Valk key switch - keying experiment

[Brian]

Hey guys,
Last summer I had issues with the main switch, the contacts were getting nasty. Cleaned them up, reassembled and it worked fine. The OCD in me had me order a new switch to be ready for this riding season. While at the parts counter one of the shop mechanics overheard our conversation and started to chime in. His suggestion worked for the keying aspect to keep from carrying two keys. He told us, Honda cylinders for their double cut keys only read one side of the key. When my new switch comes in it will come with two new keys. Meaning I would have to carry two keys now, one just for the new switch? He suggested having new keys cut, one side of the blank cut to match the new key, the other side cut to match the old key. This experiment worked like a champ !    The only thing now, is flipping the key around to the other side in order for it to work in any of the three locks. I can live with this, and $5.00 for two new keys verses a locksmith fee ! Total cost, $63 with tax.  Now to install the new switch this weekend.

[sandy]

Great information.

[gordonv]

So the mirror image dual key is just so it doesn't matter which way you place it in the lock.

So cut one side with one key pattern, then the other with another pattern (I have 2 99' IS mc), and by flipping it one way or the other, I could carry one key, but use it on 2 differently keyed locks.

Very nice to know, thank you for this info.

[Brian]

So the mirror image dual key is just so it doesn't matter which way you place it in the lock.

So cut one side with one key pattern, then the other with another pattern (I have 2 99' IS mc), and by flipping it one way or the other, I could carry one key, but use it on 2 differently keyed locks.

Very nice to know, thank you for this info.

Yes, sir. You are 100% correct. The gas cap and seat lock too, all 3 locks work fine.

[Pete]

Every auto industry double sided key/lock works this way and has since 1962, when the auto industry started using this concept. That I know of or have used.

It was a ease of use enhancement feature not a security enhancement.

There may be a special security lock somewhere that is double sided, although I have never seen one.

[Willow]

That is a good thought, especially for those of us with two Valkyries.  There is one caveat.  Honda (and Valkyrie) keys use two different offsets.  For this to work both keys (locks) must have the same offset.  If one key will go into both locks this will work.

[MarkT]

That is a good thought, especially for those of us with two Valkyries.  There is one caveat.  Honda (and Valkyrie) keys use two different offsets.  For this to work both keys (locks) must have the same offset.  If one key will go into both locks this will work.

Correct.  I got a vented (with check valve) gas cap made for Magnas IIRC but looks identical to our Valks.  Need the venting with my modified belly tank install.  Thought I would be clever with the key cut. NOT.  It has the opposite offset so still have to carry two keys on the Jade keychain.  So now I have what, five keychains; grab the appropriate one for what I'm doing today.  Don't care to pick thru 30 keys or so with every use, never mind all that weight hanging off of locks.

On Jade I used a small colored wire tie to indicate fuel vs. ignition/fork/seat key.

BTW some outfits got cheap on the key locks.  e.g. Kubota has no side cuts on their key blanks.  Took the tractor to the dealer to install the rear grader blade.  I said, "Here, you'll need my key."  
"No we don't, we have a master that keys to all the locks."

Great.  And there's no title to the easily stolen vehicle needed either - if you get your hands on one, you never register/license it - "possession is 9/10ths of the law".

Guess I better put the key in the safe when out of town, and chain the tractor to something it can't pull out - but it has tons of torque.  And keep it out of sight from the road.  I have a neighbor who parks his Kubota on his front lawn, on a high-traffic corner, as if on display. "Look at my cool toys." Wonder how long he'll keep it.  Mine's out of sight, with a tarp bungied over it.

[John Schmidt]

Mark, rather than use a colored wire, I filed notches on the heads of the keys. I have that problem with the GL1100 trunk I modified to fit on the Valk. I first modified the mounting rack by shortening it and adapting the supports for it. Next, I used three old trunks to make one good one before painting it. It all looks great and works fine but one problem....the bike/bags have one key, the trunk another, the trunk releases on the trunk mount is still a third. So, one notch for the bike, two for the trunk, three for the mount. Result....one key in the ignition and two in my pocket.

In the picture you can see the two trunk latches and the two release locks on the mount. It was cheaper to file the notches than have a locksmith change the tumblers. OK....I'm cheap!    Re. the trunk, I added the handle, the rack on top, and cables to support the lid. Then had an outfit in Colorado design and make a form fitted bag to go inside. With the entire thing sitting directly over the rear axle it handles great even when loaded, and the volume of the trunk is comparable to the I/S and it cost a lot less.

[MarkT]

Colored wire ties vs colored wire:

[John Schmidt]

  I knew that, just didn't make it clear in my post.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I've re-keyed a bunch of these locks over the years.

Hit the various swap meets to look for old Honda luggage and accessory locks for a source of tumbler pins and springs. A big bag of lock spares is kept in my stash for just this very situation.

The tumblers may prove tricky to extract unless you can get access to the retaining pin, which fits into a groove in the lock body and prevents the tumbler from being extracted. There are various ways to do this, including using a special setting key to release all pins at once. Invasive surgery into the back of the lock body also works.

[_Sheffjs_]

The many ways to skin that cat, I grab the wife's nail polish and run a stripe on the key shaft.

I decided to pick up a poop load of keys last week so I have plenty on hand and the parts guy said to get the original type (shown) for the 1800c was $45 and there is no chip!  He did offer a Goldwing key for $22.  Yep.   Still it would be nice to only have one key for all. 

Dang 1800 key looks like it would start an Odyssey