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Steering lock problem
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For a week or so, it's taken a bit of trial and error to get the
ignition key to turn from the steering lock position. The key has three
positions: lock-off-on. I had no problems with it until last week when
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Your argument technique has started to wear me down - the way you keep
contradicting yourself has me a bit confused as to what point you are
supposed to be trying to make!
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it started playing up and this morning it was so bad that I gave up
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.....................unless you're visiting one of those countries where
they drive on the wrong side of the road.
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after about 5 minutes trying to turn the key. I've tried a dab of lube
a) on the key and b) straight into the lock barrel but it just ain't
playing.
Needless to say, the bike (a Honda Varadero 125) is one month out of
warranty. What is a chap of meagre mechanical skills to do? I mean, who
should I go to? Would you enlist a locksmithy / security specialist
sort of bloke, an independent bike dealer, a Honda dealer, any old
mechanic or some other type?
I've tried both the ignition keys that came with the bike. One of them
is pretty much unused but it still couldn't persuade the steering lock
to let go.
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Take a trip down to your nearest Spar shop about 10pm. You'll likely find a
group of 15 year olds who will sort it out for you for a packet of fags.
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My son had a similar problem with his Honda CLR125 (Cityfly). The only
answer will be to get the switch/lock replaced. In the meantime, get some
WD40 and squirt it ionto the lock. If that doesn't free it off then get
somone to keep tapping the region of the lock with a hammer while you try
turning the key. It is likely that you will succeed eventually. Then don't
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You weren't kidding, were you Tony?! You're a lifesaver mate - the
combined WD40 / hammer approach came up trumps in next to no time.
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Now get it replaced. Otherwise, sooner or later you will forget and lock
it - then it will stick again. Fairly soon it will become very difficult to
free off even with the hammer and WD40 approach.
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Cheers,
Tarby
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use the lock again until it has been replaced (use a padlock and chain as a
temporary measure if you can't get it replaced immediately).
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TIA
Tarby
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Never trust a steering lock, especially ones combined with the IGN-SW!!!!
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Alarmist bollox.
I've never had anything else other than a combined lock on any bike I
have ever owned. The odd one has got sticky occasionally and has been
cured with a liberal application of WD40.
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Apart from their vulnerability, they frequently do as you describe, and may
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When was your car made? Every car I've owned that was made post 1971 has
had a combined ign/steering lock and I've never had any trouble with
them in hundreds of thousands of miles behind the wheel. Same style of
ignition lock as a modern motorcycle, same lack of problems.
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In case it escaped your notice this is a motorcycle NG and I was referring
to motorcycle steering/IGN locks.
What car was you on about?
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The analogy is relevant. For nigh on 30 years virtually every car made
has had a combined steering/igniton lock. This hasn't stopped people
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You really don't know what you're talking about. Lozzo has owned 100s
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There is a new competitor to WD40 called GT85 which contains PTFE,
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It's been around for years, if not decades, actually
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apparently GT85 is both the product name & the company name - Halfords stock
it, I'd never heard of it before seeing it there.
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Not greased regularly - I grease the ignition lock from time to time if the
winter gets cold enough to freeze, otherwise if there's spells of heavy rain
the lock sometimes fills with water and ices up, so far the grease has
prevented this happening.
Most single steering locks only need a few applications to start with, once
the grease has worked into the tumblers that usually does the job for the
rest of the life of the bike.
The steering lock on the CB200 has been collecting road grit for so long it
seems to have become compacted - I give it a good dousing with WD40 on each
of the rare occasions I use the bike but I'm not looking for another use for
the padlock & chain anytime soon!
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of bikes. Literally.
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buying them or pushed them into modifying them because they think the
steering lock might not unlock one morning. Just about every bike made
since 1980 has had a combined lock/switch. Combined switches are
extremely reliable given the amount of useage they get.
Your claim that combined switches/locks 'frequently' give problems is
rubbish, pure rubbish.
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I've known steering locks that needed a bit of wobbling of keys and
faffing to engage.I certainly wouldn't describe bike steering locks as
effortless as car steering locks.
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strand you miles from home when the key won't unlock it no matter what you
try! Do as I did - buy a dirty great padlock & chain to put round the back
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Put some real oil down where the WD40 went, even 3 in 1 would do.
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wheel.
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