Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

For the past few days (and coincidentally after being caught in heavy rain), my key is getting stuck when I try to pull it out of the ignition. I am worried I might end up bending it!

Will a spray of WD-40 help? Anyone else have this problem before?

Yep WD40 will free it up although ideally I think a graphite based powder would be better. I had the same problem with the fuel filler on the 10 and I used lanox which is a lanolin based product for marine applications.

Colette, I had this problem in my commodore and a bit of WD40 fixed it! Having some weight on the keys can affect the key barrel, do you have any extra keys hanging off the bike one? If so remove them... I dont think a small amount of WD40 would hurt!

I had the same prob not long ago after the bike got rained on at work. Gave it a bit of a rub with some Singer sewing oil and it was as good as gold. WD40 will do the same, and it should help get rid of any water in the ignition barrel. Don't drown it though, as it will also attract dirt and dust. I also found my key was slightly bent (probably from being sat on in my pocket) making it difficult to remove. Check yours just to be sure. I hope this helps.

Had a locksmith do some fiddling with my ignition on the ZXR, he sprayed WD in there and it's magic now, don't overdo it, and put a rag under the barrel so the crap doesn't drip on your front guard. He said graphite is good or silicone spray once it's all clean of crap, but if you're going to graphite it don't do it while it's wet or gunky or anything or the graphite just clumps and makes it worse.

Yes it's only the one key - I don't attach others to it for that reason, Rob.

Thanks guys, looks like WD-40 should do the trick!

Colette wrote:Yes it's only the one key - I don't attach others to it for that reason, Rob.

Thanks guys, looks like WD-40 should do the trick!

I would try using graphite scraped from a pencil lead and work the key a bit first

My 05 had the same issue, but from new. I cleaned it out with a liberal spray of Lubricant (and not not the water soluble stuff ) allowed it to dry out for a few days and then used some fine graphite powder. (I got it from a pushbike shop) It never happened again, but I didn't own it for much more than 12 months. That said, maybe it's something you may want to put on the regular maintainance list to avoid any repeat of the problem!

Silicone spray is the best ...all weather !

yet another application for Yak Fat

Rocol, Silicone Grease
Brilliant and keeps water out to begin with.
Available at Blackwoods

Colette wrote:Yes it's only the one key - I don't attach others to it for that reason, Rob.

Thanks guys, looks like WD-40 should do the trick!

Perhaps wd40 to clean it out followed by an electrical dispersant like you can get from dick smiths (i have a can you can borrow rather than blowing a wad of cash on a can as you'll like use it the once every 3 years/ nearly never need it again) it evaporates and leaves no trace it was ever there (i.e. it is designed to clean crap/water off electronics/pcb boards). Once you've got the crap off then fill it with graphite (which i also have a bottle of).

Colette wrote:For the past few days (and coincidentally after being caught in heavy rain), my key is getting stuck when I try to pull it out of the ignition. I am worried I might end up bending it!

Will a spray of WD-40 help? Anyone else have this problem before?

Colette... just use it more.

JetPilot wrote:

Colette wrote:For the past few days (and coincidentally after being caught in heavy rain), my key is getting stuck when I try to pull it out of the ignition. I am worried I might end up bending it!

Will a spray of WD-40 help? Anyone else have this problem before?

Colette... just use it more.

So five days a week is not enough for you, eh Rod?

Thanks Mike, I sprayed WD40 on it last night and it has done the job.

Just be careful now as there's very little of the original dry lubricant left i imagine. A bodge might be to go to a garage & use an old-school tyre pump and give your barrel a blast of air to get rid of any residual wd40, and then give it a quirt of graphite powder