My new local dealer (Ducati Detroit - Birmingham, MI) was hosting an open house last weekend, so I took the time to clean my GT. Wanting to pop the seat off, I inserted my key and it felt like it wasn't going in all the way.
I gave it a bit of a twist counterclockwise and the lock seized-up on me. A little wiggling freed the key, but I wasn't about the try that again. I gave it a shot of WD40 to soak-in. Knowing I was headed to the dealer the next day, I left the seat on.
At the open house, I mentioned to James the Service Mgr. (great guy!) about the sticky lock and he handed me a can of WD40 and a rag. OK, I'll give it another go.
Knowing I already soaked the lock, I just sprayed the key and inserted it. Gave it a twist, and it seized just like before. James had followed me out to the bike to check it out and I asked him if he would get the key out. Not missing a beat, he looks up at me and says "I no longer like you so much."
"Hey, better you than me to break off the key" I quipped. James was able to get the key out (twisted like a Twizzler stick) and bend it back into operational order.
Once I got back home where I had my spare key, I soaked the lock with PB Blast and slowly worked the key back-and-forth in the lock until I was able to pop the seat off. With the lock cable exposed, I was able to lubricate all the moving parts. Using a spring hook (T handle tool with a hook end), I was able to push & pull on the lock's actuator arm to free it's motion.
The lock seems to be working OK now, albeit somewhat stiff. I'll price a replacement and decide then what course of action I'll take.
/M
I gave it a bit of a twist counterclockwise and the lock seized-up on me. A little wiggling freed the key, but I wasn't about the try that again. I gave it a shot of WD40 to soak-in. Knowing I was headed to the dealer the next day, I left the seat on.
At the open house, I mentioned to James the Service Mgr. (great guy!) about the sticky lock and he handed me a can of WD40 and a rag. OK, I'll give it another go.
Knowing I already soaked the lock, I just sprayed the key and inserted it. Gave it a twist, and it seized just like before. James had followed me out to the bike to check it out and I asked him if he would get the key out. Not missing a beat, he looks up at me and says "I no longer like you so much."
"Hey, better you than me to break off the key" I quipped. James was able to get the key out (twisted like a Twizzler stick) and bend it back into operational order.
Once I got back home where I had my spare key, I soaked the lock with PB Blast and slowly worked the key back-and-forth in the lock until I was able to pop the seat off. With the lock cable exposed, I was able to lubricate all the moving parts. Using a spring hook (T handle tool with a hook end), I was able to push & pull on the lock's actuator arm to free it's motion.
The lock seems to be working OK now, albeit somewhat stiff. I'll price a replacement and decide then what course of action I'll take.
/M
