Stranded

[jc1300]

Great time at the 115th....a bit wet at times. get up and ready to leave at 5 am this morning and the fork lock will not disengage....and it pouring cats and dogs. I have jiggled - tapped and jiggles....lifted and turned and jiggled and tapped and rocked the handlebars and so on for 2 hrs. It's labor day and there are no HD dealers open.......any thoughts? I have called it every foul name I can think of already too.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Get a can of WD-40. Some store should be open that has it. When I had my fork lock sticking, I was told it should be greased up as part of service. Apparently bringing TG in to HD for regular service didn't count...Since they suck now.

 

[jc1300]

Get a can of WD-40. Some store should be open that has it. When I had my fork lock sticking, I was told it should be greased up as part of service. Apparently bringing TG in to HD for regular service didn't count...Since they suck now.

Going now to find some.....just shoot in were? And thanks

jc

 

[Old Road Dog]

Squirt it right in the hole.Not THAT one-the keyhole.First chance you get flush with brake cleaner, blow air, relube with Dri-Slide.WD40 is the worst thing for locks.If that don't work then ya got to drill out the core....

 

[Bikerbozo]

Probably want to spray from just under lock to where my finger is pointing. When you have lock turned to unlock position, you might be able to get knife or thin screwdriver in to pop up lock from stuck position. You can jus see flint of silver in closeup shot showing it in lowered position.

 

[jc1300]

Probably want to spray from just under lock to where my finger is pointing. When you have lock turned to unlock position, you might be able to get knife or thin screwdriver in to pop up lock from stuck position. You can jus see flint of silver in closeup shot showing it in lowered position.

Thanks guys...but strike #43.....squirted - waited - jiggled - pried - squirted - etc. now have to wait until a dealer opens up tomorrow and see how they think they can tow a bike with the fork locked. Perfect!

 

[Bikerbozo]

Try again after it sits awhile. As far as dealer, they will probably just pop lock out of the tube to free it. The trick is to carry the special tool to put it back in aligned. Good luck with it.

 

[ShapeShifter]

There was a couple of times this summer my key would not unllock the ignition switch with the fork in the left turned lock position. I was able to turn the key and unlock the switch by pushing in the little silver tab on the underside of switch while turning the key to the unlock position. Made sure I turned the bars to relieve tension before turning key and switch.

About a month ago I'm in parking twenty miles from home and it happens again, this time tried the previous method and no joy. After the rocking, jiggling the switch it began to just rotate freely but the forks remained locked. Finally called closest dealer (50 miles) to see if there was an easy solution or workaround, was told none. Towed to dealer, the tech easily got it unlocked and off the transport. I think the jolting 50 mile tow ride realigned the tumblers. They said you're good to go, but had the tech go through the fork lock procedure and the same happened to him. It finally ended up taking twenty minute of service work to fix the problem. There was no charge for what they called alignment and adjusting of the ignition switch, no parts needed. I'm still leery of using the fork lock mode, so since the last episode, I only lock the switch in Off Position with front wheel straight ahead.

This won't solve your current dilmma, especially if your switch is acting pretty much the same.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I know this wont help your situation,but i never lock my fork i use a brake rotor lock instead.If they want it they will get it no matter what you do to keep is safe.

 

[ShapeShifter]

Thanks guys...but strike #43.....squirted - waited - jiggled - pried - squirted - etc. now have to wait until a dealer opens up tomorrow and see how they think they can tow a bike with the fork locked. Perfect!

A rollback will work best extended down in front of front tire. A small angled wedge or thin flat piece of metal at the edge of ramp with a generous amount of dishwashing liquid under the wedge or flat piece of metal. Won't hurt to squirt some along the center of the bed. Then Tow Strap through front wheel and connect to winch cable. Gently take up slack till front wheel slides up on wedge or flat piece of metal. Once the slack is taken up, then hold the front brake as the trike slides up the bed on the wedge or flat piece of metal.

