What mechanism activates the parking lock?

[GT Eye]

My bike was struck by a Hummer. Damage seems to be superficial. The handlebar is bent pretty bad (on the right side) and now I can't turn the key into the 'lock' position. If I replace the handlebar, will I still experience this?

[LimaXray]

Not having intimate knowledge of the steering lock, I can't speak for certain, but I would bet it is damaged causing it to be jammed.  If there was enough force put on the handle bars to make them bend, there probably was also enough force put on the locking mechanism to cause it to break.  Unless the handle bars are bent in such a way that there is constant pressure being apply to the steering lock, I highly doubt replacing them will solve the problem.

[che mike]

yeah, unless your handlebars were bent in such a way as to not allow the steering head to move into a position to lock, replacing them alone wouldn't fix your lack of locking problem.

[GeeP]

Those things are a menace to society.  

Bent handlebars will not affect the steering lock.  I suspect that either your steering stop has been bent or broken, or your lock bracket is bent.  

The steering stop is welded to the bottom front of the steering tube.  It looks like a sector of a circle.  Two nubs on the top of the bottom fork clamp stop against the sector.  Look to see if the weld is cracked.  (You'll likely have to remove your front fairing to inspect this.)

The steering lock has a pin that extends from the bottom of the ignition cylinder and engages a hole in a bracket near the top of the steering tube.  If your steering stop has been bent it's likely that the pin will not align with the hole.  Try to lock the steering while wiggling the bars back and forth, that may allow you to get by.

I can post pics if you like, although my bike is an E-model.  

[GT Eye]

My bike is an E (1996) also. Pics would be appreciated.

Is it something I must replace?

Thanks for all the help, guys.

[scratch]

Are you allright?  Or, did the Hummer just strike the bike, without you on it?

Sounds like the steering stop has been moved; mine moved alot after my crash (pic later).  I found that I can lock my bars turned fully to the right, now.  Try that.

It could be replaced, or moved back into its original position; it may require it to be welded back into place.  It's located on the front of your steering head frame.

Basically, something is in the way of the steering lock post, keeping it from extending fully.  Most likely, it is not being allowed to line up with the post holes located at the top of the steering head.  The item most likely to be of suspect is the steering stop, expecially after a accident.

[GT Eye]

Bike was parked in front of the Hummer. The guy didn't see it  The bike wasn't run over, thankfully. It was just knocked over.

I tried riding the bike home, but there was a weird noise. I think the fender is rubbing the tires. Also the front brakes were almost completely useless. I don't know if it has anything to with the brake lines being in awkward angles or the brake fluid resovoir being in a weird angle.

[scratch]

Yes, yes and yes.  You'll need to do an overall check of your bike, unless insurance (the Hummer owner's or yours), needs to look at the bike first.  You can straighten most things, forks, controls, levers, mirrors, by loosening, adjusting and re-tightening.

[GeeP]

Pics as promised:

Ignition cylinder and lock braket.  The squarish hole is what the lock engages.





Steering stops and stop bracket.  Look closely at where the stop bracket is welded to the steering tube.  It tends to crack there.

[GT Eye]

Yes, yes and yes.  You'll need to do an overall check of your bike, unless insurance (the Hummer owner's or yours), needs to look at the bike first.  You can straighten most things, forks, controls, levers, mirrors, by loosening, adjusting and re-tightening.

How the heck do I re-adjust the fender? It's rubbing against the tires, and I don't even know how it got misaligned by the bike getting dropped. I guess I'll have to remove it, but that means I won't be able to ride my bike home.

Thanks for the pics, GeeP! 

[GeeP]

I assume you're talking about the front fender?

Your forks are probably twisted if the fender is undamaged.  Get it on the centerstand and have someone rock it back on the rear wheel by sitting on the passenger seat.  Loosen the fork brace (what the fender is attached to) and all four of the fork clamps.  That should take the twist out.  Then re-tighten everything.   

[GT Eye]

Twisted? Wow, that sounds pretty scary. 

Just to make sure, where are the fork clamps located?

[GT Eye]

To loosen the brace, I'm going to have to remove the front wheel right?

Thanks!

[GeeP]

No!  No need to remove the front wheel!  Loosen the four allen head screws that connect the fork brace to the forks.  Do not loosen the inner 4 allen head screws that connect the brace to the fender.

The lower left fork clamp is visable just above the word "STEERING STOP":

[GT Eye]

So to loosen the lower clamp, I just loosen the nut that would be located to the left of the picture? You mentioned 4 clamps? where are the other 2?

Sorry for being such a PITA!

[GeeP]

Loosen the clamp bolt just to the left of the photo, and the one on the other side of the casting, yes.

The two upper clamps look just like the lower clamps.  Follow the forks up from the lower clamps about 8".  You'll see them.

[GT Eye]

Followed your directions, and while the fender doesn't rub against the tire anymore, it's still a little off center. Is there anything more that I can do?

[GeeP]

How far is "a little"?

If you're concerned that they're still out of alignment I would PM Scratch and ask him for his opinion.

The fender is not a reliable indicator of whether the forks are in alignment.  It is possible that the fork brace could be damaged or the fender bent.  The forks should have all the build up stress relieved if you loosened all four clamp bolts.  There is a way to check for this, but a fixture of the required precision is outside the capability of the average garage workshop.

Scratch might have some ideas as to how to proceed.  I'm hesitant to tell you to pound the fender into alignment and ride off.