Handlebar lock?

Ok here's my question on My 85 XJ 700 Maxim X the only time I can lock the front wheel is when the key is in the park position. It seems to be off by about 1/8 of an inch when in the lock position. Any ideas on what to do to resolve this problem? It would make me more comfortable to lock the wheel when I leave it parked somewhere.

 

did you or a PO swap the ignition switch?

 

I haven't and if the PO did they also changed everything else you use the key for. (1 key for everything still) the pin is just short i guess or worn down? is there any adjustment for it? Let me make sure I'm right here key in off position turn to right is run, turn to left 1st notch lock 2nd notch is park right.

 

someone might have tried to force it when it was locked & bent the pin slightly.

 

You are correct on the switch positions, be careful of "Park" it leaves your tail light on.

Wiz is probably onto something; maybe the bike had a "moment" of some sort and either the pin got bent or the relationship of the parts got "stretched." Take a close look and see if anything is bent.

 

Ok I spent a little time looking it over again and nothing looks bent. It actually looks like it's never been used or at least never forced. Can anyone give me a measurement between the lock bracket and the bottom of the pin bracket? And if possible the length of the pin sticking out when in the lock position? That would be my next place to look and check for problems.

 

Maybe th mechanism is gunked up with something and needs a clean.

 

Ok, Some one's gotta post photos of the handlebar lock mechanism.
I've had four or five of them completely apart and never noticed anything that would lock the handlebars associated with the ignition switch.

Was this an un-popular "accessory" I've never seen or a different bike?

 

What you talking about, boss, it's called the 'main switch / steering lock' when you turn the key c-clockwise a bar comes out & locks against a tab on the frame.

 

?? Well it comes out far enough to lock the steering when in park position but moves back in when you turn the key back to the lock position enough that it no longer locks the steering. So it seems to be moving freely

 

Holy garbonzo beans!...it is there.
I've had ignition switchs apart a couple times to repair mounting threads and lube the tumblers but since the labels are all worn off I never noticed the "lock" position before.

I wonder if that's how the mounting post on one of mine got broke in the first place.

Ok, I can go back to bed...I learned something today.

 

Something's amiss in the lock mechanism.

I just went and looked at all 3 of my bikes; the pin comes fully out when moved to the "lock" position, and there is no difference in its position between "lock" and "park."

Sounds like something is mis-positioned inside the lock assembly; I've never had one that far apart either, sorry.

I guess there's one way to find out...

 

you can contact a professional locksmith for that

 

I had the lock mechanism all the way apart a while back because of the same problem before I stripped it apart.
I thought I had a pic somewhere but alas I can't find it but from memory it has a pin slotted into a plastic slide which is pushed by a cam at the base of the lock and im pretty sure the cam can be mis-aligned and sit in the wrong part of the plastic slide causing the pin/plastic slide to not slide out far enough.
The lock was very simple to take apart and nothing really jumped out when I unscrewed it all but I did clean it right out and put some fine grease in to keep the mechanism moving smoothly.