I broke my key off in the seat...

tigerstyle102 · September 28, 2003, 02:07:59 AM

I locked my helmet on the bike while I went inside Home Depot. I came out and went to unlock the seat...my key broke in half. Half the key is stuck inside the keyhole. :x Luckily I have separate keys for the ignition and the seat/tank. I couldn't get my helmet off the bike so I pushed it home. It took me like an hour to push it all the way home.

Any suggestions on how to get the broken half of the key out? Or do I have to replace the lock or what?

antoniomota · September 28, 2003, 06:16:22 AM

Some years ago, the keylock mechanism of my
GS fall while I was riding, and was lost forever...
now I use a plier to remove the seat (pull the cable)...

'71 Antonio Mota
'90 GS500 (87000 Km)
'01 XJR1300 (15000 Km)
'03 FJR1300 (5000 Km)

Craig · September 28, 2003, 07:27:35 AM

I had the same problem about a month ago. I was able to get the key out with pair of needle nose pliers. I would also suggest taking the spare key to a locksmith or bike shop to have a replacement made ASAP just incase it happens again.

The Buddha · September 28, 2003, 08:04:36 AM

Quote from: antoniomotaSome years ago, the keylock mechanism of my
GS fall while I was riding, and was lost forever...
now I use a plier to remove the seat (pull the cable)...

'71 Antonio Mota
'90 GS500 (87000 Km)
'01 XJR1300 (15000 Km)
'03 FJR1300 (5000 Km)

Hey antonio...loooong time no see...Nice to hear from you...I know you were on the mailing list ... but anyway nice to hear from you again...
Cool.
Srinath.

The Buddha · September 28, 2003, 08:11:56 AM

Quote from: tigerstyle102I locked my helmet on the bike while I went inside Home Depot. I came out and went to unlock the seat...my key broke in half. Half the key is stuck inside the keyhole. :x Luckily I have separate keys for the ignition and the seat/tank. I couldn't get my helmet off the bike so I pushed it home. It took me like an hour to push it all the way home.

Any suggestions on how to get the broken half of the key out? Or do I have to replace the lock or what?

Oh yea...Fish it out with a needle nose pliers or a haemostat...and take it to a place that has a manual key cutter...one with 2 vices and a tracer/follower system...Home depot I think is a good place for that...and cut the key out of a volvo blank...same as suzuki blank except for length. Then bear in mind you need to make some mods to get it right maybe...like grinding it a little etc. Essentially they key cutter should put the pieces as close together as possible and cut it from the bottom...not top.
Cool.
Srinath.

Cool.
Srinath.

antoniomota · September 28, 2003, 11:17:48 AM

Srinath,

I remember you too, from the GSTwin mailing list (which is a
bit dead nowadays)! We posted a lot in those good old times...

Anyway, I now have 2 more bikes (the dark side of motorcycling:
4 cylinder, 1300 cm^3 engines!...), so my GS gets little use now.

I did a serious mod 3 years ago in my '90, a 2-1-2 exhaust:

http://mota.no.sapo.pt/bikes/gs500e/gs500e.html

Plans for the future: complete strip down and repaint
of the bike's frame and plastics. And maybe putting the
new '04 fairing...

Best regards.

-Antonio Mota

Yohan · September 28, 2003, 01:30:29 PM

If worst comes to worst, you can simply remove the lock and reinstall a new one that you can order from a suzuki store. It wasn't hard to do at all. All you need is a wrench and a screw driver. Remove the fairings, unscrew the lock, and replace it. Good luck.

tigerstyle102 · September 28, 2003, 02:42:58 PM

I got it out! Wasn't that difficult really. Just pulled it out with pliers. Thanks.

spotswood_suzuki · September 28, 2003, 04:27:23 PM

Glad to hear you got it out. Mine twisted and almost broke last year but I was able to get it out before it snapped. As for the replacement key, I have had my local ACE hardware store make me several. The correct blank is an ILCO X241 SUZ18. No mods...just have them cut it and go

Wayne

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I broke my key off in the seat...