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Key difficult to insert and remove

SneakyDingo

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Aug 6, 2021
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1,560
I'm assuming I need to add some graphite lubricant but before I do that, is this the right idea? Both my regular key and the master key that I never use stick, so it's not the key, it's the other end.
 

dmonkey

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Jul 4, 2021
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Dry lubricant is the way to go for lock cylinders. Graphite or teflon, just like you'd use on a bicycle chain in dry conditions.

If that doesn't work, fiddle with how far turned the handlebars are when inserting or removing the key and see if there's a spot that results on less resistance inserting the key in the cylinder. If you notice a difference there, it's possible that the bump stop or the handlebar lock mechanism got out of whack. This is a very common issue when motorcycles tip over with the steering locked. If that's the case you can take things apart and visually inspect where the hangup might be.
 

SneakyDingo

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Aug 6, 2021
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This is a very common issue when motorcycles tip over with the steering locked. If that's the case you can take things apart and visually inspect where the hangup might be.
That one I didn't know. I think in this case it's almost certainly the case of lubricant, but I'm getting older and I learned that when I was young so I wanted to double check.
 

SneakyDingo

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Aug 6, 2021
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Try a squirt of electronic cleaner.
I thought about the potential cause (things in places things weren't supposed to be) so thought that electronics cleaner would not harm it that much, particularly if I followed up with lubricating it. Gave it a shot of electronic cleaner, left it overnight and to my surprise everything worked flawlessly the next morning. Next up is to apply some graphite to lubricate it and then call this completely resolved.

Thanks for the tip, I never would have thought of that on my own.
 

G19Tony

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Jan 24, 2021
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Las Vegas, NV
I thought about the potential cause (things in places things weren't supposed to be) so thought that electronics cleaner would not harm it that much, particularly if I followed up with lubricating it. Gave it a shot of electronic cleaner, left it overnight and to my surprise everything worked flawlessly the next morning. Next up is to apply some graphite to lubricate it and then call this completely resolved.

Thanks for the tip, I never would have thought of that on my own.

Electronic cleaner works for a lot of things. It dries fast with no residue. I squirt all my locks with it from time to time.
 

Plotus

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Jun 5, 2023
Messages
92
I found it very difficult to lock and un-lock. It's at just one mile any second to blip into two miles. Yes it is difficult, but then I'm 71.5
 

SneakyDingo

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Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Messages
1,560
I found it very difficult to lock and un-lock. It's at just one mile any second to blip into two miles. Yes it is difficult, but then I'm 71.5
When locking the steering, the handlebars have to be slightly off the stops, not all the way over. I usually turn them all the way to the left, then nudge the wheel slightly with my leg before putting the key into the lock position.
 
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