Quick gas tank question...

[Stime187]

All I need is a quick answer...

Long story short, I bought a 1991 GS and the guy gave me one key... key does ignition and seat but not gas...

So, are there separate keys for ignition and gas tank or is there something wrong with my lock?

Thanks,
Scott

[heent]

The key for my 2000 fits both ignition and gas tank.  I'm not positive, but I believe your's should too.

[GRU]

i got a '92 and i got 2 keys but they are the same....i use one for everything, ignition, gastank and seat lock


try moving the key around the lock...also push the gas cap down and then turn the key

[Stime187]

I've tried everything, it just won't come open...

[GRU]

try spraying wd40 inside the lock

[Turkina]

Did you ask the guy if he ever replaced the tank?  Might have forgotten his extra key somewhere!  If your tank lock is hosed, might want to get the lock rekeyed, or splurge and get a screw on cap.   :dunno:

[Rema1000]

Try pushing on the forward half of the filler cover with your left hand while you try turning the key with the right.  My key doesn't like to turn unless the cover is pushed down at the same time.

Same problem for the seat: I push on the seat while I turn the key, or it feels like I'm going to snap the key.

[RagnaR]

yeh my gas tank cover is hard to open unless i push down hard on the top/forward area.

[Stime187]

These suggestions sound like they should work, I think my problem was I didnt fully understand how the gas tank lock worked so therefore I couldn't really attempt to open in the most practical way.

Thanks for the input...

Scott

[octane]

Put some white lithium grease in the moving components on the underside of the cap. That should free them up and make the mechanism work smoother.

[Stime187]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea... it's just I can't get it open to begin with. I just bought it about 5 days ago and have been workin on the tank since...

Scott

[The Buddha]

Ask the previous owner for the key... he likely replaced the cap. Also do not try so hard you break off the key... that will be bad. If no key is with the previous owner... get it to a locksmith... and he can cut a key for you. Last choice will be to cut a great big hole in the bottom of the tank... reach in and unscrew the lock mechanism and open the tank... then weld that secion back in... if the tank has rust... sand it by hand and coat it when you have you hand in there... nothing like that... chemicals are not as effective as that. Hell make that the first choice... and send a copy of your key and the lock assy to me... and i'll make them work. Cutting the lock to match a key is my speciality. If a key gets cut for the tank... please cut a 1/2 and 1/2 key so 1 key will open all... I cn tell you how many times I have left the tank key at home and gone off to work... not sure if there is enough gas to get back.
Cool.
Srinath.

[octane]

It's easy to remove the cap - only 3 of those allen bolts are actually holding it on. The rest are for decoration! Pop those 3 bolts off and you can take it to a locksmith.

[The Buddha]

Its 4 and the other 4 are actually rivets holding the cap itself together. But That wont let the cap come off usually...
Cool.
Srinath.

[octane]

Ok, 4, my bad. But I've NEVER had a problem removing the cap on any of my bikes. They're just 4 machine bolts. The dummy bolts just turn, so it's easy to figure out which are the functioning bolts. Once they're out you can just lift the whole cap by the tab.

[Stime187]

I tried removing it, I couldn't figure it out and I'm pretty mechanically inclined. I got all 4 (yes, one is extremely tricky) off and it didn't help me at all.

I already broke the key the other night trying to get into it, combination of it being and old key and my being stupid. I saudered it back together, did some filing work and took it to a locksmith. He cut me a new key a few minutes ago so I'm going to try that when I get home.

The previous owner told me that key did everything, ig., seat, and gas... so I don't think it's been changed.

Hopefully things will work out when I get back home, but for now I have more powder coating to do in the next three hours than I can shake a stick at...

Later guys, thanks for your help...

Scott

[Stime187]

Tank is OPEN!  

And all is well  

Thanks!
Scott