Key won't turn in the ignition?

[Guest]

My bike had been left in the rain for 2 weeks. On Saturday I took it for a ride, the key took a little wobble before it would turn, on Sunday it took about 10 minutes wobbling before it would turn and today I stood there for half an hour to no avail. I thought maybe it was because of the rain so I attempted to clean out the barrel.. I tried WD40 which didn't work and then brake cleaner which also didn't help. Anything else I can try or does it need replacing?

[Matt Strange]

Try scraping a pencil against your key so the graphite sticks all over it, then try it again in the ignition. It's a brilliant lubricant for locks and doesn't attract dirt like WD-40

[dannybee]

Old engine oil cured mine but it did seep all the way through and take a bit of cleaning of the front end.

[Guest]

A squirt of WD40 down the ignition.. as well as the other locks is part of my maintenance schedule. both bikes live outside. can't say I've ever had a problem with dirt as the WD40 will flush it out. reason i do this is to prevent the problem the OP has had.. though in my case that problem tends to happen in mid winter when its freezing. The WD40 as well as cleaning the ignition displaces any water thats happened to find its way inside so theres nothing to freeze solid.

[fq-craigus]

What bike is it? Yamaha by any chance? I know some develop a knack the older they get.

[Guest]

Haha ok I will try a pencil tomorrow. It's a kawasaki, second hand but I only bought it two weeks ago so it's a bit of a bummer if I can't fix it myself. The key will turn to lock, just not 'on'.

[littlecat]

the Kawasaki knack is similar to the Yamaha one...push the key in, jiggle it out a bit , then turn

[dannybee]

On my Suzuki push key right in then turn to right and slowly start to pull key back out. I'm so used to it now it works every time but if anyone has to move my back they struggle like hell

[fq-craigus]

On my old bike it was push down to release steering lock and then rock key forwards and turn else you will snap the key

[Bonniebird]

Have to pull the key out a fraction on the Speed Four too so it sounds like it isn't manufacturer specific. As it happened after rain though its more likely to be water related. May take a little time for the WD40 to penetrate

[eastanglianbiker]

or get a can of switch contact cleaner and spray it up into the under side of the ign

[Guest]

Success!! Tried again tonight and the key turns! Obviously trying after a few hours last night wasn't long enough, it needed a whole day thanks everyone, I'm so relieved