Custom Vehicle Discussions > Screamin' Eagle® Electra Glide®

Ignition switch/module trouble???

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MGB:
Twolanerider, huh? Maybe I'll bug him. I keep this up and I'll alienate everyone on this site. lol

Twolanerider:

--- Quote from: MGB on May 20, 2017, 11:11:45 PM ---Twolanerider, huh? Maybe I'll bug him. I keep this up and I'll alienate everyone on this site. lol

--- End quote ---


Huh?  What'd I do?  I haven't been bugged all day so go for it!

MGB:
Hey Man, (Twolanerider) SOMEONE, (ain't mentioning no names) said that you might have some insight on the insides of an ignition switch housing. A picture of it is on page 8-51 of the manual that Cori so kindly sent me. I tore mine apart on my '04 CVO e glide and it don't seem to want to go back together right. It's the black plastic unit that the chrome key thingy is attached to and is located underneath it. And, of course, it ain't a serviceable part. And does not show up in the manual. And , like I told them, it ain't my fault, they put screws on it.

Twolanerider:
Ok, just read back and saw what was going on.  Jerry threw me under the bus's ignition switch.

Yes, I have had Harley ignition switches apart.  One from a Road King for no other reason than "just because" and one from an FXD that was a little flaky but still functioning.  It was being replaced though so, again, why not.

Touring style off my 2000 Road Glide I've been in to also; but there wasn't a lot to go by for reassembly.  It had failed in a way that the key/tumbler turned inside the switch.  First time it happened I was nearly stranded 100 miles from home as I couldn't unlock the switch or start the bike.  Key just spun.  Fiddled with it for 20 minutes before something finally grabbed hold inside again and I was lucky enough to get the bike running.

Later that night I started seeing what damage I had to do to replace it since it would not come apart normally.  Granted the failure was in the keylock part on top rather than the actual ignition switch down below.  But I had to make everything off and cover things with moving blankets as well as I ended up taking a cutoff wheel to the switch to remove it.  Once that was done both upper and lower pieces were ruined so there was no reason not to finish looking inside to see what was there.

I'm assuming you've actually opened up the key/lock assembly up on top rather than the actual ignition switch itself that the lock goes down over?  As described mine was very butchered in its removal.  I saw enough though to know it's a tedious part.  Lots of alignment and a few small bits.

Let me suggest this for whatever that suggestion might be worth.  Don't fix it.  Mine had been acting a little stiff and mildly arbitrary before it failed.  That mechanical failure inside the switch is rare.  It's a bitch when it happens though.  The repair is not non-destructive and you may not get the bike running if it fails away from home.  So be safe, don't fix it.  Just replace the damned thing.

You can order a new and have it supplied using your existing key code.  So no hassles with a key that doesn't match.  If it was already flaky and you've now got it apart when it was never intended to be don't mess with it.

Twolanerider:
Ok, just re-read your last post and see it wasn't the key part you've got apart.  If I'm reading correctly it's the actual ignition switch / fork lock you've disassembled. 

Yeah, I've had one of those apart (separately from the destructive disassembly described above) too.  People should not sell us tools if they don't want us to use them  8) .

The mechanicals here are simpler than the chrome "key part."  I had it apart and reassembled and it worked again.  Though I'd have no clue how to describe the process without the bits here in front of me.  It was a relatively straightforward assembly.  Nothing tricky or hidden.  I remember using a small precision screwdriver to help lining up and assembling pieces as it went back together and doing the work under a bench mounted magnifying lens and light.  I did take pics and make a couple sketches as I disassembled but that's been a long time ago.  So no chance the illustrations are still around.

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