Ignition not accepting the key

[zippygser]

Hey there guys, this is my first post but quite serious i guess. I rode my 1 month old 800GS home this evening, in the first snow of 2009, and when i got home after about a half hour, i took my key out and left the bike with the steering lock on as usual.
On trying to get the bike started again after that, the key would not turn the ignition. I managed to eventually get it turned with half the key inserted into the ignition, and not trying to force anything.
tell me have any of you ever come across this? Gonna have to take it in to the dealers in the week i guess.

 

[Deleted account W]

Ice in the lock

 

[(RIP) ugg]

my 1100 Gs ignition was sticking a while ago , i had to turn it on to park then back to run, i blathered it in wd40 its now feed itself up..

try hot water if its ice ..
ugg

 

[garfield]

I find that some sort of lubricant helps me ease pointy things into unwilling slots.....

 

[Fanum]

Don't use WD40 on it....no matter how many times someone might recommend it

Roger's probably right.....you could try warming the key up maybe? (I've used a ciggy lighter with success before now)

Well done for being out in it all today and surviving



EDIT.......now that someone's said it while I was typing.......WD40 tends to attract dirt and dust and it turns into a nice abrasive paste
Penetrating oil wiped on the key might be better, or silicone lube.

 

[(RIP) ugg]

Don't use WD40 on it....no matter how many times someone might recommend it

Roger's probably right.....you could try warming the key up maybe? (I've used a ciggy lighter with success before now)

Well done for being out in it all today and surviving



EDIT.......now that someone's said it while I was typing.......WD40 tends to attract dirt and dust and it turns into a nice abrasive paste
Penetrating oil wiped on the key might be better, or silicone lube.

all i had at the time

 

[(RIP) ugg]

I find that some sort of lubricant helps me ease pointy things into unwilling slots.....

over run from the shit thread

 

[Deleted account W]

Anti freeze is good at un freezing things, not surprisingly

 

[(RIP) ugg]

ye could rub ye naked body with lard........oh wrong thread:

 

[brassmonkey001]

Forgive the assumption that you might be a complete numpty but could it have been the steering lock preventing turning of the ignition lock barrel? Did you give the handlebar a bit of a wiggle as you tried the key?

 

[everywherevirtually]

I agree with the previous posts. Might be a combo of melted snow which has frozen or considering you are so new to the bike give the handlebars a wiggle as you enter the key when it's in the steering lock.

 

[zippygser]

Forgive the assumption that you might be a complete numpty but could it have been the steering lock preventing turning of the ignition lock barrel? Did you give the handlebar a bit of a wiggle as you tried the key?

i might be new to the bike but have been riding for 12 years
the key actually starts the bike when half inserted but does not even turn the lock when fully inserted even if you move the steering to allow the lock to release

 

[John Armstrong]

i might be new to the bike but have been riding for 12 years
the key actually starts the bike when half inserted but does not even turn the lock when fully inserted even if you move the steering to allow the lock to release

Was the same on mine this morning as it had been outside in the snow all night

Gentle warming of the key in the mouth eventually got the steering lock off. Like you I think might the ignition barrel not turning.

 

[zippygser]

Was the same on mine this morning as it had been outside in the snow all night

Gentle warming of the key in the mouth eventually got the steering lock off. Like you I think might the ignition barrel not turning.

Thanks John, will try it once the snow lets up a bit, absolutely belting it down now.

 

[High-Tower]

Don't use WD40 on it....no matter how many times someone might recommend it

EDIT.......now that someone's said it while I was typing.......WD40 tends to attract dirt and dust and it turns into a nice abrasive paste
Penetrating oil wiped on the key might be better, or silicone lube.

A locksmith told me that they use dry graphite lube to lubricate sticky locks, he recommended rubbing the point of a pencil (which is graphite, even though we call it the lead) all over the key and working the lock as an effective, cheap alternative to his expensive lube. You might have to do it several times but the lock will free up and the graphite won't attract dirt. I've done it plenty of times on all sorts of locks and it does work.

No use if its frozen though.

 

[HTB]

Shouldn't you pee on it? Oh sorry... wrong thread...