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Fork / Steering Lock, M8 Softail, never had a issue using it, never had to wiggle the bars to get the lock to engage, just put bars full left and lock, same taking the lock off.
On tour away from home, took the lock off ok, short run to the fuel station back to the site we are staying, go to put it back on, no joy, wiggle the bars etc.
To get it to engage, I had to move the bars getting on for a inch to the right.
I'm thinking someone has tried to snap the lock, either bent the pin and or enlarged the hole in the stem the lock goes into.
Anyone have any experience of other issues with the lock, I of course have a secondary lock and will not put the fork lock on now until I can have a proper look at home don.t want to get it stuck on!
I've looked at the manual and the lock can be replaced without removing the forks, I also learned what the hole in the bottom fork clamp is for!
I also added some pictures as everyone likes a picture!
Last edited by SJC69; Jun 5, 2026 at 07:22 AM.
Reason: Update
Now home after a somewhat very wet trip, I've had time to give the fork lock some proper attention in the garage, the long & short of it, it was the lock barrel sticking/catching when trying to engage the lock, cured by using some cleaner & proper lock lubricant, now back to it's normal self, no damage & no dismantling.
The moving of the handlebars had nothing to do with it just a coincidence that the barrel started to move and of course the pin would not engage with the hole in the bottom clamp, you can start the barrel moving in any position!
Below is what the lower clamp/tree looks like & you can see the hole for removing the lock securing Allen head on the right and the blind hole on the left for the pin to engage in when the lock is in operation, I assume the slot is to allow water to drain & or lubricate!
I used GT 85 to clean the lock and free it up then ABUS lock lube PS22
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Fork / Steering Lock
