forks stuck locked

[Nails]

I locked my forks, something I only occasionally need to do. But now they won't unlock.

I tried a spare key, cut from code (not just copied). I tried douching it with WD-40. I tried pushing up on the part that actually locks the forks. And no, it's not just the forks torqued against the lock.

I'm guessing the keyset is worn, even though the bike only has 30K.

Looks like I'll have to call a locksmith, unless you have another idea.

[cranky]

... I know ya bounced it up and down and rattled the handlebar, so I
got nothin' to offer.... best to Ya!!!!!

[Van Voyager]

I had this happen on my brand new 1500 Vulcan back in 01. I was pissed: I had only ridden it home from the dealer and locked it and that was it - fork lock wouldn't unlock. Called the dealer - he figured I was nuts but he was a stand-up-guy and drove and hour to my place only to find I wasn't nuts and the lock was in fact broken. He cut the old lock off with a grinder (I think - can't quite remember) and offered me the option of replacing just the steering lock (some might like the idea of having a separate key for the steering lock) or replacing the entire lock-set (which I choose) and he came back and installed the new lock-set a few days later. I recall the lock is held on with two loctited 'breakaway' screws - tighten them until the heads break off and you're done.

[Nails]

Looks like I'm screwed just like that. This would be a lot easier to deal with at home.

[Nails]

I can't even get it towed with the forks locked. Sounds like my best bet is to remove the triple-clamp (in the parking garage), and then take it to a locksmith to repair or grind off the fork-lock nib. I suspect that the ignition part of the switch works and just the fork-lock part is busted. Or maybe I'll go home with a hot wire.

Really glad I fixed the center-stand recently. I think I have the tools for this, except for that steering head bolt on top of the triple-clamp. Could someone check what size that is? (It's a hassle for me to get to where the bike is parked, else I'd just check myself. I don't think an adjustable wrench will get in there.)

I'll get intimate with that part of the manual (glad I copied it to my laptop), but wanted to ask if anybody sees a problem with this plan. The guy who suggested it has an independent shop but used to be a Kawa dealer.

[triton28]

Nails;
just tuned in and saw this post. The nut is an 18mm thread having a dimension across the flats of 27mm, but while measuring it I think a 1-1/16th" socket would also undo the nut.
Good luck,
Dave

[Nails]

Whoa, didn't remember it was that big. I'll have to go back to a hardware store -- riding a subway to the bike now. Biggest I'm carrying us 14.

[Nails]

Well, that was just 20 min. As long as you show up with a 27 wrench (much thanks -- saved me $8 and about an hour) and a few routine tools.

Triple-clamp and switch in hand. And the switch separates from the triple-clamp with a 10 on one side (which I have) and about an 8 allen (which I don't). Now to the locksmith.

Glad I have a bike cover over the carnage, in this large parking garage.

[Nails]

Okay, the locksmith dude swears it was the wrong key, even though I've been using it since I got the bike. He made another that's way different. Now I have three keys: the one I've been using (which operates everything except, evidently, the fork lock); another one that came with the bike and operates the luggage but not the ignition; and this new one that indeed operates the ignition and lock -- curious to see how it does with the luggage. $30.

Maybe my mysterious other key unlocks the forks but doesn't do anything else with the ignition? It all seems pretty weird to me ... but at this point I just want to get home.

I'll have spent maybe $40 on subway/train fair, going back and forth to screw with it -- but it was good to check on the bike, so that's a wash. $32 on tools -- but I bet I can return that $22 27mm wrench with no (visible) use, and I need the side-cutters anyway. I squandered about a day and a half that I might've spent walking around DC -- spent it going back and forth to the subway station instead. But by far the biggest expense was mental anguish thinking this would cost me a fortune, if not the whole freekin bike.

I should have it back together and ready to ride before noon tomorrow. Whew. Coulda been much, much worse.

Thanks again for the help.

[Mr Jensee]

Ah Nails. If you had just bought my bike this wouldn't have happened. Just sayin...….

[Nails]

No fair. I already had my bike when I joined this nuthouse.
And it's no fair because, honestly, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!
But all's well that ends well. (Assuming nobody messes with my bike in the next few days.)

[Barry]

Can you imagine if this had happened to someone that didn't work on their own stuff? Maybe that's what's keeping the resale value down? Glad your trip wasn't totally ruined. Safe travels home.

[Nails]

Can you imagine if this had happened to someone that didn't work on their own stuff?

I sure can. For the first couple days I didn't know WHAT I was gonna do.

I took the switch to a locksmith across the street, but they didn't exactly fill me with confidence. The "automotive" guy wasn't around, but he came back that afternoon and had the new key before closing.

As a contingency, I called at least a dozen other locksmiths within walking distance, but none would work on motorcycle locks. I must've been a little short with them because one signed off with "try to have a nice day."

But I also encountered some swell folks, especially https://www.dunnlewismc.com, https://www.yelp.com/biz/crossroads-cyc ... duckduckgo (who turned me on to the idea of taking off the triple-clamp), and https://www.cyclesofsilverspring.com/. Didn't actually buy anything from them, but they helped a lot on the phone. (I haven't had a way to get around besides public transportation. I was planning a three-mile hike from a train station to Silver Springs if the locksmith across the street didn't come through.)

I still have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I have three visually different keys: two work with the ignition; at least one works with the fork lock; and two work with the luggage. None do it all. And I have no reason to think the ignition and luggage locks are other than the original factory set. (Let me see you find a key that opens your luggage but doesn't work with the ignition, or the other way about.)

Glad your trip wasn't totally ruined.

Thanks. All buttoned up, and I started it for good measure.

I don't have to move out of that parking garage for another couple days, when the rest of my family flies home. (I guess I would've been sleeping under the bike until the police took me away). On the other hand, I can't help but notice that in all the fussing, I wasn't accosted by security or anyone else. Just wrenching away, there in the parking garage.

[Barry]

I still have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I have three visually different keys: two work with the ignition; at least one works with the fork lock; and two work with the luggage. None do it all. And I have no reason to think the ignition and luggage locks are other than the original factory set. (Let me see you find a key that opens your luggage but doesn't work with the ignition, or the other way about.)

I think I know what one of your winter projects will be. Bring one saddlebag lock set and the ignition key to a competent lock smith. Explain you have 8 lock sets (counting helmet locks) and tell them to fix the ignition lock set. Then since you'll have the top of the tripple tree off, use one of Gene K's sockets to properly torque the head bearing. You could get crazy and totally disassemble, inspect & grease the whole works. I put it off 15 years & ended up getting new bearings.