Buggeration!!! Urgent - steering lock is stuck - any advice?

Motorcycling
1

So, just tried to leave work (yep have done 15 hour days on average this week :crying: )

Finally about to leave, put my key in the lock, give the bars a little wiggle - no reassuring ‘click’ to indicate the steering lock is off. Have just spent about 15 minutes trying every conceivable angle, even commandeered a couple of able looking men to have a go, thinking that my weary head might be doing something a bit ‘dumbass’.

Any ideas, suggestions - obviously I will call RAC if all else fails, but wondering if there is something obvious I am doing wrong. Doesn’t feel sticky, so can’t believe WD40 is going to fix it. Anyone had this happen to them? All suggestions very welcome. I just want to be home in bed, as I’m so knackered. :crying:

Am near Parliament, if anyone happens to be in the area.

2

Press the key all the way in before trying to turn?

Got a light to see if it was a possible theft attempt?

3

With a Suzie, it’s push down extra and pull towards you to turn :slight_smile: kakasaki might have a different hand shake :smiley:

4

Also my key only works one way round when it gets that far round in the lock…worth a try!

5

If the key goes on ok, I doubt that is the problem. Id keep wiggling the bars. Can u secure it if not? I will be in Parliament sq later, a few hours though.

6

Have tried all of the suggestions given here and on the LB Facebook page - The lovely Brett (Daws) has offered to come over to try and help. Pretty sure it is the Headstock pin now…

Keep the ideas coming though

7

If you can scrounge some WD-40 from a hotel caretaker near by you could spray some around the area you think the pin engages, that may be enough to free it up.

I had an Oxford lock that wouldn’t open once, a blast of WD-40 sourced as above and 300 goes got it open. I was so relieved.

8

Thanks Joby - Brett is bringing all of the potential solutions, so if it can be fixed tonight, then he is the man that can. If not RAC in the morning!

9

Sounds like u have it covered. I’ll be on the Strand & heading down to Westminster about 1.30 if u need anything else.
Jon

10

Many thanks for you’re very kind offer Jon, especially as I’ve only met
you once! But I am now fnally home!!:smiley:

Brett arrivedand tried everything, but ultimately didn’t have the right tools, so I called the RAC. Brett waited with me til they arrived and until it looked like it was going to be a recovery job.

Lying on the ground, a big hammer and a very long screw driver finally did enough, the thingymabob he was trying to prise off didn’t come off. As he was explaining what the issue was - broken\ worn key barrell and started talking about recovery options, one last wiggle and it freed!! - I reckon the lube Brett used helped! Basically I can’t now put it on steering lock as the same thing will definitely happen, so have to get barrel replaced.

still within sales warranty, so should be straightforward.

thanks again for all help and suggestions, especially to brett for being an absolute star.

11

Its amazing isnt it. Any 16 year old around some of the local estates would have had that steering lock broken & started in 10 secs- without a key lol.
Glad you got it going Ally & well done Brett for coming out to you. Reckon you owe him a beer! :wink:

12

Is it possible that maybe someone was tampering with the lock yesterday before you got to it? Where was it parked?

13

Scorch will confirm - all things can be solved with maths

What was required here was a 3.141 key - that’ll open any lock :wink:

14

My lock is iffy on Kawasaki, got me thinking!

Thanks Ally going to keep that in mind.

15

Sorry to hear you had some grief but nice to hear people offering to help and glad you sorted it in the end!

Personally, I avoid using my steering lock. It always seems to sound like it’s more trouble than it’s worth… :s

16

Man, I hope you’re trolling. Do you avoid locking your front door because that might seize too?

17

Seriously, I don’t use it. They can jam up, as proved above, and can also be very easily broken, as you can see on YouTube, by pushing on the bars with your feet.

18

My insurance is invalid if it ain’t on. :blink: