Frozen ignition cylinder

Cedilla · January 3rd, 2010, 01:42 PM

Yesterday morning I wen't outside to try and start my bike, to go to work, and I could not unlock the fork lock, I tried for about 30min, and finally gave up and took my mom's car to work. It was about 21° outside, I don't know if that had anything to do with it, as I have only rode below freezing once before.

When I got home it was about 31° and I tried for about 10min before it finally unlocked. I did not lock it back for fear of it getting stuck again. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

I think I messed up my car pretty bad yesterday morning, I don't want to get into that here, but I'm probably going to be bike only for a while. I'm don't really want to leave my bike parked in random places with the fork unlocked(although I'm sure it will be fine), but nevertheless I'm still paranoid that someone will push my bike away.

Alex · January 3rd, 2010, 01:48 PM

What was locked? The fork wouldn't move, or the key wouldn't move the ignition cylinder? Jiggling the fork a little back and forth is usually enough to allow the ignition cylinder to turn easily. If the ignition cylinder itself is frozen, there are sprays that you can spritz in there to quickly melt any remaining ice to allow it to move. There are lubes that are made for this, once it is free, to keep it moving freely going forward. But in a pinch, WD-40 will work reasonably well.

Cedilla · January 3rd, 2010, 02:04 PM

When I would put the key in and push down I just could not get it to turn, no matter how much I jiggled the forks. It just felt like the cylinder was jammed up.

Momaru · January 3rd, 2010, 02:11 PM

I had a little water get in there last winter and cause the same thing. Now that it's free, just work some good lube in both the ignition cylinder and the fork lock mechanism, mebbe pick up a bottle of lock de-icer like Alex suggested and you should be fine

HKr1 · January 3rd, 2010, 03:53 PM

Nothing really to add on the frozen up ninja at all, just reminds me of a funny story.

I was working up at Ft Riley in Kansas, had been snowing for a week. Camaro was looking like crap(really dirty), and it since it was such a nice clear day. I thought we would wash the car off at the self service place(I wondered at the time why it was empty). Anyway the next morning we couldnt get the key in the door, either door. Was pretty funny at the time, never happen to me before. I felt pretty stupid

Cedilla · January 3rd, 2010, 04:09 PM

I just came back from a 40mi ride. It was torture, and its only 27°, tomorrow when I go to work it will be like 15°, I'm not looking forward to it.

It felt stuck again when I started it earlier, and it was in the off pos, not locked. I jiggled it a few times, and it broke free. About halfway threw the ride I noticed my right turn signal was not working, but it started working when I got close to home. When I got home, my legs were so cold, that they did not want to work properly when I got off the bike, and I think I was close to getting frostbite on my feet. I also sprayed some WD-40 on my key and turned the key to lock, off, and on a few times. Hopefully that should work.

Sailariel · January 3rd, 2010, 08:04 PM

I am just wondering if there is some sort of plastic cap available to put over the ignition switch. I`ll start looking, and if I find something, I will post it. Obviously it will be something intended for another purpose--like for a salt shaker or some such thing.

TheDuck · January 4th, 2010, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKr1

Nothing really to add on the frozen up ninja at all, just reminds me of a funny story.

I was working up at Ft Riley in Kansas, had been snowing for a week. Camaro was looking like crap(really dirty), and it since it was such a nice clear day. I thought we would wash the car off at the self service place(I wondered at the time why it was empty). Anyway the next morning we couldnt get the key in the door, either door. Was pretty funny at the time, never happen to me before. I felt pretty stupid

A similar thing happened to me in the short when I worked up in KY. There was a major ice storm that covered the entire car with at minmum 1/2" thick ice sheet. There were some places on the roof that were a many inches thick!

Thankfully I had a remote to unlock and left the thing to run and thaw while I chipped the windshield for an hour before I could drive. The door made the most awful CRUNCH sound as I opened it and huge sheets of ice broke free from the side of the car. I couldn't imagine what this would have been like if I didn't have a remote. Naturally the ice stuck better to the windows than to the painted surfaces... Murphy's Law dicated that one, but it was probably the fresh wax job on the paint that rejected the ice.

I have some pictures somewhere... I had FL license plates at the time, too, haha. That was also the ducks' first winter experience, they hate snow!

g21-30 · January 6th, 2010, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedilla

I also sprayed some WD-40 on my key and turned the key to lock, off, and on a few times. Hopefully that should work.

Stick the key barely into the lock and spray around it with WD-40. The lock cylinder was just frozen.

karlosdajackal · January 6th, 2010, 04:59 AM

hold key over cigarette lighter to warm it up, put key in lock, job done.

Cedilla · January 6th, 2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g21-30

Stick the key barely into the lock and spray around it with WD-40. The lock cylinder was just frozen.

I ended up spraying the key with WD-40 after the temps had warmed up, seems to have helped, although it still feels a little sticky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdajackal

hold key over cigarette lighter to warm it up, put key in lock, job done.

