| Author | Message | ||
     Roderick |
Gents, My ignition key switch is loose. The entire barrel can move up/down in the bracket. I have the service manual but that section is not very helpful. It looks like a special tool is needed for the 'face nut'? Or a very slim wrench to get behind? Am not looking to change the switch. Just tighten it up. Any help is appreciated. Thnx. Roderick | ||
| Oopezoo |
Mine is loose too. It rattles around like crazy. I had the bike all torn apart last winter and couldn't figure out a way to easily tighten it up. Interested to hear if there is a solution | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
I used a pair of vice grips and a small piece of rubber under the teeth, held the back side and tightened the face nut. I agree there must be a specific wrench but I haven’t been able to find it after searching google a few times. | ||
| S1owner |
If I remember correctly it has two holes for a spanner wtovtighten it. | ||
| Steveford |
It takes a peg spanner but you can improvise something. There should be a plastic washer under the nut, that's what you need to take up the slop. Hardware store, plumbing section time. | ||
| Roderick |
Sometimes it gets difficult to insert and withdraw the key. Often I had to get down to that level and carefully wiggle the key. Roderick | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I heard sportsters eventually moved to a flat key. Curious if there's a newer ignition that just plugs into the harness that would get rid of the barrel key all together. (I know the key wasn't the actual issue, just thinking about an upgrade that would kill 2 birds with one stone) | ||
| Harleyelf |
Your Harley dealer has a switch that will fit our dash and uses a flat key. You will have to switch your connector over if you want plug and play. | ||
| Roderick |
Last night, I put visegrip to face nut and got it off. There was no washer. If there was one to keep the whole thing secured, it must have rotted off. Am just going to find a regular nut at the hardware store. Roderick | ||
| S1owner |
I went keyless with the m lock https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/motogadget-m-l ock-rfid-ignition-lock But there are other systems out there https://digitalguarddawg.com/motorcycle/ | ||
| Roderick |
Here is what I did today... Went to Home Depot and could not find a suitable replacement nut. But... - Gardner Bender Locknut Wrench Kit. 1/2", 3/4" (12.7mmm, 19mm) - Flat washer. 3/4 x 1-1/4 x 14ga https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Locknut -Wrench-Kit-Fits-50-in-and-75-in-Locknuts-LNW-KIT/ 205954736?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-30178276 2-_-205954736-_-N The 1/2" wrench is the fit. Wrap the lock barrel with paper towel and hold with a visegrip. Then turn the wrench. Its length will interfere with the frame but just flip to the other end. The washer made the face nut flush with the lock face. Regarding the security question... A long time ago, when Buell was an independent business, my X1 was stolen from my apartment complex. The thief trailered my bike and went. I got this S1 when I bought my house. Bottom line: If someone want your bike bad enough, you will lose it. Why not bypass the ignition key and use the steering head lock? Start the bike but all you can go is in a circle. How difficult or easy is it to force and break the steering head lock? Just curious. Roderick | ||
| S1owner |
Pretty simple to break https://youtu.be/I1CGb4G0nOQ | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Agree, I've seen plenty of videos of guys sitting on bikes and pressing the handlebar with their foot to snap it. If I'm going to be more than a few minutes I always use a disc lock. Not a perfect solution either but you take what you can get. If you really want you can put one on the front and back so they'd need to either drag both wheels, or be able to just pick the bike upright all together. One of the ones I have but never usually use, has an obnoxious alarm built in, so if someone moves the bike at all it'll start screaming. At least you can make stealing it, and the ride home as unbearable as possible haha. When I bought my supermoto years ago, it didn't even have an ignition because it was just a converted disc bike. If I was parking it somewhere with people around I'd just *pretend* I was turning off a key and sticking it in my pocket, so they didn't realize all they'd have to do was kickstart it and ride off haha. I eventually put a switch on it. Those locknut wrenches look convenient! I wonder how well they work on electrical stuff. I still just use a flat screwdriver and tap it on the back with some pliers. I have some locknut pliers but they're usually too awkward to fit inside a small box like that. I have a few pin spanners back from when I rode bicycles more in college. They're used on bottom bracket and a few other random things. I still have them in a drawer and they've proved to be a useful thing to keep around. |
