Lost ignition key! Please Help!

[grewie_stiffin]

So I plan on moving my '80 XS 1100 Midnight Special to where I live. i mailed my brother the keys so he could fire my bike up and get it ready for the move. When he recieved the package with the keys in it, there was a small "key-sized" hole in the envelope in wich the Ignition key slipped through the cracks! I know I can get a new ignition switch off of Ebay, but I do not have time to order it and replace it. Is there ANY way that I can Unlock the forks so I can put it on the moving truck and work on it at my new residence? I looked through the forums, and did not see the subject. PLEASE if someone can help me figure this out, I need my bike!!!

[TopCatGr58]

If you haven't swapped tanks/caps, then the same key will fit both. There should be a 4 digit # stamped onto the lock, you can take that # either to your local dealer or possibly a locksmith and have a key cut for it.

Also, you can take OFF the ignition switch assembly, that will allow you to pull the locking pin with the switch assembly away and out of the steering neck so that you can turn the bike.

BTW, hopefully you have the battery cable undone, otherwise your battery is NOW DEAD, cause locking the steering involves putting the ignition switch in the PARK position, which turns on the rear tail light!
T.C.

[Dsxs11]

You can unbolt the switch from the bike then take the tower off the locking bracket. pull the white plastic disk that rotates the lock and jump the red and brown wire and you can start the bike. I used an alligator clip on the one I bought with the broken switch. Then you can have the key made from the 4 digit code from.

[oseaghdha]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
.....................

BTW, hopefully you have the battery cable undone, otherwise your battery is NOW DEAD, cause locking the steering involves putting the ignition switch in the PARK position, which turns on the rear tail light!
T.C.

Eh?
Mine has two positions: Lock and Park.

[TopCatGr58]

Sorry about that STENCH of a brain fart again, dang CRS!

I never use mine, and vaguely remembered NOW about someone going 1 notch too far and putting it in PARK instead of just LOCK, and running their battery down! Just checking to see if you were paying attention....yeah, that's it, that's the ticket!
T.C.

[red bandit]

Use a pocket knife or similar item about the same size as the key. Stick it in the key hole, wiggle it giggle it back and forth while turning it and it will turn on for you.

[fredintoon]

We only do that once - - -

TC sez:-
I never use mine, and vaguely remembered NOW about someone going 1 notch too far and putting it in PARK instead of just LOCK, and running their battery down!
Yeah TC,
I did that on my XS650 (same switch) when the bike was parked outside overnight a LONG way from home at some guy's place that I'd only just met and the poor fellow didn't even have a battery charger I could use.
Lucky for me there was room in the group ride's sweeper truck for the bike & me and we rigged jumper cables that I bought at the next Co-op store (can you imagine? A pickup truck that had no jumper cables under the seat? I donated the new cables to the driver.) to charge the bike battery from the truck battery as we drove. I was riding again in an hour. Gotta say, I have NEVER EVER used that stupid ignorant switch option since.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[fredintoon]

Taglines

Hi Grewie,
I just noticed your sign-off tag:-
"You can lead a horse to water, but not a Whore to Culture"
The similar tag I remember goes:-
"You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
You can lead a whore to culture but you cannot make her think."
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[malber]

You can do it the smart way like TC explained or do it the quick and dirty way like red bandit explained. The original locks on old bikes like these are usually so worn that I've heard of people starting them with a flathead screwdriver.

I thought I lost the key to mine once. I got my bike from my friend that lives downstairs from me. I thought I'd see if he had a spare so I went to check (he wasn't home but we take care of his cats). So I found a key that I thought looked the same. It was the same shape. I tried it and with a little difficulty it turned the ignition. Worked in the gas cap and side panel lock flawlessly. The only thing it wouldn't open was the helmet lock. I thought, "Well, better than nothing." Fortunately, I later found the real key on the floor of my truck. When I told my friend about it later, he said the "spare" key I used was one he kept out of posterity from an old Kawasaki that was totaled!

[xschop]

hot wire

If I ever need to kipe an extra xs for parts I will call you guys.....Seriously.... You can remove the cylinder and take out all the tumblers and put it back together, after that any XS key will work....Done many of these "mods", IT works on all the xs locks

[malber]

Re: hot wire

Originally posted by xschop
If I ever need to kipe an extra xs for parts I will call you guys.....Seriously.... You can remove the cylinder and take out all the tumblers and put it back together, after that any XS key will work....Done many of these "mods", IT works on all the xs locks

Do you replace the gas cap so you don't have to use a key on it?

[xschop]

gas cap

No, i did the Mod to that too! The cap is the xj1100 cap, it has (had) the tumblers in it too. This mod even works on the helmet locks. At one time I had 3 complete running bikes that my 1 key went to everything

[grewie_stiffin]

Thanks Alot!! I think I can at LEAST get it on the truck with the information you have given me. You guys are the BEST!

[dpotter58]

There is a key number up under the ignition switch that can be used to cut a new key...don't ask how I found that out.