Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: Desi Bike on September 11, 2011, 04:51:00 am

Title: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Desi Bike on September 11, 2011, 04:51:00 am

My key switch is getting kinda hard to get the key in and out of. What can I lubricate it with to avoid gumming it up? Graphite? A drop of oil?

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Arizoni on September 11, 2011, 05:09:25 am

A real light weight machine oil that's made for sewing machines and other lightweight equipment  like 3 in 1 works well.

It's just my opinion but I would not    recommend WD40 as it tends to get gummy after a few days.

If you live in a humid area graphite will work well too but it looses its lubricating properties if the humidity gets real low.

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: GlennF on September 11, 2011, 10:53:46 am

Note ... EITHER graphite OR light oil

using both at once creates a gummy kind of glue

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: FiRE Comms on September 11, 2011, 04:30:05 pm

check and make sure the ignition has not loosened up and is turning with the key.  The Large black nut loosened on my C5 making it difficult to remove the key is the ignition had twisted.

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Desi Bike on September 11, 2011, 06:12:53 pm

switch is secure... Out comes the singer sewing machine oil I guess. Thanks everyone

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 12, 2011, 02:07:12 am

Even sewing machine oil can get sticky.  This is my fave for locks, graphite in a solvent carrier.  It won't get gummy or sticky.  Stains like red mud if you get it on clothes ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Lock-Ease-Graphite-Lock-Fluid-3-4/dp/B0006MWPZA

I like the squeeze bottle but there's an aerosol too.

Scott

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Ice on September 12, 2011, 03:39:40 am

+1 to Lock-Ease  ;) Displaces moisture too !

 Used to dose the locks on the old Dodge every fall, nothing worse than being frozen out of your truck.

Title: Re: Sticky ignition switch
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 12, 2011, 04:48:25 am

Quote from: Ice on September 12, 2011, 03:39:40 am

Used to dose the locks on the old Dodge every fall, nothing worse than being frozen out of your truck.

Soooo don't miss that living in a warmer climate.  One year in NY my locks froze and I had no de-icer.  I figured I'd walk the mile or so to 7-11 and get some.  They didn't have any.  I bought a bottle of rubbing alcohol, walked the mile back, took a swig, and spit it into the lock.  Ick!  It took hours to get the taste out of my mouth.  Did I mention this was a VW bug with almost no heat that I then had to drive home in?  I don't miss the cold winters.

But I degress...

Scott