tough to turn gas cap?!?!?!

[backwoods_buellxb9r]

i feel like I'm about to break my key when i try to unlock the gas cap on my 2003 xb9r...anyone else have this problem

 

[snrusnak]

I've never had this happen until recently, mine has been the same way. Not sure why.

 

[Josh662234]

my buddy snapped his key in his gas cap. 03 XB9S

I always apply some downward pressure on the cap before turning the key

 

[somecallmery]

My bike had the ignition replaced prior to me owning it so the gas cap was keyed different. I wound up taking the cap apart and and "re-keying" it (I just stuck the key I wanted in it and ground the pins down so they would turn in the barrel) and it was real tough to turn at first so I took it apart again and ground a little more off each pin and generously sprayed it with silicon then a little graphite and it has worked fine for the last year.

Basically just take it off the bike and clean it/apply some graphite.

 

[Alien]

Mine is a bit tight as well.

 

[squidbuellie]

Liquid wrench your lock set. Don't use graphite. Check the bottom of the gas cap to see if the plastic is burred up.

If you have all ready twisted your key. You should replace your key now.

I had mine break at 2:30 in the morning while in the city, and that sh-t sucked

 

[anrkizm95]

Liquid wrench your lock set. Don't use graphite

[up]

 

[somecallmery]

Why no graphite? Cause the mess or does it cause harm?

 

[anrkizm95]

Why no graphite? Cause the mess or does it cause harm?

my reason for not liking it. its messy,gums up the cylinder if its dirty,most people use to much and make it worse,they use graphite and penetrating oil and make it worse.

 

[backwoods_buellxb9r]

i must get a new key and get to cleaning now [up]

 

[user_deleted]

backwoods: 3 things will help you here. one is to put some downward pressure on the cap itself when locking and unlocking with key. second is to spray a bit of Kroil or similar lubricant/dispersant into the lock tumbler part of the cap itself with small tube that comes with these spray containers. and three is to also spray the underside of the cap and gasket area with the same thing. i do it perhaps 2X a riding season and amazing how it eases the strain on the key.

 

[backwoods_buellxb9r]

lunaticfringe thanks i would really hate to break my key on the road ill do this asap and post a before and after vid for anyone else having this problem or anyone who develops this problem over time

 

[vaxb12r]

How cold is it there? I have had either my ignition or gas cap getting condensation in it and freezing nearly every day for the last month. I have even started putting my keys near the heater in the morning to warm it up to help melt the condensation faster. When its above freezing I don't have any problems at all.

 

[backwoods_buellxb9r]

I'm in Tennessee man its 45 here now but even in the summer when it was 100+ it was still tough. So that probably means it really needs to be cleaned.

 

[user_deleted]

my pleasure sir.

 

[MustangGuy]

I'm going to try a lubricant and mine this weekend. I have the same issue.