Ignition Switch

[Helmetgurus]

My key will no larger turn the ignition swith. Do I have a new Key made (and try that), try and clear it out, or do I need to replace it? If its the later, is it an easy job.

Thanks

[WingAdmin]

The cheap fix is to have a new key made. Chances are that's the problem.

The ignition switch is not easy to replace, by design: otherwise it would make it easy to steal the bike.

[Rambozo]

Get a new key cut from code. You can find the key code stamped on the bottom of all the lock cylinders. It will be in the format A00, B00, C00, or D00. Where the zeros are two numbers.

[Charlie1Horse]

There's a little door at the top of the ignition cylinder and mine fell off and into the bottom of the cylinder. After that I could not put the key fully into the cylinder. If yours has that little door missing, it likely has fallen in and will not let you put the key in. I don't know about anyone else but I just tipped, about a 64th of an inch, from the tip of the key with a grinder and it worked again, however, you won't have that little door to keep foreign objects out of the key cylinder. If this works, it should be just temporary until you can replace the lock cylinder.
Russell

[FM-USA]

Had this happen to me 4 months ago. [ 1991 GL1500 ]
Stuffed an old white T-Shirt under the lock and sprayed Brake Cleaner in the tumblers and trying the key.
Eventually it began to work. Did that 3 times more then a good spray of 'Liquid Wrench' (NOT WD40), and worked the key in BOTH directions.

Works like it did without issues,... so far.
I believe that got gunk out of the pins & springs.
Like you I live near a sizeable body of water, the higher than usual humidity we've been having might have something to do with it. Tho I noticed no rust color in the white shirt.

.

[WingAdmin]

Just to confirm that the steering head isn't locked in place - if it is, and there is pressure on the lock, you won't be able to rotate the key. You need to wiggle the handlebars as you rotate the key to get it to loosen up.

[Tim 1956]

My key will no larger turn the ignition swith. Do I have a new Key made (and try that), try and clear it out, or do I need to replace it? If its the later, is it an easy job.

Thanks

WD 40 as I have always done with the long straw pushed into the key hole as far as you can and spray away. POOF. problem solved.

Tim

[Sidcar]

We have one vote for Liquid Wrench and one vote for WD40. I’ve seen “do not use WD40 in steering locks” before but does it matter which is used and, as I haven’t seen Liquid Wrench in the UK please can you tell me how it differs from WD40.

Sid

And yes, my steering lock is getting stiff.

[Tim 1956]

We have one vote for Liquid Wrench and one vote for WD40. I’ve seen “do not use WD40 in steering locks” before but does it matter which is used and, as I haven’t seen Liquid Wrench in the UK please can you tell me how it differs from WD40.

Sid

And yes, my steering lock is getting stiff.

as I said. I have used wd40 a few times on my 1500 ignition key lock and just sprayed it full and then did the key in and out and in and out and turn the key full rotation in both direction. Never ever in my life has wd40 damaged anything. It won't hurt a thing and you can spray liquid wrench over the top of that. There are roller in the key. It's not electronic. spray a little then and work the key in and out repeatedly about 6 times or so and through it pases turning it off and on. It's not big deal. I've used wd40 to spray in my starter button switch too when I started having problems with it not wanting to start and fixed it right away. google always works for me. Is Liquid Wrench better than WD-40?
For Heavy-Duty Tasks: Liquid Wrench is likely more effective at penetrating rust and freeing stuck components. Choosing between them depends on the task at hand. If you need to loosen something heavily rusted, Liquid Wrench is typically the better choice, while WD-40 is great for general maintenance and protection.Nov 5, 2020

[Sidcar]

Thank you for the info.

Sid.

[Rambozo]

[WingAdmin]

Never, EVER use WD-40 in any lock cylinder. EVER!!

WD-40 is not intended to be a lubricant. It is a water dispersant/preservative to prevent corrosion. It does this by leaving behind a sticky, oily film after the carrier has evaporated.

Filling your lock cylinder with its tiny pins and springs with a sticky oil film will pretty much GUARANTEE future failure of that lock cylinder. Not to mention, that sticky film attracts and retains grit and dust, which will also hamper the lock mechanism as well as cause accelerated wear.

Use something like brake cleaner (which evaporates completely without leaving anything behind) to flush out that WD-40 goo that you just put in there, then instead use a dry graphite lubricant or other lock-specific lubricant. Graphite is my favorite - once the carrier evaporates, only very slippery dry graphite is left behind, which does not attract grit, and makes the lock very smooth.

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[Charlie1Horse]

Try Superzilla.
Russell

[Nightingale]

I'm wondering, could Balistoil (for cleanig things like firearms and pistols) be a good spray? And how about sewing machine oil or wristwatch or clock oil?
Could I use this too for slightly rusting switches and contacts like on the motorbike handlebars / stear.