Patmac6075 Posted October 19, 2015 #1 Posted October 19, 2015 Ok, so I had a bad day......On Saturday I went to visit my son at college in Madison, did a little tailgating before the game (I don't drink) and left just after the game got started....that was the good part. On the way home I decided to make a quick stop at Harbor Freight, I really didn't need anything, just figured I'd look around. I put my helmet in the trunk and walked in....didn't find anything I wanted and left the store. Got out to my bike and proceeded to open my trunk and retrieve my helmet....just as I flipped the trunk lid open, the bike began to tip slowly to the right....then things just sort of went into slow motion as I moved around my bike and sort of guided the beast to the ground. Looking around in obvious embarrassment, it didn't seem as if anyone saw me drop my bike....so I lift the bike as directed by the fine fellows on this site...so my dignity is still intact....but, now I can't find my key anywhere??? As I search the area, I see my key fob with the broken remnant of my key....GREAT! My key broke off in my trunk, I'm an hour from home and my wife is in Chicago! As I look in the trunk cylinder I can see the remainder of my key....I run back into HF and purchase the smallest needle-nose pliers they have and fish out the broken key. No harm, no foul, right? But I still have to get home and I don't have a key....the bulb goes off in my head, put the broken key in the ignition cylinder and turn in ignition with a flat blade screwdriver.....Great! That works and I'm able to ride home and shut things down with said screwdriver..... Well, here's my dilemma, the broken portion of the key is much deeper in the cylinder and I can't gain any purchase with even the thinnest tweezers.... Does anybody have any ideas? I've removed and cleaned ignition switches before and I guess that can be my last resort.... Any help will be most appreciated! Pat
Flyinfool Posted October 19, 2015 #2 Posted October 19, 2015 Maybe remove the ignition switch and with a good whack upside down on a piece of wood the key will move far enough to get a hold of it. I keep a spare key hidden on the bike for if/when I lose my key ring while away from home. Just don't hide it where you need the key to get to it..... I also replace the tie wrap that holds the spare key in place every spring with a new black tie.
Patmac6075 Posted October 19, 2015 Author #3 Posted October 19, 2015 Thanks Fool....was hoping I wouldn't have to remove the ignition switch, but that may be the only way.
MiCarl Posted October 19, 2015 #4 Posted October 19, 2015 I haven't tried this but have heard of straightening a fishing hook and pushing in along the key. The barb tends to grab into the key and pull it out. I suppose the risk is you end up with a fish hook in there with your key......
Larry1963 Posted October 19, 2015 #5 Posted October 19, 2015 Odd things like this seem to happen to me too. I figure Mr. Murphy's Law follows me around. This is a good reason to carry a spare key, with my past motorcycles I have always had a key somewhere I could get to encase I lost my key. When I bought my Venture it come with only one key. Before something like this happens to me where do I get another key at. I do not have a Yamaha dealer in my town
Leland Posted October 19, 2015 #6 Posted October 19, 2015 Odd things like this seem to happen to me too. I figure Mr. Murphy's Law follows me around. This is a good reason to carry a spare key, with my past motorcycles I have always had a key somewhere I could get to encase I lost my key. When I bought my Venture it come with only one key. Before something like this happens to me where do I get another key at. I do not have a Yamaha dealer in my town My local ACE Hardware had the Yamaha key blanks in stock. I also keep a spare key and $200.00 stashed on the bike for the "just in case".
Flyinfool Posted October 20, 2015 #7 Posted October 20, 2015 I went to a local locksmith that had blanks. They are not pretty genuine Yamaha with the fancy logo, but functional.
VerntureVet Posted October 20, 2015 #8 Posted October 20, 2015 Gorilla quick epoxy and a couple welding rods. Just a touch on the end of a couple rods push it in onto the key and wait a couple hours. Pull very slow. Just take warning too much epoxy and....... I have pulled this off many times on broken keys but again be warned I did put too much on one time and glues the key in.
cowpuc Posted October 22, 2015 #9 Posted October 22, 2015 Go back inside Harbor and purchase one of their cheapy jeweler screw driver kits, go back outside and use the backside of your 16 inch Channel Locks and carefully beat the one of the screw driver blades against a rock into flat, bendable piece just a little less in width than the remaining key thickness. Repeat with another of the screw drivers.. If you do not happen to have a pair of 16 inch Channel Locks, it can be done with two rocks but they need to be fairly smooth.. Now bend the flattened surface of the blades at about a 15 degree angle.. Slide the blades one at a time carefully into the lock while feeling for the outer edge of the key where the tumbler notches are cut.. When you feel the key find the slot, gently push down until you feel resistance.. Do the same with other blade. Now move the handles of the screw drivers carefully toward the outside of the lock and gently lift up..
