ignition problem, with pics

 I was following one of the many bits of advice, trying to take my
ignition out and see if i could get the key to turn, when i figured
i'd do myself a service by taking pics (a bunch) so that hopefully
someone can give me a hint as to what to do next. Please, please, tell
me what future pics would help (happy to take more, i can pop the seat/
tank/cowlings off in like 30 seconds now).

It occurred to me that my battery may be dead. Not sure why, might
just be a mental hobgoblin - it's a problem i know i can fix. It's a
new battery so i'd going to have to pluck the battery out and bring it
inside and hook it to a tender. Right? Run to home depot and get
whatever trickle-charger i can find? Buy a voltmeter first, right?

Also, in other news, a friend-of-a-friend may be able to square me up
very easily in a week or so, should nothing work. I have a 1-week
expiration date on my battle for my ....pride? It's not pride. I want
to fix and learn and honestly, watching someone and talking to him do
it will teach me a damned lot anyway. Either way, i feel like i win.
And of course, i'm not expecting to be able to lick this. Guess i'm
just rationalizing now.

Too much psychobabble in this post, sorry.

Oh, and i meant to say, this is all occurring on a bike that happens
to be very similar to the one i own and have insured with progressive.
I may have let you all think i was trying to repair an unreported and
yet-unclaimed malady of my insured motorcycle, but this is a
completely different one.

Anyway ...

This is my bike from the side...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_133.jpg
...kind of an establishing shot.


Here we are slightly closer...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_134.jpg


And another angle of that medium shot...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_135.jpg


Here's the money shot...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_147.jpg
...I can't get forward of "Off" without incredible resistance.


Here's my fork ... i think ... =P
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_138.jpg
...I'm assuming someone will tell me, "no no, take that shot again but
go in a few inches and angle down and left a bit" or something.


Fork again, lower down...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_140.jpg
...Doubting it's useful.


Same shot, but darker (dangit)...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_139.jpg
...Sorry.


Close-up of ignition again...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_141.jpg
...You can see it's fixed in there without a hex or philips/flathead
or star-thingie ... i want to say interface here, but that's no the
word ... you know what i mean, the head, the part you'd stick the
appropriate tool into to turn it. Long story short, i can't
disassemble the ignition. I'm assuming this isn't a surprise to any of
you.


One more of the ignition (of several extras)...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/chris_monster/bike%20repair%201/?action=view&current=Bar_Feb_144.jpg



So that's that. Please let me know what pics will help shed light on
this.

I'm searching for a broken fork lock, is that right?





Thanks.

-c

 

Item 7 Lock Assembly, Steer 723402-001 is shown on the Wire Harness
Parts diagram at
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/suzuki-motorcycle-vl800k1-intru=
der-2001-wiring-harness/o/m6828sch267454


The ignition switch itself is attached to a right angle gizmo, and
when you turn the key, that is supposed to turn a rotating metal stub
about 1/4 of an inch long that engages a notch in the steering stem
and prevents the forks from turning.

The two bolts that hold the Lock Assembly, Steer are not the two gold
anodized screws in your pictures, they are further inboard and pointed
towards the steering head.

If you pull the steering lock off and you don't see the rotating metal
stub  on the end,
that damned thing may be broken off inside the steering head, just
waiting to jam up the steering.

So, what's up with the lock? Does it reliably lock and unlock the fork
*every time*?

 

Well, your motorcycle will be somewhat less secure while parked on the
street, won't it?

Not that a steering lock is a perfect solution. All a thief has to do
is use a slide hammer that he can buy at an auto parts store, screw it
into the ignition switch, and
work the slide hammer a few times to pull the lock out of the switch.

Then there will be something to get ahold of inside the switch to turn
on the ignition with a slot screwdriver or a pair of long nosed
pliers.

You're talking about $100+ for a new steering lock if you decide to
slide hammer the old one. And the key to the new lock won't be the
same as the key to your seat or gas tank.


That's what I would do at this point. The two screws probably have
allen heads

It's possible that removing the steering lock will allow you to grab
the end the locks the forks and turn it while wiggling the key in the
lock. That's what I would do before spending $100 or searching
motorcycle salvage yards for a new lock.

I understand that. There is some kind of right angle drive mechanism
inside the lock, it could be a pair of bevel gears or a worm gear
arrangement that converts motion in one plane 90 degrees to motion in
the desired plane, and gawd only knows what is broken or jammed up
inside the case without taking it all apart.


Some internal part of the lock is definitely discombobulated...

 

Sorry i forgot to mention - 2001 suzuki VL800 - thanks for following.


You mean to lock the bars. If that lock is broken, how can i get the
key to go the other way and start the bike? I'll never use the
steering lock again, i promise.

(Even if i could.)


Should i reach inboard for those screws and take out the ignition/key
mechanism completely?

Would having it in my hand let me force the lock to unlock itself
(from the outside, not using the key)? Am i to assume there's
something in the way, keeping it from rotating back freely?

I can turn the key from steering lock to parking to off and back - all
positions work perfectly. I can't go into the "on" position.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Jack said he thinks, it may be that someone tried to force the lock
with a screw driver and ruined it.  I wasn't following closley, but I
think the anodized screws Krusty mentioned are hilding hte ey cylinder
portion of hte lock.  I think the screws Krusty was talking about hold hte
steering lock.  Take a look at Wiring Harness in Krusty's link.

I think you should take the key cylinder out via the two anodized screws
to see if you can manipulate the steering lock by hand, and to see if you
can jiggle your key cylinder into working (maybe spray some lubricant into
it).  If you can manipulate the steering lock by hand, and/or can't get
your key to turn, then you need a new ignition switch.

That's what I think I would do if it were mine.

Robert

 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

right, so ignoring the gold screws that have a circular cavity at the
tip, rather than a hex or screw "face" that i could maniuplate...the
*other* screws holding in the whole assembly are what i'll go for


this is what confuses me - how would i take apart the cylinder through
the anodized screws? drilling them?