Was Gonna Go For A Ride But...

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.

[image: View Post]Alien TLR, on Nov 21 2008, 07:12 PM, said:

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.


The lock is on top moisture can easily get in, try lock de-icer if that does not work post it, sure someone on here has an idea of what it is.

Warm up the lock with a hair dryer?

[image: View Post]checksix, on Nov 21 2008, 07:45 PM, said:

Warm up the lock with a hair dryer?


There you go!

[image: View Post]Alien TLR, on Nov 21 2008, 06:12 PM, said:

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.


Try turning the key as you wiggle the bars back and forth. There's a little bit of play in them at lock.

Edit: To answer your question, yes I've had that happen above freezing.

Not trying to insult your intelligence or anything, but did you try to turn the bars to the left as you turned the key?? I've had it before where there was tension on the locking pin and hard to unlock unless I turned the handlebars a little.

Edit: Damn, CrazyInNYC beat me too it. Got to be fast around here.

[image: View Post]wera803, on Nov 21 2008, 06:54 PM, said:

Not trying to insult your intelligence or anything, but did you try to turn the bars to the left as you turned the key?? I've had it before where there was tension on the locking pin and hard to unlock unless I turned the handlebars a little.

Edit: Damn, CrazyInNYC beat me too it. Got to be fast around here.


I said it first, but he said it better... :blush: :goofy:

[image: View Post]CrazyInNYC, on Nov 21 2008, 06:53 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Alien TLR, on Nov 21 2008, 06:12 PM, said:

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.


Try turning the key as you wiggle the bars back and forth. There's a little bit of play in them at lock.

Edit: To answer your question, yes I've had that happen above freezing.

ABOVE freezing!??!? :huh: I thought you said 26 degrees. Unless you meant Celcius...in which case the hair dryer prolly won't help :laugh:

DDO-VFR

me, and most the people i know, won't go outside without good reason if its 26 degrees F. but, that's life in socal! :biggrin:

[image: View Post]VFR FLYER, on Nov 21 2008, 08:22 PM, said:

me, and most the people i know, won't go outside without good reason if its 26 degrees F. but, that's life in socal! :biggrin:


what are you going to do when the winter gets here?

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on Nov 21 2008, 07:57 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VFR FLYER, on Nov 21 2008, 08:22 PM, said:

me, and most the people i know, won't go outside without good reason if its 26 degrees F. but, that's life in socal! :biggrin:


what are you going to do when the winter gets here?

what's winter? been 70's and 80's for months and months!

We'll freeze our asses off in the 50F or better temps. :laugh:

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on Nov 21 2008, 06:57 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VFR FLYER, on Nov 21 2008, 08:22 PM, said:

me, and most the people i know, won't go outside without good reason if its 26 degrees F. but, that's life in socal! :biggrin:


what are you going to do when the winter gets here?

Get your key hot with a lighter without melting the plastic and put it in the slot it will turn. Nobody lives in the snow??

Don't worry, Obama will solve all your problems once he takes office! :laugh:

Not political, just a little joke about how we are in a lame duck period and government is getting a bit..uh.."slow".

[image: View Post]sirimiri, on Nov 22 2008, 10:12 AM, said:

Don't worry, Obama will solve all your problems once he takes office! :laugh:

Not political, just a little joke about how we are in a lame duck period and government is getting a bit..uh.."slow".


are you suggesting the exitting government was quick of the mark?????

not political, just a little joke...... ;p


so Sirimiri, when are you in Holland again?

I have used the lighter on the key a few times and it works ok. I now carry a can of de icer and tru flow in my stitch my lock smith told me to be careful with the de icer because it removes all lubricant from the switch and it would eat it self in short order he recommended following the de ice with a teflon based lube after using this method it does not continue to get worse throughout the winter as it had in past winters.

[image: View Post]Alien TLR, on Nov 21 2008, 06:12 PM, said:

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.


So what was the outcome?

[image: View Post]CrazyInNYC, on Nov 24 2008, 01:01 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Alien TLR, on Nov 21 2008, 06:12 PM, said:

I was just about to take the bike out for a nice 26 degree spin around town, but I think my ignition switch is frozen.

The bike has been parked outside and the cover blew off. I have it parked with the bars locked. When I put the key in, it won't turn. I didn't twist too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

Has anyone ever had this problem at temps above freezing? I just want some peace of mind that it's only the temperature causing my problem.


So what was the outcome?

Must of got it unstuck?....to busy riding to answer? :goofy: :wheel:

I actually haven't had time to screw with it yet; very busy.

When I do (probably in a couple days), I'll post up.

[image: View Post]VFR4Lee, on Nov 22 2008, 12:29 AM, said:

We'll freeze our asses off in the 50F or better temps. :laugh:

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on Nov 21 2008, 06:57 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VFR FLYER, on Nov 21 2008, 08:22 PM, said:

me, and most the people i know, won't go outside without good reason if its 26 degrees F. but, that's life in socal! :biggrin:


what are you going to do when the winter gets here?

When winter gets here? I'll put the liner back in my jacket... :goofy:

As for the lock problem, try de-icer as others have said...or wiggle the bars back and forth. I think they've got you covered...

Today the temps were above freezing and the ignition switch worked fine. I figured it was just the low temps freezing it up, but now I have some peace of mind in knowing so.