ignition ?

[Oss]

Well its happened 3 times now

I get on the bike turn the key and nothing not even dash lights

Turn the key off, jiggle the key in the ignition, take a deep breath

Turn the key on, see the lights lit on the display of my interstate and all starts
just fine

Has anyone had problems with the place where the key goes in the ignition/switch

I would like to figure it out BEFORE getting stranded somewhere

[Flat6Valk]

Sounds like a new switch is in order.  I could imagine a wire coming loose or breaking somewhere in the switch.  Beats me, but post your findings when you figure it out.  And try to figure that out before you get stranded.  Good luck.

[Patrick]

When this happens,, can you 'jiggle' the switch with the key left on [don't turn it off] and get everything to turn on ??  If so,, it seems you have a bad switch or a bad connection at it..

[Oss]

stupid question maybe

but can I keep my keys and have new switch keyed to my present key or do I have then 1 key for starting bike and 1 for the center latch and bags?

could the key be worn?

next time I will try jiggling the key with switch on

[Michvalk]

It's probably the electrical part of the switch. I "think" you can replace the switch, and keep your tumbler for the key. Look at the parts fish on HDL and see. You might have to have a locksmith put your tumblers in the switch. I have never had trouble with a motorcycle keyswitch so I'm just going by what I have seen on cars. YMMV

I just went and looked at HDL. It's on the page with the sidecover. The lockset is seperate from the switch, so you can replace the electrical part seperate from the key part. I have no idea how, but the parts are sold seperately.

[John Schmidt]

Oss, maybe this is a foolish question but....do you have a bunch of other keys and stuff on the same chain or ring? If so, the weight of the extra junk on a key ring can eventually cause the internal parts to wear. That was one of the things my early flight instructor taught me....no extra weight or junk on the ignition key ring. Nothing like having the key work loose in flight and shut off. It's just a thought.

[Ricky-D]

That is a very good point!

***

[Tx Bohemian]

Has anyone had problems with the place where the key goes in the ignition/switch

I had a similar problem:

During winter I'd start the bike in the shop and just let it run for awhile.  It would start and run, no problem.
 
Once, after it ran for about 5 minutes, I noticed the lights (headlight, running lights) weren't on.

As the bike was still running, I fiddled with swithes, wires and nothing. So as I grabbed the key to cut it off the lights came on just as I rotated the key.
 
Then things worked fine and I couldn't duplicate the problem.

A couple of weeks later it happened again.  I grabbed the key and slightly rotated it back a bit, like to cut it off but still running, and the lights came on.

I replaced the ignition switch and haven't had this problem since.

I have only one extra key for the bags on the key ring.

[Ricky-D]

Has anyone had problems with the place where the key goes in the ignition/switch

I had a similar problem:

During winter I'd start the bike in the shop and just let it run for awhile.  It would start and run, no problem.
 
Once, after it ran for about 5 minutes, I noticed the lights (headlight, running lights) weren't on.

As the bike was still running, I fiddled with swithes, wires and nothing. So as I grabbed the key to cut it off the lights came on just as I rotated the key.
 
Then things worked fine and I couldn't duplicate the problem.

A couple of weeks later it happened again.  I grabbed the key and slightly rotated it back a bit, like to cut it off but still running, and the lights came on.

I replaced the ignition switch and haven't had this problem since.

I have only one extra key for the bags on the key ring.

It's good you picked up that question.

I recall there have been issues with the little door right there where the key enters the key way.

It would become detached and block entry.

A pick along with some hemostats were the tools of choice to clear the obstruction.

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