Marcarl Posted October 22, 2015 #10 Posted October 22, 2015 Good thought Puc! Next time though, leave your scoot in gear or it will get tired once again.
Venturous Randy Posted October 22, 2015 #11 Posted October 22, 2015 When I bought my 96 Miata, it had a key broken off in the trunk lock. My grandson took the ring cover off the lock that had a spring cover and used the dental picks that I had picked up at Harbor Freight and was able to pull the key out. Randy
Jayceesfolly Posted October 27, 2015 #12 Posted October 27, 2015 You might try to super glue the key together and pull the broken piece out. Just don't use too much otherwise it will glue the tumblers together. As mentioned above, epoxy will work, and a bulb or hair dryer for heat will accelerate the cure time to less than 5 minutes.
Flyinfool Posted October 27, 2015 #13 Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks Fool....was hoping I wouldn't have to remove the ignition switch, but that may be the only way. So did any of the many options presented here get that key out? If so which one? Curious minds need to know.
Patmac6075 Posted October 31, 2015 Author #14 Posted October 31, 2015 So far, I have just pulled the bike in the garage and thrown a cover over it. It seems I picked up a large hunk of metal in my rear tire at some point (I had been riding using the screwdriver method)... Will most likely try the fish hook or jewelers screwdriver......I just don't feel comfortable using any sort of glue or epoxy inside the lock cylinder. Like I said earlier, if worst comes to worst, I'll just pull the cylinder and dismantle it. you guys are the best, I appreciate all the input!
yamagrl Posted October 31, 2015 #15 Posted October 31, 2015 This, my friend is a "Key Extractor". It is what a locksmith would use to remove the key. The fishhook suggestion above would likely work. You might heat up a fish hook and straighten it out. One of the stainless steel ones might straighten easier. Use a fair sized one and pair of hemostats or needle-nose. Note the distance across the barbed area of the shaft is about 1/16 and the barb is about 1/8 long. You simply slide it in on the pin side of the key slot, give it a bit of a twist so as to grasp the key on one of the points and gently pull.
Patmac6075 Posted March 1, 2016 Author #16 Posted March 1, 2016 Bringing this old thread out of the bullpen..... So I ordered a broken key extractor kit from China, took like 2 1/2 months to arrive......it took me all of about ten seconds to shove this bristled piece of wire in next to my broken key and just pull it out....easy peasy...cost with shipping....$1.97! Worked for me!
bongobobny Posted March 2, 2016 #17 Posted March 2, 2016 Cool!! Keep it handy in case someone else needs it...
yamagrl Posted March 2, 2016 #18 Posted March 2, 2016 Bringing this old thread out of the bullpen..... So I ordered a broken key extractor kit from China, took like 2 1/2 months to arrive......it took me all of about ten seconds to shove this bristled piece of wire in next to my broken key and just pull it out....easy peasy...cost with shipping....$1.97! Worked for me! ... works as advertised!
RedRider Posted March 2, 2016 #19 Posted March 2, 2016 Yamagrl FTW. There are times to get the professionals involved. Ride over to your local locksmith and have them extract it. Then have them make a replacement / duplicate. Win-Win. FYI - I have had mixed results with ACE/TrueValue keys for motorcycles. Some work, some don't. Never had a locksmith made key not work perfectly. There is a reason they get paid like the professionals they are. RR
camos Posted March 6, 2016 #20 Posted March 6, 2016 I keep a spare key hidden on the bike for if/when I lose my key ring while away from home. Just don't hide it where you need the key to get to it.....I keep a spare key in my wallet and in case I lose the wallet as well, a spare is also kept in my riding jacket. If I manage to lose all three keys I probably don't deserve to go home.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now