Ignition switch alignment
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 656
Likes: 59
From: MT. Olympus
Good to hear you got it to work! Did you end up making that alignment tool to realign the pins?
Last edited by Hephaestus; Feb 27, 2019 at 12:08 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Just used a screw driver, and I really don't know how we got them lined back up correctly. The grace of God is what I attribute it to, because we didn't know what we were doing besides just turning things around, randomly, a click at a time! How it got misaligned in the first place is also a mystery. I just think we were careless, and didn't think about it when we pulled it out. I know we didn't lock the steering column in the first place, then just in moving things around all weekend, it probably got turned.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Just a note for those that are following and using the video to remove the switch....you do not have to have the forks in the lock position for this to work. In almost every case the misalignment comes from using the wrong tool to unlock the forks. If you never put the forks in the lock position to begin with, you won't have to unlock them to straighten the bars up. Food for thought.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,776
Likes: 2,252
From: wet coast BC
I am still the only one to use the switch itself to align the tumblers. Insert without spring.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Burlington VT
Thank you for this thread, video, and comments. Changing my bars and when I got them back on I had the same issue, bike was dead. I used the switch to realign and got myself back going! Thank you all!!! So glad to be part of this forum.
Dana
Dana
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
However, they don't work on my 2001 so I did what any good wrench would do, I fabricated my own from an old screwdriver. It works perfectly.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 9
From: Northern Virginia
I found that you do not have to turn the bars to full lock to remove the ignition switch ****.. Also I think most people get the tumblers out of alignment by sticking the ignition switch **** back into the switch to turn on the ignition or unlock the bars while working on the bike. This happens because when you put the **** back into the switch without the spacers that go under it, the **** drops down farther into the switch than it is supposed to be and then the flags on the **** do not line up properly with the inside of the switch,when you turn the **** it then turns some of the tumblers but not all of them, hence the misalignment. Ask me how I know... Of course it has happened to me more than once.
I have found a fool proof way to prevent this from happening, no special tools required.
I remove the **** with the bars pointing forward and unlocked, then I remove the lock nut and spacers ect.... after I remove the lower fairing/switch cap or whatever you call it I immediately reinstall the spacers, lock nut and spring and then put the **** back into the switch. Now I can turn on the ignition to test for power or radio or lights or what ever I am working on, I can start and run and move the bike, It works for me. The key point is DO NOT put the **** back into the switch without the spacers under it.
I have found a fool proof way to prevent this from happening, no special tools required.
I remove the **** with the bars pointing forward and unlocked, then I remove the lock nut and spacers ect.... after I remove the lower fairing/switch cap or whatever you call it I immediately reinstall the spacers, lock nut and spring and then put the **** back into the switch. Now I can turn on the ignition to test for power or radio or lights or what ever I am working on, I can start and run and move the bike, It works for me. The key point is DO NOT put the **** back into the switch without the spacers under it.