To get off just hold front brake as bed inclines downward, then gravity will do the rest. Put down more dish liquid for smoother slide. Hopefully, the dealer will then have the wherewithal to actually get it moved into the maintenance shop.

 

[hardheaded]

I've read somewhere that under the sticker on top of the switch there are 2 screws that can back out and cause this to happen. Razor blade to remove the sticker and a screw driver may fix the issue. Don't take the screw out , just tighten them down until you can get it home. Hope this works for you.

 

[PosseRider]

Great time at the 115th....a bit wet at times. get up and ready to leave at 5 am this morning and the fork lock will not disengage....and it pouring cats and dogs. I have jiggled - tapped and jiggles....lifted and turned and jiggled and tapped and rocked the handlebars and so on for 2 hrs. It's labor day and there are no HD dealers open.......any thoughts? I have called it every foul name I can think of already too.

This may be your problem also.

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/thr...LOCKED-and-would-not-UNLOCK!!!?highlight=lock

 

[ol' school]

This may be your problem also.

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/thr...LOCKED-and-would-not-UNLOCK!!!?highlight=lock

John, I am standing here at Maggie Valley talking to the man, Rooster57, that posted that thread... he says check it... that is what he had to do.

Sorry to hear your misfortune friend...

 

[Bikerbozo]

FYI I carry one of those ignition alignment tools with me at all times. The one time I had to pop the ignition key switch out, I was very careful to leave it lined up correctly. But if it didn’t, I could have used the tool to line everything up...in theory.

 

[ultrafxr]

FYI I carry one of those ignition alignment tools with me at all times. The one time I had to pop the ignition key switch out, I was very careful to leave it lined up correctly. But if it didn’t, I could have used the tool to line everything up...in theory.

When I changed out my handlebars I was checking clearances and the ignition switch was removed. I turned the bars full left and the forks locked. Couldn't get the ignition switch back in for love or money to unlock it. Finally determined I had caused a misalignment and was able to get everything realigned using a flat blade screwdriver. Took a small flashlight to look down inside as I moved things around but it did work. Don't really need any special tool - that may make it easier but it is not absolutely necessary.

 

[Chip]

Agreed with the comment

I know this wont help your situation,but i never lock my fork i use a brake rotor lock instead.If they want it they will get it no matter what you do to keep is safe.

Been there done that! I do not lock the fork. If they want it they will get it.

 

[WIHJr1949]

I know this wont help your situation,but i never lock my fork i use a brake rotor lock instead.If they want it they will get it no matter what you do to keep is safe.

I've never had any problems with the fork lock, but, like Mykneesbehurtin, I use a front rotor lock most of the time.

 

[jc1300]

I know this wont help your situation,but i never lock my fork i use a brake rotor lock instead.If they want it they will get it no matter what you do to keep is safe.

Dealer pulled the ignition key...thingy....rebuilt and had it back in 4 hours...$50 and a case of cheap beer for the tech. I will never lock that rat b****ard again and will just use my rotor lock....great idea!

 

[rhino 2]

Dealer pulled the ignition key...thingy....rebuilt and had it back in 4 hours...$50 and a case of cheap beer for the tech. I will never lock that rat b****ard again and will just use my rotor lock....great idea!

Alls well that ends well....I guess?... I never locked forks, On any of my bikes or on both of my T/G's........I didn't even lock my top box or trunk.... Top box locks are a joke, In one second they can be snapped, leaving you with a 5 hundred dollar repair bill, And with the trunk they can be punched out in a second also...And there are more stories of trunk locks falling to open than fork locks...:Shrug:

 

[andyb]

One trick for removing plates with the pressure adhesive on back is try using dental floss. Get it behind the plate and start a two handed sawing motion. And it doesn't leave marks.

