Club 80-90 Forums

Heres a new one. Earlier this year I removed steering cowling as it needed a repair. Still sat on my workbench. Not a problem until yesterday when I pulled away from a mates and noted wisps of smoke from ignition barrel. Thinking quickly I pulled out key (which burnt my fingers it was that bloomin' hot) and pulled into the kerb. No damage done except ofcourse when you pull out key like that, steering is in locked position - real fun when you're trying to pull in.

Can only assume one key from bunch caught a contact beneath steeering wheel causing a momentary dead short. Worth remembering this though - in case you ever remove cowling!

Probably 100 to 1 chance of that happening but it did yesterday.

Another "near disaster" key related tale. Honda 500 and 750 motorbikes made in the 70's and 80's had the ignition key on the frame, under the front of the fuel tank. If one had several keys and a fob, they would rattle around in the breeze. After a while the contacts would get worn out. This can cause all the electrics to suddenly die, including the lights of course. This happened to me, at ~60mph, leaning into a bend, on a B road in a forest in Scotland, IN THE DARK.

I didn't crash, but it wasn't fun. Whenever I see a similar bike (at classic shows etc) I tell the owner this tale.

If you're familiar with old Triumph Herald type column switches, the light switch has three positions - for sidelights, then main beam then dip. This was the setup in my kitcar. One night I was overtaking another car on a narrow winding country road. As I got past I switched from dip to main but in the excitement went too far and switched onto sides only. Had two wheels on the verge before I remedied things.

I have accidently switched off the ignition on my van when braking and my knee pushed up a key hanging from the keyring, turning the ignition key. Fortunately on a straight stretch of road.