Seat release cable snapped!!!!!!

[unchained]

Had a problem last night on my way home from work, went under the seat to get my waterproofs and the cable snapped that releases the seat latch. So glad I have an aftermarket rack on the SL as I am not sure how you could get to the cable with the OEM one!
Here is what I did:
Unscrew the small cover at the back seat that goes over the latch
Remove the top box mount from the rack
Lift the rear of the small cover as far as you can and shine a torch in the back
You can see the latch quite clearly but it will not release by prying the top
Locate the release cable to the right of the latch and with a long metal coat hanger (if you can find one), or similar, form a hook on the end which you can hook over the cable and give it a sharp tug.
This should pull the cable sufficiently to release the latch, in my case it also damaged the outer casing to the cable which I am replacing anyway.

It would appear that the cables are no longer available (or at least without a 4-8 week wait from fowlers) but I managed to find a new one on Ebay which will hopefully be here soon.

Bob

[Dave Milnes]

Easy on an Evo you just press the button on the front panel 
Evos usually break more often as they never get used and so sieze up then snap when you do try to use the levers. Mine broke ages ago and I replaced it with a universal cable kit from Halfords sold for pushbike brakes or gears. I pumped loads of oil down the outer casing before threading the new inner through, and it's lasted longer since breaking than before and still works freely.
Weirdly the electric actuator failed shortly afterwards as well.

Actually if you had an OEM rack you just remove the top box then the top half of the rack casing (6 allen screws and 2 bolts and the 2 screw holding the brake light panel) which then fully exposes the latch, as the cover is part of the rack casing.

[unchained]

Actually if you had an OEM rack you just remove the top box then the top half of the rack casing (6 allen screws and 2 bolts and the 2 screw holding the brake light panel) which then fully exposes the latch, as the cover is part of the rack casing.

And held in place by the seat latch loop.

Bob

PS. I have a spare actuator for an evo should you need one Dave.

[unchained]

And 24 hours later the new cable has arrived, that's my job for Sunday sorted.  ::

Bob

[Dave Milnes]

The plastic is quite flexible on the rack cover, you can lift it up at the rear and bend it forward and get to the latch release probably a lot easier than with the hard plastic used on the non rack cover plate.
I'll keep you in mind if I ever need a spare anything Bob, as I'm trying to cut back on the 'spares' I carry as some I have had for so long unused, they have perished, siezed or rusted so not worth keeping even though they were oiled/bagged as appropriate.
I found loads of stuff I forgot I had, binned quite a few but still have too much.