 

[ShapeShifter]

Alls well that ends well....I guess?... I never locked forks, On any of my bikes or on both of my T/G's........I didn't even lock my top box or trunk.... Top box locks are a joke, In one second they can be snapped, leaving you with a 5 hundred dollar repair bill, And with the trunk they can be punched out in a second also...And there are more stories of trunk locks falling to open than fork locks...:Shrug:

:AGGHH:Geez, that's really unnerving.

 

[jimgpayne]

Alls well that ends well....I guess?... I never locked forks, On any of my bikes or on both of my T/G's........I didn't even lock my top box or trunk.... Top box locks are a joke, In one second they can be snapped, leaving you with a 5 hundred dollar repair bill, And with the trunk they can be punched out in a second also...And there are more stories of trunk locks falling to open than fork locks...:Shrug:

I agree a hundred percent. I don't lock anything because if they want it; they will get it. And if you lock it; they will break it doing so.

 

[jc1300]

One trick for removing plates with the pressure adhesive on back is try using dental floss. Get it behind the plate and start a two handed sawing motion. And it doesn't leave marks.

The best part of this info is....I spent the last 20 minutes before giving up and finding a dealer, tapping the plate with the butt of my hand....then the plastic multi tool I had.....then as a parting gift a few good wacks the screw driver I had with me. Knew it was pointless, but it sure felt good after hours in a downpour being nice to the damn thing, Now I know how to get it off and replace that damn dented one!!

 

[1dn5up]

A rollback will work best extended down in front of front tire. A small angled wedge or thin flat piece of metal at the edge of ramp with a generous amount of dishwashing liquid under the wedge or flat piece of metal. Won't hurt to squirt some along the center of the bed. Then Tow Strap through front wheel and connect to winch cable. Gently take up slack till front wheel slides up on wedge or flat piece of metal. Once the slack is taken up, then hold the front brake as the trike slides up the bed on the wedge or flat piece of metal.

To get off just hold front brake as bed inclines downward, then gravity will do the rest. Put down more dish liquid for smoother slide. Hopefully, the dealer will then have the wherewithal to actually get it moved into the maintenance shop.

Put a skate board under the front wheel , put in neutral , and your off.

 

[Fearless]

I never lock the forks just never did no reason before this thread. I try not to leave anything valuable on the trike. We all have been effected by this mishap the trust of that small lock has altered every time we turn the switch. Thank goodness all is well and no other events were incurred getting stranded. Getting stranded in the wrong place can go really bad in a heartbeat. YA... KNO...Travel safe Fred

 

[ShapeShifter]

Put a skate board under the front wheel , put in neutral , and your off.

Wonder how many carry Skateboards on their Trikes?

I always ask that the dispatched Tow Driver have Tow/Tie Down Straps for winching and securing through a wheel onto bed. Highly unlikely a driver will show up with a Skateboard. Did hear about a Driver wanting to hook metal winch hooks to the front forks and yank a Trike onto the bed, then probably would have secured it with chains to non-tie down points.

We have to be knowledgeable and strict as to how our Trikes are recovered and secured. Understand it can be hard to remain vigilant at Zero Dark Thirty when you're a few hundred miles between Heaven and Hell.

 

[Gone2Three]

Sure...seen some pretty cool set ups on 2 wheels, why not on 3?



So in theory....maybe

Y'a never know :Shrug:

 

[ShapeShifter]

Sure...seen some pretty cool set ups on 2 wheels, why not on 3? View attachment 61579

View attachment 61580

So in theory....maybe View attachment 61581

Y'a never know :Shrug:

Crotch Rockets and Local Cruisers might try that.:biglol: But come on, would be completely impractical and totally unacceptable for me to strap that to my Trike for touring several weeks/states.:victory:

 

[Gone2Three]

Crotch Rockets and Local Cruisers might try that.:biglol: But come on, would be completely impractical and totally unacceptable for me to strap that to my Trike for touring several weeks/states.:victory:

I hear y'a... :laugh: :wave4: