Motorcycle wafer locks

[bigbike]

I am new to locksmithing-(just started taking the F-B course) but have been a motorcycle mechanic for close to 30 years now. Most motorcycle locks are a cylinder wafer style lock. Question 1) does anybody know a sourse for these wafers and springs 2)are wafers interchangeable (like can I use ones made for foreign autos on bike locks 3)how difficult is it to rekey a wafer lock to an existing key?

Thanks for the responses to this very new novice.

[Romstar]

Since I don't do a lot of motocycles, I can't give you a lot of advice. However I get the majority of my automotive stuff from ASP and BWD through a distributor called IDN.

There are a few other companies as well, and once you start looking you will find several of them. Just start looking on Google, and talking to your parts suppliers.

Romstar

[Peaky]

Its very easy to key a wafer lock to a key, you fit each wafer in one at a time checking that the key turns each time, when you have got all the wafers in and the key is inserted the top of the wafers will be level with each other, slide the barrel back into the lock and there you go, you might find that locks on differant bikes are all from the same manufactuer or have been made to the same dimensions, you will only find this out by experiance, you will find if you are doing a lot of work with them you will end up with quite a collection of wafers, buy old locks from car breakers and see if any of the wafers are the same,

[bigbike]

[quote="Romstar"]Since I don't do a lot of motocycles, I can't give you a lot of advice. However I get the majority of my automotive stuff from ASP and BWD through a distributor called IDN.

I have tried doing a websearch for ASP (I am assuming that is Automotive Security Products) and came up empty. I guess they do not have a website.

There are a few other companies as well, and once you start looking you will find several of them. Just start looking on Google, and talking to your parts suppliers.

Since I am quite new (like just started a few weeks ago studying locksmithing) I do not have parts suppliers yet and am finding out thru web searches that a lot of these places want a "state licensing number" in order to gain access to their site. But I will keep looking and I do thank you for the heads up.

[bigbike]

Its very easy to key a wafer lock to a key, you fit each wafer in one at a time checking that the key turns each time, when you have got all the wafers in and the key is inserted the top of the wafers will be level with each other, slide the barrel back into the lock and there you go, you might find that locks on differant bikes are all from the same manufactuer or have been made to the same dimensions, you will only find this out by experiance, you will find if you are doing a lot of work with them you will end up with quite a collection of wafers, buy old locks from car breakers and see if any of the wafers are the same,

Thanks I kinda suspected it was easy along those lines but when you are use to working with connecting rods and pistons instead of really tiny parts . .. . it can be a bit confusing.

[Romstar]

This is the link for ASP

http://www.carlocks.com/catalog.htm

Romstar

[randmguy]

Bigbike...Most distributors will sell to you if you give them your F-B student number. If they give you grief about that then you may have to call them and explain that you are a mechanic. I've put more than one auto mechanic in touch with HL Flake and McDonald Dash for ignition parts. They'll both sell to shops and individuals.

[bigbike]

Thank you to all who responded. This site is the best. I have spent literally hours trying to find wafer kits all to no avail. You guys (and gals?) are great!

[SFGOON]

I have to ask, wouldn't it be easier to generate a new key than replace the wafers, even if you had to decode the (easily decoded) wafer lock?

[Peaky]

Not if the keys have been lost or stolen then you need to change the wafers if you dont want to buy the full lock kit which with ignition can add up to quite a lot of money.

[bigbike]

I have to ask, wouldn't it be easier to generate a new key than replace the wafers, even if you had to decode the (easily decoded) wafer lock?

A lot of used bikes come thru these doors. A lot of people buy bikes that have been sitting in someones garage, under a tarp for years. Frequently the keys are long ago lost. The major problem is that for current model bikes, yes you can order from the dealership a whole new lock set, but what to do when the model is no longer made and has been dropped by the manufactor (as happens after 8 years in most cases)? The choice is then to either a)buy a used lock set with keys-not easy to find, most salvage yards do not keep keys with bikes so they lose the keys too. or b)remove the locks and have keys made. The problem is that a lot of locksmiths and hardware stores do not stock the blanks for anything other than Honda. Granted there is not a lot of demand for keys, probably less than 1 in 1000 service calls would be for a motorcycle key, but still it is a necc. thing to those of us who service bikes.