Looking For A Key

[Lord Grizzlon]

Since the death of my cbr hurricane, Ive decided to stick with cruisers for awhile....more specifically "xs"es. I managed to rangle an 850. but i need an ignition key. if anybody has a key for a cylender number 3273, it would be greatly apreciated if i could get a copy. just let me know how muck it costs, and im more than happy to send u a money order----paypal probs.

[xssiveone]

Take the ignition to any competent locksmith and they can make a key from it for you. Shouldn't cost you more then about $20.

[2bhappy]

You may want to check with the Triples List. The 750/850 keys are different from the 1100 keys. They are made such that the slots are opposed to each other. It is very difficult to explain what I mean, but if you look into the keys you will see that one zigs zags from the bottom right to the top left and the other keys zig zag from the bottom left to the top right.LOL This sound stupid!!!
Any way one person on the Triples list has a listing of keys available.

Marc

[Lord Grizzlon]

Thnx, ill try the triples site. I called the locksmith, but they said 50 and up. its cheaper to buy a whole new ign. switch

[Lord Grizzlon]

Thnx, ill try the triples site. I called the locksmith, but they said 50 and up. its cheaper to buy a whole new ign. switch

[prometheus578]

Now isn't that interesting

I was gonna mail you a copy of a key, and tell you how to re-key your cylinder yourself.
I go out to the garage, pull the key out of one 850, and then compare it to the key out of the other 850.
HHmmmm.... both bikes are 850 Specials(3J2), but have different style keys! They won't even fit in each other's keyway. I wouldn't know which one to send you.
If you'd like, I could mail you both copys and post instructions about re-keying. (takes about 5 minutes to do)

[planedick]

New keys...

I have found that the local Yamamama dealer can get keys made for cheap if you have the number. I was given an extra tank with my XS with no key. I went to the dealer and got a new one for under $10.

[rwtrail]

Re: Now isn't that interesting

Originally posted by prometheus578
I was gonna mail you a copy of a key, and tell you how to re-key your cylinder yourself.
I go out to the garage, pull the key out of one 850, and then compare it to the key out of the other 850.
HHmmmm.... both bikes are 850 Specials(3J2), but have different style keys! They won't even fit in each other's keyway. I wouldn't know which one to send you.
If you'd like, I could mail you both copys and post instructions about re-keying. (takes about 5 minutes to do)

Pro: email me instructions on rekeeying my locks so, my ignition will match the rest. rwtrail:

[prometheus578]

The Key to happiness is....

Take off your gas cap and pullout the key mechanism. Remember how everything is assembled.
Study these two beautifully rendered artist's sketches of key stuff.
Keep in mind that it's 2:00AM and I'm tired....

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
Once the back end of the key cylinder is exposed, it can be pulled out. There is a fifth keyway(not shown) This is the one that locks the cylinder into the outer drum. You can remove the cylinder from the drum by taking a small screwdriver or dental pick and manipulating the keyways one by one, as you pull the inner cylinder out. 'member that they are spring loaded, so don't dance around with the thing. (They won't go flyin', but just be aware that they are there)
Anyway... you now have the cylinder in your paws, and you can see the gates protruding from it. Stick your good key in the keyhole. Since it's not the correct key, there will still be some gates protruding out of the cylinder. They will stick up into the recess in the drum and prevent it from turning.
Take a fine file, and file down these protruding gates. They're only brass... doesn't take much. When the gates are filed down to the same level as the outer diameter of the cylinder, she's been re-keyed.
With the key in it, put the cylinder back in the drum. Remove the key... cylinder will lock. Put the key back in, gates retract, cylinder will turn. Reassemble key mechanism into gas cap.
A locksmith would take apart the cylinder, and either file a keyblank to fit the gates, or put in new gates to fit the key. As this is a cheap custom job, when locking, all gates may not fully deploy as before but will still lock. The original key will also still work, too.
"Tomorrow's lesson will be on how to pick a Master Lock in under 15 minutes using two paperclips."

Learned all this at college. I went to Penn State. (or was that State Pen? Can't recall)

[2bhappy]

What I have done sometimes is move the little gates around and if you are lucky you can get some to line up with the key prjections so that you do not have to file these, just file the ones that protrude outside the cylinder when the key is in.

Hope you get a key from the Triples group

Marc

[prometheus578]

correction

Just rekeyed the tank from my "mudpuppy" Special. There are only three keygates, not four as depicted. The last gate holds the cylinder in the drum and doesn't need to be reworked.

[rwtrail]

THANKS PRO

[JWSanders]

Will this wowrk on an ignition switch as well? Will it come apart that easily?

[prometheus578]

Just as easy, but there are 5 gates instead of 3 as in the gas cap. Do keep track of the way it was assembled. Not the key part so much, but the ignition disks and contacts. Plug it in and start the bike before putting it all back together. I can't recall, but it may be possable to reassemble incorrectly... where the bike will start in the "park and lock " position, and in the "on" position, only the parking lights will come on. (reversed)
Easy and enjoyable job.

[JWSanders]

awesome, yet another thing on the to-do list