2006 Touring Ignition Switch
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 844
Likes: 16
From: Chicago
2006 Touring Ignition Switch
So- I picked up my new '06 FLHTCI on Friday. Rode it home, pulled it into the garage, turned the switch to "Lock" put the key in, the key wouldn't turn to the right to "lock" the ignition. Tried both keys, tried every possible combination. Called the dealer, told him he gave me the wrong keys "But they work in the Tour Pak and the Saddlebags, right?" (They did)
So, yesterday, with 50+ mph wind gusts, I rode the 15 miles to the dealer, pulled in, and the mechanic says "Obviously, they didn't tell you about the new ignition switch. You have to turn it past "lock", push the whole switch down, insert the key, then you can turn it to the right and lock the ignition and fork".
Felt like an idiot- but it would have been nice to have had someone mention this to me when I picked up the bike.
Hopefully, nobody will repeat my mistake (especially not in 50+ mph wind gusts)
So, yesterday, with 50+ mph wind gusts, I rode the 15 miles to the dealer, pulled in, and the mechanic says "Obviously, they didn't tell you about the new ignition switch. You have to turn it past "lock", push the whole switch down, insert the key, then you can turn it to the right and lock the ignition and fork".
Felt like an idiot- but it would have been nice to have had someone mention this to me when I picked up the bike.
Hopefully, nobody will repeat my mistake (especially not in 50+ mph wind gusts)
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 54
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From:
RE: 2006 Touring Ignition Switch
Yep, the 2006 ignition are a new style, so I have been told. Did you notice how hard it is to lock the forks? You have to pull/push the bars ALL the way to the left & even then play with it a bit. The service manager & sales manager told me there have been a lot of problems with this style of switch. Inside the ignition housing is a plastic casing that tends to crack or eventually break, I guess this is not a problem on all the switches but there have been quite a few.
When I first got mine & tried to move the switch to the fork lock position it would not turn far enough (even with the handle bars pushed as far as they would go), it felt like it had some sort of resistance inside the switch & I was afraid to try & force it. When I dropped it off for the 95" mod I told the service manager my concerns, he looked at it & said yep you have the new style & ordered another one. When I picked the bike up he showed me how to play around with the switch & lock it, they did not replace the switch. It does lock but there are times I feel like I'm having to force it far enough left so I can push it down & lock it. It will probably eventually break. [:@]
When I first got mine & tried to move the switch to the fork lock position it would not turn far enough (even with the handle bars pushed as far as they would go), it felt like it had some sort of resistance inside the switch & I was afraid to try & force it. When I dropped it off for the 95" mod I told the service manager my concerns, he looked at it & said yep you have the new style & ordered another one. When I picked the bike up he showed me how to play around with the switch & lock it, they did not replace the switch. It does lock but there are times I feel like I'm having to force it far enough left so I can push it down & lock it. It will probably eventually break. [:@]
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,890
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From: MA
RE: 2006 Touring Ignition Switch
AH whataya bitchin' about? You got to ride another 15 miles out and back didn't ya? So what if it was windy? Its the ride that counts and any excuse is a good excuse.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,322
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From: Somerset County
RE: 2006 Touring Ignition Switch
It's weird they left that operation out of the manual that came with the bike
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 34
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From: The Wolverine
RE: 2006 Touring Ignition Switch
Got to admit I felt like a real duma$$ after it took me two calls to the dealer to figure out how to be smarter than my ignition switch.
Just when I thought I was smarter the fork lock quit working all together. Now I have to get that fixed. I think I'll wait for my 1000 mile checkup.
Just when I thought I was smarter the fork lock quit working all together. Now I have to get that fixed. I think I'll wait for my 1000 mile checkup.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: 2006 Touring Ignition Switch
Your obviously not alone on this. When they gave me the "tour" of my '06 RG, they verbally told me about and he worked the switch, they need to say, "here, you try it." I made a stop two miles from the stealer, couldn't lock it, called, they told me what to do, still couldn't lock it, thought I had the wrong keys. Back to stealer, showed me how, quite embarrassed...
My switch operates just fine and I have a feeling some are breaking due to people forcing this or that. I find that while bars/ignition are locked, if you pull (gently) (standing on right side) the left grip towards you while turning ignition key it takes much of the stress or pressure off of the switch mechanism. Hence, the switch should last much longer. It's just a theory anyway.
What really pisses me off is that I can't have my forks locked while the bike is running, as with the old style padlock on my softail.
My switch operates just fine and I have a feeling some are breaking due to people forcing this or that. I find that while bars/ignition are locked, if you pull (gently) (standing on right side) the left grip towards you while turning ignition key it takes much of the stress or pressure off of the switch mechanism. Hence, the switch should last much longer. It's just a theory anyway.
What really pisses me off is that I can't have my forks locked while the bike is running, as with the old style padlock on my softail.