Ignition lock stuck, two locks in one week

[illenium]

Anyone having troubles with the ignition look on their GS500? I picked up a 2004 that had been sitting a while, no matter
what I tried I could not get it out of the steering look position (parking light was fine but not getting past
the steering lock mark).

So about an hour of experimenting all positions and wiggling the handlebars, tapping the cylinder with
a screwdriver, blowgun, wd40 and more twisting / turning I finally gave up and drilled the lock out. No biggie,
ordered a new (used) lockset on ebay.

So the new lockset comes and this time I'm 'smarter' and I turned it from 'on' to 'lock' before it goes
in the bike and sure enough it wont go back out of the lock position either.

I also have a 2001 and a 1992, no problems with those two ignition locks.

Before I toss that 2nd one, anyone got any ideas how to get that lock to work?

[Darkzy]

probably got a load of crud or rust built up on the steering lock recess located on the frame.

Did you have a look? ... if you can get the ignition barrel out try filing it very lightly - 'tis what i had to do on mine.

[illenium]

probably got a load of crud or rust built up on the steering lock recess located on the frame.

Did you have a look? ... if you can get the ignition barrel out try filing it very lightly - 'tis what i had to do on mine.

could have very well been the case for the lock that came on the bike, both the tank and
seat lock work fine with the key, but the ignition one only went back and forward between
the lock and park position.

the 2nd lock came of a running bike which I saw on ebay, I dont think this one has rust issues, problem
is I can't get the barrel out either now that its in the lock position

[RossLH]

My '93 sat for a couple years and can be a bit stubborn, but a bit of gentle wiggling does the trick.

[illenium]

My '93 sat for a couple years and can be a bit stubborn, but a bit of gentle wiggling does the trick.

I wiggled an hour, I'm sure the seller did so too before I turned up with the truck
since he had already pulled it out of the garage. Interesting technique he had, turning
it on the kick stand...

I'll go grab lock #2 and wiggle it till i go to bad...maybe I get lucky. If not, re-cut a new
key tomorrow @ ace , maybe that will do the trick

[RossLH]

Interesting technique he had, turning
it on the kick stand...

Surprisingly common technique, though not one I'd be comfortable doing unless absolutely necessary.

A new key may do the trick, I know my newer key and original '93 key definitely don't act the same in the cylinder. The old one takes more wiggling.

[adidasguy]

Yep - steering lock hole is probably farkled so the lock piston does not go in easily.
Use a dremel and grind out the lock hole on the steering column. A small file could work, too.
Then grease it a little so it won't get a rust build up again.

[illenium]

Interesting technique he had, turning
it on the kick stand...

Surprisingly common technique, though not one I'd be comfortable doing unless absolutely necessary.

A new key may do the trick, I know my newer key and original '93 key definitely don't act the same in the cylinder. The old one takes more wiggling.

I'm thinking the same thing, stopped @ the locksmith a couple minutes ago, he wants
~ 60 bucks to take the lock apart and fix whatever may be broken. He said a new key
wouldn't change anything as it would be exactly as the old one, however crisp edges
may do the trick so I'll stop @ Lowe's at lunch and get two cut in their machine (spares
me the embarrassment of not listening to him and later coming back to have it fixed
in the first place 


@adidasguy > the steering column is fine, the old one had some play aswell in there,
its definitly something in the lock barrel itself that causes this. (or the well used key on
lock#2)

May end up getting a new lockset all together depending on $ so there aren't two
different keys for one bike

For now, I'll keep on gently wiggling that key till lunch

[pl4gu3b0rn]

Mine has a tendency to stick and refuse to go from off to on, or lock to park.

Fixed it by dousing it with contact cleaner spray, stuffed the straw into the lock barrel, you wouldn't believe the crud that came out.

Then re-lubricated it with a graphite lock lubricant.

Like brand new now.

[illenium]

ok so I went to Lowes, they dont cut motorcycle keys..back to the drawing board, wiggled some more, no go. by now i sprayed like a can of WD40 through it and alot of 120 PSI pressured air...no go.


So finally i took it apart, cleaned out some grime, cleaned it up, lubed it with grease and put it back together 

A major PITA but it works, I'll make a how to on that with pics so save others the headache