Fuel tank key lock

[Mase]

What do you guys use to lube the key lock on the gas tank?

[sandy]

Key locks of any kind should only be lubed with powdered graphite. Oils attract dust which acts like a polishing compound and eventually destroys the lock mechanism.

[doubletee]

Key locks of any kind should only be lubed with powdered graphite. Oils attract dust which acts like a polishing compound and eventually destroys the lock mechanism.

Now ya tell me!     I've used WD-40 sparingly in mine a couple of times, and have used it prodigiously on the seat lock, and its cable mechanism.

[Earl in Pensacola]

I've been using a very light oil (3 in 1) in the gas cap lock and the ignition key hole along with a little shot of WD-40 about once a year for years!  That would be on my bought it new '97 Tourer, 226K miles later.

[GJS]

Using graphite in a wet humid/wet environment can gum things up badly.
I'll stay with small amounts of WD40 or 3in1. Graphite is best, but only in dry places.

I live on the Wet Coast, and a locksmith I have met says he routinely has to clean-out graphite filled locks using WD40. The graphite stops working when wet. WD40 work in and around moisture, it was developed for this purpose.

So, in short, it depends where you live and the conditions you drive in. I'm an all weather rider, I use WD40, regularly.

Cheers,

Glenn  

[RP#62]

In a hot dry dusty climate, the solvents in WD40 evaporate leaving a sticky residue behind that attracts dust.  The resulting slurry is like lapping compound.  Graphite works great but people tend to put too much, which causes the problem your locksmith mentions. I've had good luck with silicone spray as it tends to dry and not be sticky and it doesn't get gummy when wet.

If you want to experiment with WD-40, try this.  Get a flat piece of steel and spray it liberally with WD-40.  Now leave it somewhere where it will be undisturbed for about a week and then go back and check it.  Unless they've changed the formula since I did it, it will no longer be a liquid.  It will be a gummy residue (which by the way is great at displacing water and is a good corrosion inhibitor), but may not be the best for intricate mechanisms.  I found this out when I was having a problem with the morning dew causing corrosion on my anvil that I just had resurfaced (I know, we've all been there).  I began using the WD-40 and had no more corrosion, but the residue may be wonder about using it elsewhere.
-RP