It's Frozen - The key in the ignition!

Waking this from the dead in case there are any newbies like me that might not know

This happened to me yesterday and I couldn't be bothered to think of a way out, so went back in, took my kit off and worked from home.

By the time I checked yesterday evening, I was able to turn the key, so I assumed it must have been because of all the rain over the weekend and the cold temperatures cos I've ridden through winter and never had any issues.

However, the same thing happened again this morning. This time I went back in, put the kettle on and doused the ignition with some hot water.......that worked.

From reading this thread, it appears there are quite a few ways of dealing with this:

- breathing warm air into the ignition (hilarious but seems to work)

- WD40 (looks like a very useful thing to have for the bike in general)

- de-icer

- drop of engine oil (preventive)

- special grease

- burn your key with a lighter and insert the hot key into the ignition

It appears the de-icer is the consensus and the hot key.
Any more methods?

[mikerj]

Originally Posted by thefallenangel

Don't use WD40 on locks! It will work but strip the lock of the minimal grease inside it and it will eventually seize up. Put your key into some grease or oil to stop it from stripping if you need to use WD40.

Plenty of locksmiths use WD40 on locks. It doesn't completely evaporate since it has a light mineral oil in it which provide sufficient lubrication, and it displaces water which is exactly what you need on exposed external locks like a bike ignition or fuel cap lock.

Grease has no business being anywhere near a lock barrel; not only does it attract dirt and grime, it also gives you a lovely greasy key to put in your pocket.

[yorkie_chris]

Lock de icer is just more expensive de icer.

Which in itself is more expensive isopropanol in a squirty bottle. This WILL strip the lubricant out of your lock most definitely.

Originally Posted by Holdup

Im not too sure about that what with the HISS system, i maybe wrong though, but other than that i agree with what others are saying, use a bit of wd40 or get hold of some lock de icer

The hiss is a coil around the lock... shouldn't hurt it.

Originally Posted by mikerj

Plenty of locksmiths use WD40 on locks. It doesn't completely evaporate since it has a light mineral oil in it which provide sufficient lubrication, and it displaces water which is exactly what you need on exposed external locks like a bike ignition or fuel cap lock.

Good to know.

I used ACF50 in there repels water really well and never did it again.