Seat latch problem

[BamaDrifter64]

Just bought a '99 I/S and got along with the stock I/S seat which was on the bike, a Corbin I/S seat from the previous owner.  Noticed while riding the bike that the nose of the stock seat wasn't attached to the latch, but it had the strap across the passenger pillion so I wasn't concerned.  Took it off and put the Corbin on to try it out - the latch doesn't work on it either!  Tried out the latch with the key and it works fine.  Took the hookup off the Corbin seat and put it into the latch and it catches it - had to turn the key to get it out of the latch.  However, with both seats not catching, it has to be the latch.  Haven't gone back out to look or work on it, but wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what I need to look for regarding the latch.  I'm thinking maybe the latch has loosened or come loose from it's mounts and the seat  hookup just pushes it down instead of the latch catching it.  Any advice?

Dave

[Momz]

Are you sure that the Corbin is for an I/S? The corbin seat for the I/S is a one peice seat. Most other Corbins are too narrow at the interface of the seat nose and tank. You may also check that the cable functions properly. Some have experieneced kinked cables tthat need to be replaced (voice of experience).

[PapaHotel]

I had to shim the Corbin latch hook down. You could also try kneeling on the seat to get it to latch, but you will also have to kneel on it to turn the key to dis-engage.

[AussieValk]

You are installing the seat correctly aren't you? Mi stock I/S seat is difficult to get into place, and if you dont get the tap at the back of the riders seat to fasten properly it is difficult to get the latch to engage. I apply pressure to the rear of the riders seat while pulling up on the front to slide it in. Then it latches perfectly.

[Grandpot]

With the assumption that the bike actually is an I/S and both seats are actually I/S seats, do the following:

1. Measure the distance from the latch on the bike to the bar that the rear of the seat slips into.

2. Measure the distance from hook on the front of each seat the rear hook on each seat.

If both seats measure the same, then this should also be the distance between the latch on the bike to the rear bar.  It is unlikely that both seats are incorrect.

Inspect the bike and find out if the latch has been moved or the rear bar (maybe the fender) has moved.  Another possibility is the previous owner added an accessary on the bike, under the seat area and it is preventing the seat from going down into the latch.   

[BamaDrifter64]

Found the problem.  Apparently the pot metal that the latch mechanism is made of had broken and the cable assembly was holding it together.  When you put the seat on, it pushed the broken bottom section down and the seat wouldn't latch.  I inspected the latching mechanism and it was pushed down - when I went to pry it up, it came up easily and I could see the break.  Time to buy a new one!

Dave