fork lock ::: locked!

[blankenship]

well, crud.  i tried to use the fork lock on my bike (for the first time) and now she's stuck.  

the sun is shining for the last few days of the year up here in portland, and i can't enjoy it unless i want to just ride in tight circles!

i lubed the fork lock first, and have sprayed all sorts of stuff in the 'cylinder' and done wiggling of the key and taps on the barrel with a hammer...to no avail.

the cylinder is pushed into the barrel about 1/4", and won't budge...and the key won't turn left or right.

anybody got any ideas?
could sure use some help on this one...

[Crossrodes]

I've never locked my fork but I took a look at the mechanism.  Will it help if you wiggle the handlebars?

[Lucky_Lou]

Sounds like one if the pins has failed (not uncommon) the probable solution will be to drill it out not too difficult as its not hardened had to drill mine, as i remmember i pilot drilled it at 5mm (1/4ish)  you may have take the cover plate off i didnt refit mine and i just carry the new lock in my pocket if im leaving the bike.
A replacement lock is not expensive if you feel you need one.
Lou

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

And if you don't replace the lock, you may want to plug the hole with something - either a rubber stopper cut-to-fit, or perhaps a LITTLE BIT of silicone (you don't want it going all the way in & contacting the steering stem).  This will keep the water out.

[blankenship]

wiggling the bars doesn't seem to help.

i'm going to let it sit overnight with penetrant, and will drill out tomorrow afternoon if it won't pop out.

HOW do you go about drilling it out? is it literally just about putting a 1/4" bit into the center of the keyhole, and having at it?  i guess i just don't understand how that will disengage her...probably because i can't picture the mechanism.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I would say "have at it", for sure.

I don't like mine, myself, and have quit using it.  It embarrasses me too much when I fall over in a parking lot when I forget to unlock it.
And 3 or 4 fellows can easily pick the bike up and put it in a truck, anyway.  That is how mine disappeared, one night from in front of the apartment.  When it was recovered by the police (ditched in an alley) there was much more play in it from where they attempted to break the lock by twisting the handlebars back & forth.  They elongated the hole in the steering stem!

Don't bother locking your gas cap, either.  That will just cause more grief!  And don't tighten it down severely.  The internal ratchet system in the cap is not the best design.  

[Lucky_Lou]

wiggling the bars doesn't seem to help.

i'm going to let it sit overnight with penetrant, and will drill out tomorrow afternoon if it won't pop out.

HOW do you go about drilling it out? is it literally just about putting a 1/4" bit into the center of the keyhole, and having at it?  i guess i just don't understand how that will disengage her...probably because i can't picture the mechanism.

Theres a series of small brass pins that fit to the profile of the key when you drill they will drop back into the hole allowing the locking pin (steel) to rotate back, You may have to fiddle a bit or drill slightly larger if you dont get it at 5mm i had to drill a bit out to 9mm before i got it but it will come out.Ill post a picture later today when i get to the workshop of the lock assembly so you can see what your up against.
Lou

[Lucky_Lou]

The actual locking pin is a hardened spring pin, you need to grind off the rivet head on the cover plate the bottom part of that rivet locks the mechanism in place so drill that out too.The brass tumblers are in the bit under that rivet (see picture1) if you drill in about 3/4 inch through the main body the brass key pins will drop then turn the inner with a flat bladed screw driver.
If the Main pin (black  spring pin in picture 3) has seized it should come free with a whack failing that you will need a tungsten bit to drill that out.Hope that helps.
Lou

[blankenship]

man, you guys are the greatest.
i've been on a lot of forums in my life, and this one's where it's AT!

i'll break out the drill when i get home from work today, and hope for the best.

for those who come after, i just found this...it may help, too:
http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/lock/index.htm

barring the fork lock, what should i do to secure her?
i'd like to do a disc brake lock, but doesn't seem she's designed for that...

the Kryptonite's all require a 10-14mm hole for the lock shaft, so that ain't workin'...unless i drill out one of the holes in my rotor...from 6mm!  

then there's this little thing that has a 5.5mm pin:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/74/2879/ITEM/OnGuard-Boxer-Disc-Lock.aspx

anybody got experience or advice?

[nhmaf]

If I have to securely lock my bike, I use a hardened, plastic coated chain or armored cable with a kryptonite padlock - that way it is more visible to 'casual' thieves and it is more visible to ME (so I don't decide to take off on the motorcycle while forgetting to remove a diskbrake lock or unobtrusive wheel lock and fall over).. this enables me to (sometimes) lock the bike to an immovable object for greater security.    A disk rotor lock or steering head lock can easily be defeated by just 1 thief with a skateboard..

[blankenship]

Fork lock ::: Defeated.
Drill-out went fine...couple taps of the hammer and the pins fell out.  Happened to have a perfectly sized rubber cap to cover up the chasm.
Thanks, fellers.

I'm thinking that I do want SOME kind of lock I can stow under the seat...just put off the casual theives or pranksters when I'm out on the town or have her parked at the high school where I teach...

To increase visibility, I might get one of these little yellow Kryptonites (5.5mm) or Xenas (6mm) with the orange 'reminder' cord just to offput halfhearted jerks.

Anybody else use one?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I'm glad it went easily for you.

The reminder cord is a very good idea!


http://www.aviationsupermart.com/store/p/8102-Remove-Before-Flight-Banner.html

No, I have never used a disk lock.  I don't own a chain or padlock, either.  But I have always lived with a garage (since the apt.) and I've never worked at a high school   .  But at most of my jobs, I am pretty far away from the bike.  This job is the first place with any real security, though.

[Barry]

or have her parked at the high school where I teach...
 

I don't know if this is a universal view but I see one advantage of old but not particularly valuable bikes is that they are not at a very high risk of theft. Who would want one ?  

I would have thought modern stuff such as Fireblades are much more likely to be on the wish list.

Carting around heavy chains and carrying out security rituals at the start and end of every ride is a pain. I lock nothing except the seat and only then when I leave the bike in a public space.  I am careful about the public places I leave it in though....

except I do work at a high school and have never had any security problems at all over the last 4 years. The kids are not much interested in an old geezer (their perception not mine) and an old bike. It's just not cool.

[Lucky_Lou]

I dont think our Airheads are a big target for the "Tea leaves" that said a couple of weeks back an R60 with sidecar got nicked locally, the bike was found not far away burned out no sign of the sidecar.
Sacrilege......
Lou