Lost Key

[wa407mpp]

If the pin fails there are ways to open the cap, but at least part of the lock is going to be toast, so no matter what you do to get it open, and the lack of replacement parts means it's likely your going to have to replace the whole cap. or at least strip out another one for parts. One way to keep from breaking the pin is to push down on the cap while unlocking it to relieve some of the drag on the locking levers so they don't put as much pressure on the pin. Steve

[cywelchjr]

If the pin fails there are ways to open the cap, but at least part of the lock is going to be toast, so no matter what you do to get it open, and the lack of replacement parts means it's likely your going to have to replace the whole cap. or at least strip out another one for parts. One way to keep from breaking the pin is to push down on the cap while unlocking it to relieve some of the drag on the locking levers so they don't put as much pressure on the pin. Steve

Another is to keep it well lubed. I dab a little grease on all of the contact points of mine every few months. Keeps it working smoothly and easily.

[bikerphil]

That is all very good advice.

[rickmc2000]

Lost Key

OK, problem solved. Something we may not want to spread around. As mentioned above, took the number off the ignition of gas cap to a locksmith, gave him $25, and walked out with two keys. No proof required. Could have been neighbors bike.
Maybe too much info? Now i have to work on ferring locks. Thanks for all the great advice.

[CatatonicBug]

OK, problem solved. Something we may not want to spread around. As mentioned above, took the number off the ignition of gas cap to a locksmith, gave him $25, and walked out with two keys. No proof required. Could have been neighbors bike.
Maybe too much info? Now i have to work on ferring locks. Thanks for all the great advice.

Yep, same way I did it, except I had the ignition switch with me. The fairing locks can be drilled out and replaced with modern cabinet door locks very easily. They are pretty cheap too. You should be able to get them from the same locksmith, all keyed the same. Either that, or take the fairing to the locksmith, and he'll be able to open the locks, and make a key for them. That will be a little more expensive though.

[wa407mpp]

Glad to hear you have your problem solved. Now for a bit of extra advice. Now that you have new keys, buy an extra key to put away and never use , not just to have copies made in case you lose the originals, but also to make copies for when your keys wear out. Key machines by nature are not able to produce an exact copy they are always a little smaller and the difference between a working and a non working key is measured in .100 of an inch. If you wait until a key is worn bad enough to start giving you problems it could be too badly worn to be copied successfully. This is true with all keys whether they are for your bike, car or house. most locks works and keys today are made of brass and the keys are made of a softer brass then the locks, so they will wear out instead of the locks, because it's easier and cheaper to replace worn keys then worn locks.

[CatatonicBug]

Glad to hear you have your problem solved. Now for a bit of extra advice. Now that you have new keys, buy an extra key to put away and never use , not just to have copies made in case you lose the originals, but also to make copies for when your keys wear out. Key machines by nature are not able to produce an exact copy they are always a little smaller and the difference between a working and a non working key is measured in .100 of an inch. If you wait until a key is worn bad enough to start giving you problems it could be too badly worn to be copied successfully. This is true with all keys whether they are for your bike, car or house. most locks works and keys today are made of brass and the keys are made of a softer brass then the locks, so they will wear out instead of the locks, because it's easier and cheaper to replace worn keys then worn locks.

I'd say it would be much easier to write down the key code and keep it in a safe place. The code will be a much more reliable "template" for creating a new key, and it costs nothing.

[cywelchjr]

I'd say it would be much easier to write down the key code and keep it in a safe place. The code will be a much more reliable "template" for creating a new key, and it costs nothing.

Not sure why you would need to write it down somewhere, since I don't think the number on the lock is going anywhere after 30 years. Unless you don't care what it looks like and grind the number off so someone else can't do this. I mean, the number is still on my cap AND the side cover lock (and maybe even the helmet lock, I haven't looked there. And if you lose the keys, you should be able to take the helmet lock in to get a key made if nothing else.

[natemoen]

And if you lose the keys, you should be able to take the helmet lock in to get a key made if nothing else.

Don't the helmet and sidecover locks have fewer pins in them though, the key doesnt go in as far in those locks IIRC

[cywelchjr]

Don't the helmet and sidecover locks have fewer pins in them though, the key doesnt go in as far in those locks IIRC

The side cover lock yes, but I'm pretty sure the key goes all the way into the helmet lock. However, the side cover lock (assuming everything is original) has the same number on it as the gas cap and the ignition. My point is, that there is no reason to to need to write the number down somewhere. The only time I can see there MAYBE being a problem would be if the bike were stolen, and then recovered and returned to you long after you had given up and thrown aways the keys. I had that happen to me, except I found that I hadn't thrown them away, but rather had them in a box. So for my bike that was stolen twice, until I replace ALL the locks on it (my XS400), I still had the original keys I got when I bought it from my uncle, who was the original owner and they were the original keys. However, since the ignition was broken (jerk used a screwdriver to start the bike), I ended up replacing all the locks, so now it has 3 keys (tank, ignition and helmet lock).

[CatatonicBug]

Not sure why you would need to write it down somewhere, since I don't think the number on the lock is going anywhere after 30 years.

On mine, the number is a sticker, and is only BARELY legible, in the right phase of the moon, turned due east, standing on your head... No grinding needed to remove the number for me. Once I figured out the number, I put it on a piece of paper, in my toolbox.

For mine, the gas cap, sidecover and helmet locks do not take the whole key in either. Only the last 3/4" of the key goes into those locks.

[wa407mpp]

At our shop we charge $25.00 for a vehicle key cut to code and we require solid proof of ownership. A copy of an existing key is $4.00 plus tax. I'd say that's about 20 pretty good reasons to keep a copy key put away somewhere.