Re-keying or new ignition?

[levdir]

So, I'm an idiot (if my posts up to this point haven't made that clear). I lost my bike keys somewhere this weekend and after checking with all the places I went around the time they went missing I am pretty sure they're gone for good. Has anyone had to redo the keyed parts of their bike and/or get a locksmith to rekey their locks? I had to have a new key made for my BMW a number of years ago but I don't remember what it ended up costing, and there are complete XS400 ignition/tank cap/helmet lock sets on eBay for $60-$100. Alternately, there are loads of cheap generic ignition switches on eBay, but then I'd have to figure something else out for the gas tank. Anyone have any experience with redoing this stuff in any capacity?

 

[drewpy]

numbers are on the top of the barrel something like 4938

there are bike shops who can cut you a new key. I only know UK suppliers so can't help you with your local ones.

 

[xschris]

If you have a local yamaha dealer nearby they can do it.

 

[levdir]

Oh, that's great. Way easier than swapping all the components. Thanks! I'm glad I asked before ordering parts.

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Yeah any good locksmith will be able to cut them from code, as drewpy mentioned the number is on top of the barrel. Just take down the barrel number and the model/year of bike and ring around your local locksmiths in the area and see if they can do it.

 

[levdir]

Great. As a general note, this forum is probably the friendliest and most helpful model-specialist forum I've ever been on. Y'all are great.

 

[levdir]

Are either of these numbers the locksmith code? I realize the blue ones are basically unreadable in the photo but I can read them. This is the underside of the ignition assembly. The lock barrel seemed pretty inaccessible, even after removing the two screws pictured and pulling the ignition circuit components out. The barrel seems to be held in place with pressed-in tabs.

 

[xschris]

No they are not. This is what the one off my 80 looks like. The 4 digits on the face of the key hole is the code you need to get a new one made up and yamaha should be the only ones to do it with a yamaha key.

 

[levdir]

My ignition switch has no such numbers. Not even marks that suggest that there were numbers there at some point.

 

[xschris]

What about the gas tank and seat lock. They would have the same numbers in them.

 

[levdir]

I'll check next time I'm working on it (it's currently living in my friend's garage). I don't recall any on the tank but I haven't looked that closely at the seat lock.

 

[DARKMIDKNIGHTWARRIOR]

Are your keys hanging in the seat lock? Sounds dumb but I did it on my other newer Yamaha. I spent 15 or more min. looking around on the ground and rocks. I then thought about what all I had done before and back tracked to them still hanging in the seat lock.

 

[levdir]

No, I'm certain I lost them in a parking lot; they got tangled up in my car keys once before and I was lucky enough that time that someone found them and returned them. Same thing this time, but no one picked them up. I've only used the helmet lock once and that was to see if it was working when I bought the bike. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[DARKMIDKNIGHTWARRIOR]

Fingers crossed for finding them!

 

[Pork Chop]

Don't sweat it. I replaced my ignition switch with a generic 3 position one. Works just fine for me.

I think they cost about $15 in the USA.

Posted via Mobile

 

[levdir]

Yeah, I might have to go that way if I can't track down the code for my keys. Not sure what I'll do about the gas cap at that point short of taking a screwdriver to it.

 

[levdir]

None of the locks on my bike have a locksmith's code, so I may have to get an aftermarket ignition switch, which is fine. I also found this aftermarket gas cap that lists the XS400 as compatible, but I wanted to check and see if anyone has a spare cap they could measure against. If not I guess I can break into mine and see how it compares.

 

[DARKMIDKNIGHTWARRIOR]

If you don't get any other answers before tomorrow afternoon I will measure mine. It is off the tank currently. Does it matter what model you/ I have?

 

[Kinney]

I had the same problem a couple months ago. I contacted my yamaha dealer and had no luck. I ended up removing the ignition and took it to a lock smith. He made two keys for $25. He made the keys out of a blank Nissan truck key. It stands a bit taller in the ignition, but they work.

 

[levdir]

Hm. Well. I've already pulled the ignition from my bike, if I could get a new key made that cheaply there's no point in buying a bunch of new hardware. DMW, if you don't mind measuring anyway that would be great. I think there might be some minor differences between model years; I found another gas cap on eBay that looked identical but said it specifically not compatible with XS400 Specials. I have an 81 Special, so.