Modern Vespa

I installed a new latch recently but the seat never locked,,,,until now, It is stuck shut and no amount of pushing the button or pulling the lever in the glove box will budge it. Fuel is getting low. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Tony
Yes, I read the wiki and the FAQ

I think this happen to me once on a GT200. I think I had get it from the back remove the rack if your bike even has one and get at the latch and move it with a screwdriver or something.

You might try to grab a coat hanger and see if you can get it up between the Airbox and the frame, if you can hit the pivot point, you may be able to pull/push it just enough to release the connector. It is spring loaded so it does not take much.

Also if you are hearing a noise when you push the button, you may want to try pushing down on the seat at the same time. i could just be high enough to block it from opening.

When I push the button, I can hear the latch moving.I did try pushing down on the seat, nada, I'll remove the rear rack and report back
Thanks

Removed the rear rack and exposed 2 small holes, again nada.

Try gently pulling up on the rear of the seat as you push the button.

Tried that also, no joy. what's left? I am thinking I could use my 4" hole saw and drill in from the top rear, that may be my only option?

I know you tried pushing down on the seat but you may try sitting on it to put even more downward pressure on it.

Are you hearing the latch move or just the solenoid actuating? It may be the solenoid and the issue may be the cable between the solenoid and latch.

Just went out to my GTS250 and I was able to wiggle my arm and hand up to feel the cable coming out from the solenoid, right next to solenoid. I pushed the release button and felt cable going to latch move, so I confirmed what I thought I was feeling. Familiar with the set up as I have had to replace both latch cables.

I did not remove the lower plastic piece but you should be able to reach up with some needlenose pliers and pull on the cable to the latch.

Disclaimer: I am a slim build so my arms are slim.

Are you hearing the latch move or just the solenoid actuating? It is hard to tell the difference but I am sure the sound is coming from the latch area.
Yes, I tried sitting on it and hitting the button and pulling on the cable, the cable does not move when I grab it with vise grips and give it a good pull.
Thanks for your advice.
PS It is unfortunate that the lock can malfunction and you will not be able to add any gas

Whoa! When the hole saw comes out, it's time to take a pause!

Which cable are you grabbing on? The one from the legshield to the solenoid or the one from the solenoid to the latch?

I'm grabbing the cable where it comes out on the back side of the glove box. I'll pull as hard as I can and nothing happens at all. When I hit the power button I can hear the latch clicking but of course the seat does not release. Thanks for all who are trying to to help

I think you might be hearing the solenoid actuating. You need to grab the cable on the other side of the solenoid by reaching up under as I noted in a previous post. That cable may have disconnected at the solenoid.

I had to remove the lower piece of trim to get my paw up in there. I grabbed the cable and yanked on it. But can't get it to move. Then the spring fell out

Oh oh. This has happened to be a couple of times. I've been able to lift the seat to open it but I wonder if I have worse thing coming😱

Oh oh. This has happened to be a couple of times. I assumed from over stuffing . I've been able to lift the seat to open it but I wonder if I have a worse thing coming😱

The most likely place for the cable to disconnect is right at the latch.

I've seen both causes - the red clip coming away, and the cable cover end coming away from its securing slot, hence the zip-tie retaining it in place.

It is possible to open the seat from the outside - you need a right-angled pick and a lever to push the seat up by 1/2" so you can insert the pick though an existing slot.

I like this idea, much better than the 4-in hole saw. .

I bought the pick tools and poked blindly for a while, could not hook anything that would open it. This morning I cut a small hole in the rear of the seat which allowed me to see the latch. After getting it open, I promptly removed the latch
No more problems with a locking seat for me!

Now, if anyone has a decent seat cover they wish to sell, I'm interested!

Be aware, if ever you tow the scooter on a trailer, the seat will fly open and you lose the pet carrier. That's happened to people on MV before, when the seat hasn't been latched down.

Best would be to repair whatever went amiss in the first place...

When it did open what did you find as the culprit. Broken release spring or cable pinch clamp ? I'm curious to what caused this debacle. Its a shame you had to booger up the seat to fix it. Similar problem : I've had to do that as well while on a road trip several hundred miles from home, it involved the keys being left in a helmet that hastily got put in the locking trunk when it started to rain. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned.

Honestly, I did not look for the culprit. I was relieved to finally get it open and removed it immediately. Then I went to putting my scoot back together. Before this, the lock rarely worked properly anyway, I had installed a new latch a few weeks ago and it would not lock at all, until this happened.
Now, back to the regularly scheduled programming.

Man's gotta due what a man's gotta do

I've heard cheekyseats is good. https://www.cheekyseats.net/collections/vespa-gts-seat-covers

bungie cord