A friend who was from Detroit told me about this a long time ago, I was thinking about it when I could not turn the key. I ended up running my bic out of fluid trying get the key hot, I just would not heat up. So then I got frustrated and started trying to breath on it to no effect.

g21-30 · January 7th, 2010, 05:24 AM

I wasn't going to mention this, but since you are having "severe" problems, I will. You can also use WD-40 as a miniature torch and heat the ignition cylinder! Put the plastic straw on the WD-40 and hold your lighter a couple of inches below the cylinder. Light the lighter and squirt the WD-40 in the flame. It won't hurt the cylinder, as it will warm it up!

Once the weather warms up, soak the ignition cylinder with WD-40. It displaces moisture.

Spraying the key does nothing to warm the ignition or key.

SCREEM · January 7th, 2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedilla

So then I got frustrated and started trying to breath on it to no effect.

LOL...hope there was nobody around while you were performing this

lgk · December 11th, 2013, 05:49 AM

Lock froze on me this morning.
the de-icer worked like a champ.

Skullz · December 11th, 2013, 01:07 PM

I went to NAPA and got the napa brand "lock-ease" which works like a charm and will not freeze again this year, keeping fingers crossed.

evidens83 · December 11th, 2013, 07:06 PM

Same thing happened to me over the weekend. I spent a good 20 minutes jiggling and cussing til the key finally turned. Considering it was around 25 degrees I'm guessing the lock was frozen. Time for some de-icer!

allanoue · December 11th, 2013, 07:44 PM

I have used a hair dryer

agentbad · November 19th, 2014, 06:07 AM

Link to original page on YouTube.

Had this happen to me for the first time this morning. I eventually was able to get the key in the lock but it wouldn't turn even after wiggling the bars. Tried heating the key with a lighter but I ran out of time and jumped in the car. Should I cap the ignition somehow or is there a antifreeze type lube that's safe to use and won't rust?

lgk · November 19th, 2014, 12:10 PM

try some wd-40 followed by white lithium grease

agentbad · November 19th, 2014, 12:41 PM

Cool I'll give that a try when I get home.

kxpower? · November 19th, 2014, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDuck

A similar thing happened to me in the short when I worked up in KY. There was a major ice storm that covered the entire car with at minmum 1/2" thick ice sheet. There were some places on the roof that were a many inches thick!

Thankfully I had a remote to unlock and left the thing to run and thaw while I chipped the windshield for an hour before I could drive. The door made the most awful CRUNCH sound as I opened it and huge sheets of ice broke free from the side of the car. I couldn't imagine what this would have been like if I didn't have a remote. Naturally the ice stuck better to the windows than to the painted surfaces... Murphy's Law dicated that one, but it was probably the fresh wax job on the paint that rejected the ice.

I have some pictures somewhere... I had FL license plates at the time, too, haha. That was also the ducks' first winter experience, they hate snow!

Similar to that a few years ago, had a bunch of ice fall one night, a good half inch and after reaching across from the passenger side to open the driver's door and letting the defroster run a few minutes, I jumped in and somehow thought rolling down the window was a good idea. It rolled down just fine, leaving a sheet of ice where it had been.

I thought oh, that's pretty cool I better take a picture. So I open the door, grab my phone and in an effort to get the lighting and everything right I closed the door back. And the sheet of ice collapsed into the car, soaking my heated seats.

Not a fun drive to work between the soggy arse and Tenneseans panicking over the ice.

January 3rd, 2010, 01:42 PM	#1
Cedilla ninjette.org sage Name: Chris Location: Huntsville, AL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 755	Frozen ignition cylinder Yesterday morning I wen't outside to try and start my bike, to go to work, and I could not unlock the fork lock, I tried for about 30min, and finally gave up and took my mom's car to work. It was about 21° outside, I don't know if that had anything to do with it, as I have only rode below freezing once before. When I got home it was about 31° and I tried for about 10min before it finally unlocked. I did not lock it back for fear of it getting stuck again. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I think I messed up my car pretty bad yesterday morning, I don't want to get into that here, but I'm probably going to be bike only for a while. I'm don't really want to leave my bike parked in random places with the fork unlocked(although I'm sure it will be fine), but nevertheless I'm still paranoid that someone will push my bike away. __________________________________________________ The Ninjette is not a disposable bike. You are not ever supposed to get rid of it. It is like a [friendly] herpes virus.... once you got it, you get keep it forever. Originally posted by-Headshrink

January 3rd, 2010, 01:48 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	What was locked? The fork wouldn't move, or the key wouldn't move the ignition cylinder? Jiggling the fork a little back and forth is usually enough to allow the ignition cylinder to turn easily. If the ignition cylinder itself is frozen, there are sprays that you can spritz in there to quickly melt any remaining ice to allow it to move. There are lubes that are made for this, once it is free, to keep it moving freely going forward. But in a pinch, WD-40 will work reasonably well. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 3rd, 2010, 02:04 PM	#3
Cedilla ninjette.org sage Name: Chris Location: Huntsville, AL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 755	When I would put the key in and push down I just could not get it to turn, no matter how much I jiggled the forks. It just felt like the cylinder was jammed up. __________________________________________________ The Ninjette is not a disposable bike. You are not ever supposed to get rid of it. It is like a [friendly] herpes virus.... once you got it, you get keep it forever. Originally posted by-Headshrink

January 3rd, 2010, 02:11 PM	#4
Momaru ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Paul Location: Roanoke, VA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue 250R Posts: A lot.	I had a little water get in there last winter and cause the same thing. Now that it's free, just work some good lube in both the ignition cylinder and the fork lock mechanism, mebbe pick up a bottle of lock de-icer like Alex suggested and you should be fine __________________________________________________ Proud member of the Blue Army

January 3rd, 2010, 04:09 PM	#6
Cedilla ninjette.org sage Name: Chris Location: Huntsville, AL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 755	I just came back from a 40mi ride. It was torture, and its only 27°, tomorrow when I go to work it will be like 15°, I'm not looking forward to it. It felt stuck again when I started it earlier, and it was in the off pos, not locked. I jiggled it a few times, and it broke free. About halfway threw the ride I noticed my right turn signal was not working, but it started working when I got close to home. When I got home, my legs were so cold, that they did not want to work properly when I got off the bike, and I think I was close to getting frostbite on my feet. I also sprayed some WD-40 on my key and turned the key to lock, off, and on a few times. Hopefully that should work. __________________________________________________ The Ninjette is not a disposable bike. You are not ever supposed to get rid of it. It is like a [friendly] herpes virus.... once you got it, you get keep it forever. Originally posted by-Headshrink

January 3rd, 2010, 03:53 PM	#5
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Nothing really to add on the frozen up ninja at all, just reminds me of a funny story. I was working up at Ft Riley in Kansas, had been snowing for a week. Camaro was looking like crap(really dirty), and it since it was such a nice clear day. I thought we would wash the car off at the self service place(I wondered at the time why it was empty). Anyway the next morning we couldnt get the key in the door, either door. Was pretty funny at the time, never happen to me before. I felt pretty stupid

January 3rd, 2010, 08:04 PM	#7
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I am just wondering if there is some sort of plastic cap available to put over the ignition switch. I`ll start looking, and if I find something, I will post it. Obviously it will be something intended for another purpose--like for a salt shaker or some such thing.

January 6th, 2010, 04:59 AM	#10
karlosdajackal ninjette.org guru Name: Karl Location: Ireland the Hawaii of Europe! Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Fuel Injected Model 2009 Posts: 357	hold key over cigarette lighter to warm it up, put key in lock, job done. __________________________________________________ My vlogs on Youtube are here

January 7th, 2010, 05:24 AM	#12
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	I wasn't going to mention this, but since you are having "severe" problems, I will. You can also use WD-40 as a miniature torch and heat the ignition cylinder! Put the plastic straw on the WD-40 and hold your lighter a couple of inches below the cylinder. Light the lighter and squirt the WD-40 in the flame. It won't hurt the cylinder, as it will warm it up! Once the weather warms up, soak the ignition cylinder with WD-40. It displaces moisture. Spraying the key does nothing to warm the ignition or key.

December 11th, 2013, 05:49 AM	#14
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	Lock froze on me this morning. the de-icer worked like a champ. __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700

December 11th, 2013, 01:07 PM	#15
Skullz ninjette.org guru Name: Ray Location: 48162 Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250 Posts: 450	I went to NAPA and got the napa brand "lock-ease" which works like a charm and will not freeze again this year, keeping fingers crossed.

December 11th, 2013, 07:06 PM	#16
evidens83 bike noob Name: ev Location: WA Join Date: Oct 2013 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r(sold) 04 Yamaha R6 Posts: 94	Same thing happened to me over the weekend. I spent a good 20 minutes jiggling and cussing til the key finally turned. Considering it was around 25 degrees I'm guessing the lock was frozen. Time for some de-icer!

December 11th, 2013, 07:44 PM	#17
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	I have used a hair dryer

November 19th, 2014, 06:07 AM	#18
agentbad ninjette.org sage Name: bob Location: Earf Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250, 2006 SV650N Posts: 642	Link to original page on YouTube. Had this happen to me for the first time this morning. I eventually was able to get the key in the lock but it wouldn't turn even after wiggling the bars. Tried heating the key with a lighter but I ran out of time and jumped in the car. Should I cap the ignition somehow or is there a antifreeze type lube that's safe to use and won't rust?

November 19th, 2014, 12:10 PM	#19
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	try some wd-40 followed by white lithium grease __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

November 19th, 2014, 12:41 PM	#20
agentbad ninjette.org sage Name: bob Location: Earf Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250, 2006 SV650N Posts: 642	Cool I'll give that a try when I get home.

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