OMG! I am dumb

ineedareed · Post by **ineedareed** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:56 am

Man my scoot only has 9 miles on it and somehow I managed to ruin the ignition. I bent my key up and now neither key will even go in the damn thing! So it awaits being towed back to the shop...

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:59 am

What do you mean bent up the key? Is the key itself broken? Or the key somehow wiggled out of the ignition and wont go back in now?

This has happened a few times on the forum, most people slowly wiggle the key left and right trying to get it back in, most people get it, but it takes time.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:03 am

I did the same thing when I bought my scoot, 0 miles!
The sales guy wiggled it back in place like jfrost2 said, it will work. ( I think he squirted some lubricant in the lock to help it along also.)

ineedareed · Post by **ineedareed** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:08 am

no the key is not broken... it goes in a little but stops at a point. Earlier it went in but would not turn and it would not come out

does anyone have a pic of the ignition? Mine has a little circle on it and I am not sure if I made it or if it was originally there

Help!! It's all alone in a place I wish it weren't!

ineedareed · Post by **ineedareed** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:09 am

By bent, I mean it got a little skewed. The spare key (undamaged) also won't go in.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:34 am

if you have access to another vehicle, or a friend who doesn't mind running you around.... being that it's late and dark, if there's a Walmart (unfortunately, given the time of day, not too many other options) go to the hardware section, where they have locks and look for Graphite Lock Lubricant. In dire circumstances, you can actually use a pencil to lube the key. With the Lube (in a tube) you point it in the lock and puff it in there; with a pencil, you basically coat the good key with the lead (it's graphite too). It serves as a dry lubricant, and might be enough to let you use the spare key to get it away from the bad part of town. That's all I can offer, but I wish you luck just the same.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:05 am

I had a similar problem when mine was new. The key would sometimes only go part way into the lock and the lock would not turn. I applied a little WD40 and jiggled the key in the lock til the whole thing loosened up. It has worked fine ever since.

(If it sticks when it shouldn't, use WD40. If it moves when it shouldn't, use duct tape. If neither one works, seek expert assistance.)

MarsR · Post by **MarsR** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:10 am

I had the same problem once. It took 5-10 minutes of wiggling/jiggling to get the key back in. The key got a little bent in the process, but I was able to straighten it back out ok. Haven't had a problem since, but I'm more careful now when putting it in and taking it out.

runtotorun121 · Post by **runtotorun121** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:30 am

Not to be a sour Sally, but it can also be possible that if these suggestions don't work that some pins have dropped in your ignition switch. And if that ever happens you will have to either have a locksmith make the repair or pop in a new ignition switch.

One thing that did happen to me right after I got my scooter last fall was that the ignition was pushed in a little bit and shifted to the side. Because of this (and don't ask me how in the world this happened in the first place

) the key wouldn't go into the ignition. My mind is fuzzy on the specifics, but I remember my husband saying that this can sometimes happen on bikes/scooters because he knew exactly what I was describing. Also, another time my key would not come out of the ignition. It was stuck Stuck STUCK. Again, don't ask me what in the world caused it, but the pin issue made me sweat a little because I didn't relish the idea of paying to fix that little deal; however, I might think that a finicky ignition switch might be a warrantied part.

fiver1971 · Post by **fiver1971** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:12 am

Sounds like a somewhat common issue as it's happened to me as well. Monday, 6/23/08, right after taking the road test (obstacle course type of test) for my Motorcycle Endorsement, I'm parking my buddy right outside the DMV and I pull the key out. Then I realize I didn't lock the handlebars, so I try to put the key back in. Somehow, the ignition was jammed about a centimeter down and the key wouldn't go back in

. I was thinking that I'd be stuck there and have to get someone to come pick me and my buddy up, but I just kept playing with it, jiggled it around a bit until it finally went in all the way and I was able to turn the switch again. Not fun. From reading this thread, it sounds like I should spray a little WD-40 in there to help prevent a repeat of this.

ineedareed · Post by **ineedareed** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:14 pm

Thanks for the advice!! Last night after reading this I went back out to the scooter and fooled around with it and got it to work! I used some light oil on the key and eventually it went it.

david

Modern Buddy

OMG! I am dumb

OMG! I am dumb

stuck key