Need a Re-key on my Scooter's Ingition...

[Fallacy911]

I recently removed the ignition piece from my Kymco scooter because I wanted to take it to a locksmith or hardware store to have it re-keyed. The only problem is, I feel like it is very hard to take the cylinder out of the housing.

As far as I know, there is no quick release for the cylinder, and I obviously can't turn it to the acc position (which usually activates the possibility for quick release) because I don't have the key.

I called a couple shops nearby, and they all say "We don't work on scooters". One shop said it's because they don't have blanks, the other shop wouldn't give me an answer. Another shop said I can bring it in and they will take a look at it, but it was a woman who said she usually re-keys house locks and such which are a lot easier to get to the pins...

Basically, I'm asking if you guys think a shop would be able to get the cylinder out of my ignition housing piece. I can post pictures if you want, or if anyone here knows how to take the cylinder out, that would be helpful.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[unlisted]

Easier and probably cheaper to take the whole scooter into a shop and have them replace the ignition piece, those are built not to come apart easy.

[lunchb0x]

Easier and probably cheaper to take the whole scooter into a shop and have them replace the ignition piece, those are built not to come apart easy.

agreed, a lot of the time they are pressed together so you have to damage the lock to pull it apart, if you already have the locks reamoved try order the new ones and replace them yourself.

[barbarian]

If you walk in with the thing in your hand, the lock shops could at least look at it. It might not be too hard for them.

Is there a dealer nearby ? They might have some old bikes out back from accident damage or whatever that you could raid for parts. They should at least have a key blank for you. If you talk to one of the mechanics, and they see the part in your hand, they might offer some help.

[l0ckp1cker]

Often you see these locks have a relatively small key space.
So chances are if you go to a scrap yard for scooters they may have a working key there for you to buy.
Otherwise buy the ignition kit there and replace it yourself.
It's probably cheaper then asking a locksmith to re key the lock

[Fallacy911]

I know that traditionally re-keying is ~$10 for a single house lock. I would pay that no problem. I agree this ignition cylinder housing doesnt look like it's made to come apart extremely easily...

but I can't simply replace the ignition piece because I'd have to change all the locks on the bike, there is a lock to open up the frequently used glove compartment, and another lock to release the gas cap...

I'm thinking about taking the body apart and seeing if the other lock cylinders are more simple, which I bet they are... It's just that for some reason the ignition was rather easy to get to compared to the glove compartment lock which is right in the middle of the body of the bike. A lot of pieces will need to come off...

What makes me mad is the advertisements that say "We can re-key any lock", and then I call them up, and they say they don't work on scooters... Garbage.

No one has had an experience like mine, and had a hardware store/ locksmith shop pull through?

Thanks guys.

[jimb]

but I can't simply replace the ignition piece because I'd have to change all the locks on the bike, there is a lock to open up the frequently used glove compartment, and another lock to release the gas cap...

Do you have a key now? I'm guessing you are trying to get it rekeyed because you don't have a key? I'm assuming that from the above statement. I don't know much about bikes but it's possible that one of those locks might have a key code on it. It's also possible a key could be impressioned or wafers could be read on the other locks and progression may be possible for the ignition cuts.

Find a locksmith that works on bikes and take the whole bike to him.

[Fallacy911]

Yes, I need a re-key because I lost my keys. unfortunately, this one doesn't have a key code on it, so I doubt the others do. What do you mean by "It's also possible a key could be impressioned or wafers could be read on the other locks and progression may be possible for the ignition cuts."

I'm not sure if this relates to what you were saying, but all the locks on the bike are the same, and follow the same wafer/pin alignment

[jimb]

Yes, I need a re-key because I lost my keys. unfortunately, this one doesn't have a key code on it, so I doubt the others do. What do you mean by "It's also possible a key could be impressioned or wafers could be read on the other locks and progression may be possible for the ignition cuts."

I'm not sure if this relates to what you were saying, but all the locks on the bike are the same, and follow the same wafer/pin alignment

A rekey is not what you want. Rekeying would be making the ignition take a different key. Call around and ask your local locksmiths if they can make you a key if you bring the bike to them.

[jimb]

I just want to add to this and stress that you need to take the bike to a locksmith and not just the ignition. If you just take the ignition you may find that the key won't work the other locks. The reason being that it's likely that none of the locks use all the cuts in the key. For instance, lets say that the key has 8 cuts numbered 1 thru 8. The ignition might only use 6 of those cuts and the other locks might use 4 of the cuts, sharing 2 of those with the ignition cuts. I won't say any more as this would be considered advanced material. But those shared cuts would be where the progression would come into making a key. You can learn about impressioning by doing a search.

[Fallacy911]

Jimb - thanks for the help, what do you call it then if its not a rekey? I just need a new key made, without having a copy?

I don't think that they use progression on the locks, because IIRC there was only like 4 or 5 notches in my key anyways. I'd rather risk losing a little bit of cash anyways, because I don't think it's possible for my to take the scooter anywhere without a tow, which would be way too expensive.

I have attached a picture of the ignition, let me know what you think.

[Fallacy911]

by the way that brass thing at the bottom of the 2nd picture is not a screw. it's some kind of pin and i have no idea what it's used for.

[Fallacy911]

Hey, better news... I picked the gas cap and it has a cylinder in it. Only problem is... It only has 4 out of 5 wafers. But that's not too bad, because I'm assuming the ignition uses all 5. Well, I can just get a key made from the 4, then file down the blank spot very slightly while trying it in my ignition after every file...
Right??

Would most hardware stores be able to find a key that is right for this scooter? (Kymco), im under the impression that the keys are rather rare and might need to buy some blanks...
I donno. What do you guys think?

[jimb]

Well, I can just get a key made from the 4, then file down the blank spot very slightly while trying it in my ignition after every file...
Right??

That is progression, this progression would only have one cut to progress instead of two or more. You just progress one cut at a time until the key works. If you choose to do this make sure you have a angle on your filed cut. If you make it to straight up without enough angle the key will get stuck in the ignition.

I can't answer your question about the hardware store since I don't know the bike or even what part of the world your in.

[jimb]

Jimb - thanks for the help, what do you call it then if its not a rekey? I just need a new key made, without having a copy?

Yes, you just need a key made. I can't tell you for sure but that pin might be a retainer pin which holds the ignition in the housing. If it is you would have to pick the ignition and push the pin in to release the ignition from the housing.