General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

I learned something today....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 22, 2009 | 07:15 PM
  #1  
chidiver's Avatar
chidiver
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Hebron, Indiana
Default I learned something today....

I was having trouble getting my key into the ignition of my 08 Fatboy....At first I thought somebody was tampering with it and got p/o. Upon closer examination the inside of the key was loaded with lint and fuzz from my pocket. That crap was limiting how far into the lock the key would go. Cleaned it out with a toothpick and no more problems.
 
Old Jun 22, 2009 | 09:53 PM
  #2  
tlmitchell's Avatar
tlmitchell
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Southington, OH
Default

Originally Posted by chidiver
I was having trouble getting my key into the ignition of my 08 Fatboy....At first I thought somebody was tampering with it and got p/o. Upon closer examination the inside of the key was loaded with lint and fuzz from my pocket. That crap was limiting how far into the lock the key would go. Cleaned it out with a toothpick and no more problems.
Another interesting key problem that can ruin your day.... I found the lock on my Tour Pak didn't quite line up and the key wouldn't go in. Of course it was locked. Packed to the gills some stuff shifted and move the interior lever just enough to hose me. A dealer ground the nub off the key so it could be stuffed in regardless. Told me on occasion ignition switches do the same thing. I always carry a spare key with the nub ground off for that reason.

TL <--- nubless
 
Old Jun 22, 2009 | 09:57 PM
  #3  
Poorguy's Avatar
Poorguy
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
Default

DOH!
 
Old Jun 22, 2009 | 11:59 PM
  #4  
dope_man_21's Avatar
dope_man_21
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 8
From: Carrollton, Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by chidiver
I was having trouble getting my key into the ignition of my 08 Fatboy....At first I thought somebody was tampering with it and got p/o. Upon closer examination the inside of the key was loaded with lint and fuzz from my pocket. That crap was limiting how far into the lock the key would go. Cleaned it out with a toothpick and no more problems.
I have had problems with my key before, glad yours turned out to be just some pocket fuzz, mine was a bit more than that, I tried both keys and they both did the same thing (one of them was brand new). I ended up spraying some synthetic lube in the lock and have not had a problem since
 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 12:13 AM
  #5  
ToastedGoat's Avatar
ToastedGoat
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City Mo
Default

This is a first for me. I have never heard of that problem before. Learn something new all the time. I have heard of the them wearing out but not pocket lent.
 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 02:46 AM
  #6  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

learn all kind of chit in here..
 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 04:28 AM
  #7  
hpfatboy's Avatar
hpfatboy
Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,436
Likes: 13
Default

 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 04:36 AM
  #8  
electricstart's Avatar
electricstart
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 15
Default

Thanks for the heads up
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 05:40 AM
  #9  
kccustom's Avatar
kccustom
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 926
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, KS
Default

Same thing happened to me with a button I had in my pocket, fit in the key perfectly.
 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 09:14 AM
  #10  
FastHoss's Avatar
FastHoss
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,271
Likes: 29
From: Green Country,Oklahoma
Default

Had a frog leg stuck in the key one time,did the same thing.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:02 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE