Gooey ignition: '07 Griso

[guzziownr]

It's been pretty warm here in the North East U.S. so I am still riding to work.  The cold (er) temps have led to a small issue that is getting worse.  Whatever grease or goo that is in my ignition has turned to a gluey consistency which makes the fragile Guzzi ignition key impossible to remove without force.

Before I reach for my shelf full of spray cans what would YOU use to solve this issue?

[rboe]

In Arizona I'd just reach for my WD-40. But in your neck of the woods I'd use Breakfree Lube - works better in cold weather. However; for the temps that you'd be willing to ride in WD-40 may be good enough.

[LaMojo]

I'd take the switch off, hold it upside down while spraying brake cleaner in the key hole.

[canuguzzi]

A crazy sounding idea but it works on locks. Stuff paper towels underneath to catch drips. Spray WD40 into the lock and then immediately suck the liquid out with a wet/dry vac. Repeat until clean. Then either relube with your favorite of go to a dry type lube. Careful with dry lubes though because if the dry lube gets mixed with even a little grease, whatever problem you have now get worse.

I'd stick with WD40 for now. The wet/dry really does work.

One hint, warm the WD40 by immersing the can in a bowl of warm water, moving the can around. It will flow super easy and help loosen old packed lube up all the better.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Are you sure someone hasn't tried to steal the machine by picking the lock.
 I have had an ignition lock buggered up that way, but they were so clumsy they left scratch marks on it that showed what had been attempted.

[Cam3512]

  Are you sure someone hasn't tried to steal the machine by picking the lock.
 I have had an ignition lock buggered up that way, but they were so clumsy they left scratch marks on it that showed what had been attempted.

Good call. He does commute to NYC.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Pull the switch apart and wipe out the old grease, it's probably the consistency of chewing gum. Replace with fresh Vaseline.

[guzziownr]

I moved to Orange County NY two years ago so no more parking in the city.  The key comes out with a coating of goo that would have been better used on certain bearings.

The consensus seems to be that WD-40 is O.K. to clean.

My next post will complain about the speedo sensor.  Stay tuned!

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Flush it with Marvel misery oil.  I would load a hypodermic syringe with Marvel and repeatedly flush the lock until all the old grease is gone.  If it works then, fine, it is fixed with no mechanical damage.  Just ask one of your druggie friends for
 a needle and syringe.  I recommend 21 guage to 18 gauge to move the oil easily.  If you have no druggie friends, ask a doctor friend or someone who injects B-12.  I just threw away about a hundred of them.  I share needles with all my bikes.  Good for adding acid to a battery without drips, squirting marvel into cable sleeves for throttles and brakes and clutch.  Or putting small amounts of oil anywhere that you don't want a mess.