This is a first for me....
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 362
Likes: 76
From: Minnesota
This is a first for me....
So, my father and I took a trip to a casino on the bikes and got a hotel room. Since I was park my bike overnight in a parking lot, I locked the saddlebags, locked the forks, and locked the ignition switch. It was the first time doing it on this bike.
I got to the bike this morning. Unlocked the bags and went to put the key thingy into the ignition. The damn thing wouldn't go in. I tried EVERYTHING but the key just wouldn't go in.
After roughly 45 minutes, I finally relented and called Rice Lake HD in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Aaron the service tech of answered was AMAZING and walked me through a couple things that were unsuccessful. So they sent out a service tech with truck and trailer to look at the bike.
After about two hours, the tech, Cody, spent about 5-10 minutes trying to get the key in before he finally put the key on top of the ignition switch and pulled out a large mallet and smacked the key into the lock tumbler as my heart did a back flip. He was able to unlock the lock tumbler with the hammered in key and I was able to go about my way with a new ignition switch ordered under warranty.
Looking at the ignition switch, looks like it was put on the bike with a faulty lock tumbler that wasn't properly lined up.
Very interesting....
I got to the bike this morning. Unlocked the bags and went to put the key thingy into the ignition. The damn thing wouldn't go in. I tried EVERYTHING but the key just wouldn't go in.
After roughly 45 minutes, I finally relented and called Rice Lake HD in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Aaron the service tech of answered was AMAZING and walked me through a couple things that were unsuccessful. So they sent out a service tech with truck and trailer to look at the bike.
After about two hours, the tech, Cody, spent about 5-10 minutes trying to get the key in before he finally put the key on top of the ignition switch and pulled out a large mallet and smacked the key into the lock tumbler as my heart did a back flip. He was able to unlock the lock tumbler with the hammered in key and I was able to go about my way with a new ignition switch ordered under warranty.
Looking at the ignition switch, looks like it was put on the bike with a faulty lock tumbler that wasn't properly lined up.
Very interesting....
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 362
Likes: 76
From: Minnesota
It seems like the little circular thing that the key surrounds on the switch was pushed over too close to the edge on one side which stopped the key from going in.
It's just odd that it worked fine the night before....it didn't look tampered with either.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 10
From: usa
It's very possible some one tried to pick the lock. There are several tubular lock picks on the market that sometimes get in the wrong hands. The locks are fairly easy to pick, once you pick the lock, the feelers on the pick line up at the proper depth of each pin, there are 7 pins. However when you pick the lock the pick turns just as if you were using the key, but if you don't have the pick set right to start off with, one or more of the little feelers could move, and just allow you to turn the lock maybe 5 degrees, and basically relock, which then misaligns the notch in the center of the lock in relationship to the notch on the face of the lock, which will not let you get the key into the lock. My thinking is some one tried to steal your bike, but maybe got scared away or didn't feel confident enough to try and pick it again. Also I've seen the same thing happen if the lock, or the key is worn out enough that when you locked it you could have possibly, unknowingly pulled the key out before it was turned far enough to line up the 2 notches. In either case what I do is grind or file he little tab on the outer circumference of the key, so the inner tab lines up in the proper position to unlock the lock. I've been in the lock business 50 years, and worked on many of those Harley locks, and to be honest I've never seen an ignition lock ever get that much wear, thats why I think some one was trying to steal it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,262
Likes: 15,534
From: Tulsa
This was my first thought as well.
Trending Topics
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15,793
Likes: 1,133
From: NorCal916
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
I had a similar thing happen a couple years ago, but it the opposite. Got to a hotel, and couldn't lock the ignition because the key wouldn't go in.
It was grit and flotsam in the switch that prevented the key from going in. I managed to use a small pick to get some out, but not enough to keep it from happening again really soon.
On your deal, when they used the hammer, it just forced the key past the debris.
I ended up putting a new switch in too.
It was grit and flotsam in the switch that prevented the key from going in. I managed to use a small pick to get some out, but not enough to keep it from happening again really soon.
On your deal, when they used the hammer, it just forced the key past the debris.
I ended up putting a new switch in too.
