California Vintage seat lock question

[Denis]

Since I bought a Cal Vintage seat for my '91 Cal, I didn't want to reinvent the wheel on attaching that seat so I found a Cal Vintage seat lock with cable.
My question is, where is the release end of the cable mounted and what type of device locks/unlocks/releases it?
Pics would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Denis

[Kev m]

Since I bought a Cal Vintage seat for my '91 Cal, I didn't want to reinvent the wheel on attaching that seat so I found a Cal Vintage seat lock with cable.
My question is, where is the release end of the cable mounted and what type of device locks/unlocks/releases it?
Pics would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Denis

Assuming it's the same as or similar to my old Jackal. A lock cylinder on the frame doubled as a release mechanism and helmet lock.

When the key was turned the seat release cable could be pulled.

The cable was run along/behind/under frame roughly as shown (Sorry about poor quality pic, best pic I could find to edit in my old archives).

[Kiwi_Roy]

Yes, wasn't the helmet lock located to dangle the helmet on the hot exhaust LOL

[Kev m]

Yes, wasn't the helmet lock located to dangle the helmet on the hot exhaust LOL

I dunno, I don't think I've ever locked a helmet in my life....

[Denis]

Assuming it's the same as or similar to my old Jackal. A lock cylinder on the frame doubled as a release mechanism and helmet lock.

When the key was turned the seat release cable could be pulled.

The cable was run along/behind/under frame roughly as shown (Sorry about poor quality pic, best pic I could find to edit in my old archives).

Great, thanks for the photo and explanation!
So that's one cable then?

[Kev m]

Great, thanks for the photo and explanation!
So that's one cable then?

As far as I know. I never had it off.

You might check the parts exploded views at Harpers to confirm on the Vintage.

[Denis]

Harper's exploded view is what prompted me to ask the question, hoping to get further info from someone who's had one. I was unclear how the lock itself came into play since I've never seen a Cal Vintage up close.

Anyway, the photo helped a lot.

[Kiwi Dave]

A lot of the Californias have this lock, not just the Vintage.  The EV series, and even my old 1100i uses one.  As well as the key mechanism, the cable is connected to a latching bracket that sits horizontally across the frame.  This is what the seat is retained by.

[Kev m]

IIRC once the lock cylinder is turned there's an end cap on that end of the cable which you can grasp and pull to release the latch.

It's hidden from sight, you reach behind the lock cylinder.

Not sure how the cable is attached to the lock cylinder. I'd assume some sort of stay.

[sidecarnutz]

I put a Vintage seat on my 90 Cali III and just put a patch of industrial Velcro on the fender top and on the seat pan. Works well enough.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I dunno, I don't think I've ever locked a helmet in my life....

I never locked mine either until I had one lifted, worst part was the Girbing gloves were inside it.
I now lock it or carry it when unattended.

[kingoffleece]

I replaced the cable on my 2001 Jackal last year.  The new one works as poorly as the old one!
The latch itself is two jaws that pivot at the bottom and intercept a small north/south bar under the seat.  The jaws capture the bar to secure the seat.

[oldbike54]

I put a Vintage seat on my 90 Cali III and just put a patch of industrial Velcro on the fender top and on the seat pan. Works well enough.

 Another Velcro man  Stuff is wonderful 

 Dusty

[guzzisteve]

You could get lock & cable and just mount a knob to pull. The lock assembly should fit, held on crossbar w/2 bolts if I remember correctly.

[Denis]

A lock plate and cable and the left side lock mount are on the way. The lock mount was cheap and I may not need it, but it was there. We'll see how it goes. My Cal is a '91 so I'm curious to see if anything is different on the frame where that lock mount goes on the later bikes.

[Denis]

The lock and plate (from a 2008 Cal) bolted right up to the frame (on my '91 Cal). That was good.
However, the lock itself is about 1" forward of the corresponding latch pin on the Cal Vin seat. That's bad.
It's one of a couple of things:
1. The rear of the Cal tank is shaped differently than the rear of the earlier Cal tanks and prevents the seat from moving far enough forward, or
2. The crossmember of the frame where the lock and plate attach was relocated on the later Cals, or
3. There is something under there I'm not seeing that's keeping things from lining up.

It's worth noting that everything is in the right place except the 1" fore/aft latch alignment.
Interesting.

[guzzisteve]

#2 To fix change the position of pin on the pan. Make a 'U' shape bracket for pin & attach to pan.

or try spacers on longer bolts to move the lockplate forward if it's not on an angle w/mounted.

[Ncdan]

While on the subject of California vintage seats, I have a new black one that fits all the CALVIN years if anyone needs one at a good price. It's a factor seat. PM me if interested.

[rodekyll]

Another Velcro man  Stuff is wonderful 

 Dusty

Yup, if you're in a situation where the saddle is leaving the bike, Velcro is not your problem.     

[Denis]

#2 To fix change the position of pin on the pan. Make a 'U' shape bracket for pin & attach to pan.

or try spacers on longer bolts to move the lockplate forward if it's not on an angle w/mounted.

I didn't write that well, I don't think. The seat either needs to move forward about an inch OR the lock plate needs to move backwards an inch. I tried spacers to move the lock plate backwards but by doing so it a) put the cable at a severe angle which would eventually cause it to wear through and b) the lower mechanism then rubbed on the rear portion of the plate and interfered with the lock/unlock mechanism.

Coming up with a relocated pin mount for the pan itself might be the best option, as you mentioned.

It's interesting...

[Denis]

Looking again at this, it looks like the plate to which the latch assembly is mounted is different than the one I found. Hmm, that may be the culprit.

[sidecarnutz]

Another Velcro man  Stuff is wonderful 

 Dusty

I use that because duct tape doesn't hold well in the summer sun!   
At least the Velcro is hidden.