Ignition Switch cover

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Sep 2, 2014 | 02:53 PM

roadrage12

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 26

Likes: 18

From: Sandy, UT

Ignition Switch cover

I was on a three state trip over the holiday weekend. I was heading down the road on my older bike which is a 98 Fatboy. I noticed the switch cover on the ignition switch looked like it was going to bounce off. I touched it and the whole cover came off. When I stopped for gas it looked like the hinge pin came out of the bottom. You can see were it goes through so you can rotate it open and close of course. The ignition still worked. No problem with the bike starting or shutting off the cover just didn't stay on and I never saw the pin come out.
So the next day I stopped in the dealership in Flagstaff and they told me the only fix is to replace the whole ignition switch. This seems a lot to me just for a hinge pin the vibrated out. Has anyone had this happen or know how to fix this issue before I go to the time and expense of replacing the whole ignition switch just for a detached cover. Thanks for any suggestions.

Sep 2, 2014 | 03:38 PM

1sandking1

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 325

Likes: 2

From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Do you still have the cover or did you lose it? I had the same thing happen, but didn't lose the cover. I used a piece of wire in lieu of the pins (#14 solid copper electrical wire) and now its good as new.

Sep 3, 2014 | 06:18 PM

Uncle G.

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 9,332

Likes: 3,873

From: Upstate New York

The switch cover is held on by a "roll pin", a little pin made of sheet metal rolled into a tube. A GOOD hardware store should be able to provide just what you need.

Dec 2, 2014 | 02:09 PM

allegedly

Stage IV

Joined: Jan 2014

Posts: 4

Likes: 1

From: Fort William, Scotland.

Ignition Cover hinge pin gone !!

Hi guys,
I appreciate this is an 'old post' but this exact thing happened today on my '98 Fatboy ! Pleased I logged on and checked this out, saved me a lot of trouble.
If anyone knows of a supplier that sells the 'rolled steel pin' on it's own I'd be very grateful for the info. In the interim, I'll cut myself some copper wire tomorrow and get it sorted.
Meantime, it might be winter here but it's not stopping me from getting out and about.....unless it's pishing down!!

Thanks again guys and Christmas Greetings from Fort William in Sunny Scotland!!
Cheers
Rob

Dec 2, 2014 | 02:18 PM

RHPAW

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 21,737

Likes: 17,577

From: Driftless Area

Around here, I go to the Ace Hardware store. They got about 3 aisles of drawers full of nuts, bolts, dowels, spacers, etc. of various sizes loose for sale individually.
If you find one, stick a center punch in one end and tap it to flare the tip, then the other side after it's installed so it won't happen again.

Dec 2, 2014 | 02:26 PM

Arizona Sage

Cruiser

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 187

Likes: 1

From: Chandler, Arizona

Same exact thing just happened to me. Luckily I saw that it was loose at a stop and was able to save the cover plate. Looks like a trip to Ace Hardware is in my immediate future.

Dec 2, 2014 | 05:16 PM

dyna rider

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 4,192

Likes: 168

From: Knoxville, Tn

Ignition Switch

Drag Specialties sells a cheap ignition switch that for all intents and purposes looks like a HD one. If I were you, I would order one and remove the roll pin and cover (hinged lid) and install it on my bike. You need to keep the water out.