern Vespa

My GTS300 has 80k kms on it and I've replaced the seat release switch and that hasn't fixed the problem of a non opening seat ( it opens with the handle in the front cover easily enough).
My next step is to replace the solenoid near the latch itself, but it's not so easy to get an original one so I was wondering if it's worth a used original one from eBay?
Just wondered if generally they last a while so a newer lower mileage one might be worth a try? Or a non OEM one?
Thanks.

I've owned 2 different GTS over about 12 years now. Never had the seat solenoid fail, so I presume the answer is that they typically last quite a while.

Does this solenoid do anything when you push the seat release? Any noise, whatever?
If not, before replacing check if there is current going to the solenoid when you push that release button.

The usual thing is the button-switch going high resistance. Those types of switches are notorious for this. On the older Piaggio/Vespa bikes these were used for starter switches and horn switches as well - I always carried a spare, though they are easy to take apart and clean. Just beware of the tiny spring that tries to escape and elude recovery.

But Birdy has already replaced the seat release switch, with no effect.

No noise at all from that area/ looks like it's buried underneath a panel on my 09 gts300? So not easy to get at?

No noise at all?
I expect indeed burried underneath a panel.
You can check youtube videos of Vespa Motorsport. There is a good chance you will find a video on how to disassemble body panels from the GTS 300 to get to the solenoid.

Thanks, had a look and can't find any video or tutorial that helps, not even to take off whatever panel I need to, any idea where I might find one?

Try this one....

Looked through that. I thought the actuator may be beneath one of the rear side panels? If so this video doesn't dismantle those. Unless the actuator is somewhere else?

If only there were a low tech way of opening the seat... Like a simple mechanical latch.



Fact: Avril Lavigne's song was written about Vespa

I have seen a diagram that show the cable is routed on the left side, so are there how to's on getting access to it?

Yes, it's on the left. Looking down after removing the pet carrier you won't see it because it's on the outboard side of the metal wall that you can see. You should, though, see a couple nuts that are part of the actuator.

There is on the GTS, inside the glovebox.

Tell me more! I know nothing of the large frames.

My seat latch failed over a decade ago on my GTS. Now I use gravity to keep the seat closed.

At first I was worried someone would steal my toolkit, gloves, or lift the seat so they could take the helmet off the hook. But nothing ever happened.

I think I could leave the keys in the scooter with the engine running, a hundred dollar bill taped to the windscreen with a note "Please Take Me" and I would still be riding the scooter.

Or at least that's what I like to believe.

Seriously though, I just didn't care if the seat latched anymore. Anything I really care about gets locked in the topcase. And generally, I don't care about much.

I have a 2009 GTS 250 and have replaced the seat release button three times now, and the actual release mechanism twice.

The fact that my relatively small dealer/repair facility had plenty of both in stock for immediate replacement suggests the frequency of failure I experienced is not an entirely unique problem.

Thanks. Do I need to remove the said panel to get the old actuator out/ new one in?
If it's too difficult I may opt for the unlocked seat solution- do I just disconnect the cable and do I need to somehow leave it in the open position?

Birdy, I found these pictures from a member on here who did a frame repaint a few years ago and detailed the rebuild in pictures. The frame is on it's side, the seat actuator is directly above the pair of gloves in the first picture and is held in place by the 2 bolts in the second picture......I hope it helps.

That certainly helps, many thanks.

A Vespa mechanic from Montreal Ben, told me this happens a lot and how to fix it. I tried it on a customer's bike and brought it back to life for her.

First sprayed it down with a ton of WD40. I'm not talking squirt squirt. I'm talking let's-make-a-puddle. Then I started fingering the latch manually. Open close open close open close x 406 times.

Tried the seat, Boom, working again.

Let it sit overnight.

In the morning the shop wreaked of WD-40 and success. But the latch was more dry now so back to work.

Sprayed it all with grease. Again, not just spray-spray, but copious amounts.

Often I find people are timid with cleaners and lubricants, but these products are pretty amazing if you pretend you have an entire crate taking up half your garage and you want to burn through them. Plus it's fun to make a mess.

Anyway, fast forward to two months ago, about a year after this event. Her latch is still working. Not 100%, but way better than it came in.

Good luck. If you stain your garage floor, you're doing it right

Located the actuator, can't easily get it out or off but I now have a slight click from it so maybe it's not broken.
Any ideas?

I have owned five GTs over the past 16 years, still riding three of them.

The electric seat release has never been an issue on any of them.

It probably helps that they are kept in a dry garage when not being ridden.

Bill

Sunny, my 2013 GTS 300 is the same.
I found it sticking a month ago and discovered that the metal parts had distorted from use, and the distortion was interfering with ease of operation.
I slipped a thin fine tooth file between the plates and smoothed them out.
Then I applied a bit of grease (from the can of WmPenn that I bought in 1972) to the mechanism and it works wonderfully now!

How does the manual release feel? It shouldn't offer too much resistance.
With the seat up, use a screwdriver to trip the lock mechanism a couple times. Does the resistance of the manual release feel the same as when the seat is down?
Then use the screwdriver to trip the lock again and see if the actuator will work.

It's not an easy manual release feel from the lever in the glovebox, does this indicate I need to free it up somehow?

Depends. How did it feel with the seat out of the way? Same resistance? Less resistance?

I'll have a go tomorrow…i
may use a nail if unsolvable

The nail is a good troubleshooting tool
Will the actuator release the nail?
The grease can turn into a waxy solid after some years
I like graphite lock lube as the solvent carrier is safe on plastic & melts the yellow gunk the factory uses

FTFY...

I used the nail to trip the mechanism for testing and illustrative purposes. Nail/screwdriver—use whatever you want. Just need the answers to the previous post.

Ah, ok. I've wedged it with thick duck tape so it's permanently open for now till I take another look. Many thanks for all the answers so far.