The seatback of the wagon seat is stuck, it is latched on one side but not the other (I'm not referring to the rear-facing seat, just to clarify). The plastic tab to release it broke put the seat back up, and I can't get it to latch on both sides or unlatch from the side on which it is stuck. I use my wagon all the time to haul bikes and would like to resolve it ASAP. Any pointers? Thanks in advance!

I posted the same thing earlier this week and got a number of replies. I also spent about 2 hours reading the archives about this problem.

No matter what I did, I couldn't make it work. I asked my wife to come out and give me a hand. I went to find a big flat bladed screwdriver. When I got back, she had the seat down.

She wasn't sure what she did to get it to work, but was under the impression that the latches were in a "bind" She kept working the seat back and forth while pulling up on the latch and it just sort of "snapped."

I've been trying to get it open for six weeks or so. Anyway, try to get some of the pressure off the latches and keep working with it. Once you get it open, memorize how that Nader pin works, so you can get an idea of what you are even trying to do when it gets stuck again.

Wiglaf

My wife reminded me that she was in the cargo area when she got the seat to work. She said that while she pulled the latch up, she lifted UP ON THE SEAT BACK AT THE SAME TIME. When you are in the back seat working on it, you are pulling DOWN ON THE SEAT FROM THE WRONG ANGLE.

I sprayed WD-40 into each side of the mechanism afterwards, but I am going to leave that sucker down for the forseeable future!

On the side that is not locked, you can flip the latch with your fingers. Of course, then both sides will be locked. That may or may not be what you want.

Wiglaf

I may be wrong but I think my wagon handles less well with the seat down. When it is latched in place I think the seat back is meant to stiffen the unibody like the metal frame behind the sedan seats. If you have ever taken a wagon back apart you will see how ridiculously thick the metal frame and latches are. So I keep my seatback up whenever possible.

I would also guess that tension from supporting the unibody is why it is sometimes hard to release. I find the seatback releases more easliy if you push back on the seat while pulling the release. It takes the tension off the latches.

Mine broke years ago on one of my wagons. I use a 10mm wrench or screwdriver to stick back in that slot and pry the lever up (leverage). Somewhat of a PITA, but until I have another reaason to get in there and fix it, it works.

My seat release lever is broken as well, and I haven't gotten around to trying to fix the lever. In the meanwhile, you can use a screwdriver or just your finger to push the bottom catch on the latch itself down and release the seat if just one side is attached. This also works if both sides are latched, but takes a bit of effort, working blindly on both sides. I'll take a picture later today and try to illustrate.

Zach

Here's are two pictures - I'm pointing at the lower latch piece - push that down with a screwdriver or your finger to get the latch to release.





Let us know how it works out for you.

Zach

That's exactly what I have to do to get the rear seat folded. A PITA if you ask me!

I am looking to see if I could DIY fix the broken release handle. All it needs is some kind of a stump for a lever to be attached. Possibly a knob from a furniture drawer or something like that.

If anyone has done a fix, please post some pictures! ;-)

Rgds
Lucast

I've been planning to do that, but haven't managed to find the time to do it. I think a simple bracket with something like a bike shifter cable...

I replaced a broken release lever with a piece of aluminum that has an L shaped cross section. I did this when I had the whole seat cover off for cleaning. I think it would be difficult to make much of a repair without the cover off because of the need to access both sides of the part that the release cables attach to.

Hi Geoff, I'm intrigued. Could you take some pictures of how it looks like from the outside?

Thanks!
Lucast

A digital camera is on my list but hasn't made it to the top yet. So, no picture but maybe I can describe it. The release lever is now a piece of aluminum angle stock. The stock was cut to about as wide as the recess in the seat back. The depth of the stock is about the same as the recess. One side is flat against the seat back. The other side is horizontal and is where the lever is lifted.
In cross section :

seat back
|
|
|
| ____ lever
| |
| |
| | <---- bolt through to piece that conects the cables
| |
|
|

Hi Geof

That's brilliant!

Thanks
Lucast