# Broken Motorcycle Key in the Ignition: What to Do Source: https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/broken-motorcycle-key-in-ignition/ Business: The Motorcycle Locksmith, mobile motorcycle locksmith. Phone and text: (619) 775-1858 (San Diego side). > If your key snaps in the motorcycle ignition, stop, keep both pieces, and do not try to turn the cylinder with the stub or dig the fragment out with a knife or screwdriver. Never use superglue to pull it out. A locksmith removes the fragment with purpose-made extraction tools, checks the cylinder, and cuts a new key, often from the broken pieces or the key code. ## What to do right away The first few minutes decide whether this stays a simple extraction or turns into an ignition replacement. Slow down, leave the ignition alone, and get organized before you call. A snapped key is rarely an emergency in itself, and these steps keep the cylinder in the best shape for a quick fix. - Stop turning and note the position the ignition is in: off, on or lock - Keep both pieces, including the head with any chip inside - If it broke with the ignition on, the lights and electrics may stay powered, so mention it when you call - If the steering is not locked and it is safe, push the bike out of traffic - Find your spare, any key code tag, your photo ID and your registration ## What not to do, and why not glue Superglue on a stick or the broken half sounds clever, but glue runs down the keyway and bonds the wafers to each other and to the cylinder. A job that was a quick extraction becomes an ignition replacement. Do not push the fragment deeper by jamming the other half in, do not try to turn the cylinder with a screwdriver, and do not spray lubricant into it in quantity. Avoid prying at the face of the ignition too, since a damaged face or dust cover can mean a new switch. If a good length of blade is sticking out and the ignition is in the position where the key normally comes out, a gentle straight pull with your fingers is reasonable. Anything flush or recessed, or anything that does not slide out easily, is a job for proper extraction tools. ## What does extraction involve? A locksmith uses purpose-made extraction tools to draw the fragment out without disturbing the parts inside the lock. In many cases the ignition stays on the bike. If the fragment is jammed or the cylinder was damaged by earlier attempts, the ignition may need to come out for the repair. Once the keyway is clear, the cylinder is checked with a key to make sure the wafers move freely and the switch works in every position. **Rather have us handle it?** Call or text with your year, make, model and location. Call or text (619) 775-1858. ## Getting a new key made A plain metal key can often be cut by reading the cuts on the two broken pieces, or cut fresh from the key code, which avoids copying any wear. Do not tape the halves together and copy them at a kiosk, because the result is rarely accurate. If your key has a chip, keep the head even if it looks useless, since the chip inside can still matter for programming on some systems. Expect to show ID and registration for any key that is originated rather than copied. ## Why keys break, and how to avoid a repeat Motorcycle keys work hard. A heavy keychain swings and bends the blade with every bump, keys get used as pry tools on seats and gas caps, and a stiff ignition makes riders twist harder than a key is built for. Older keys develop cracks near the head. Keep the ignition key on a light ring, replace any cracked key now, and deal with a sticky ignition before it claims the new key too. Our worn and bent key guide covers the warning signs. Keys with a chip in a molded head have one more weak point: the head can crack or the chip can work loose after years of use. If the head of your key is split or rattles, get a spare made from it while it still works. ## Quick questions ### Can I ride with part of the key stuck in the ignition? It is a bad idea. You may not be able to switch off or lock the bike normally, and vibration can wedge the fragment deeper, which makes extraction harder. ### Did the ignition cause my key to break? Sometimes. A cylinder with worn or sticky wafers makes you twist harder, which fatigues the key. If the new key also feels stiff, have the ignition serviced or replaced instead of waiting for the next break. ### Can a broken key be removed from a gas cap or seat lock too? Yes, the process is similar for gas cap, seat, steering and saddlebag locks. With a gas cap, avoid prying, and keep metal fragments well away from the fuel filler. ## Services that can help - [Broken Motorcycle Key Extraction](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/broken-key-extraction/): Snapped key removed and a new one cut from the pieces. - [Motorcycle Ignition Repair and Replacement](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-ignition-repair/): Sticking, worn or damaged ignitions repaired or replaced. - [Motorcycle Key Replacement](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/services/motorcycle-key-replacement/): New keys cut by code or from the lock, for all major makes. ## Keep reading - [Worn or Bent Motorcycle Key: Signs, Risks and the Right Fix](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/worn-or-bent-motorcycle-key/): A worn motorcycle key shows up as a key that needs wiggling, works in one lock but not another, or works worse than the spare. - [Motorcycle Key Won't Turn in the Ignition? Causes and Fixes](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/motorcycle-key-wont-turn-ignition/): When a motorcycle key will not turn, the usual causes are a steering lock under tension, a worn or bent key, worn wafers inside the ignition, dirt or corrosion in the cylinder, or simply the wrong key. - [Motorcycle Key Stuck in the Ignition: Causes and What to Do](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/motorcycle-key-stuck-in-ignition/): A motorcycle key that will not come out is most often sitting in a position where the switch is designed to hold it, usually ON or partway between two positions. - [How to Find Your Motorcycle Key Code](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/how-to-find-motorcycle-key-code/): A motorcycle key code is a short number or letter-number code that tells a locksmith or dealer how to cut a key for your locks. - [When to Get a Spare Motorcycle Key, and Why Now](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/guides/when-to-get-a-spare-motorcycle-key/): Get a spare motorcycle key as soon as you are down to one working key. ## Where we work [San Diego County](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/), [San Diego](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/san-diego/), [Chula Vista](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/chula-vista/), [Oceanside](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/oceanside/), [Escondido](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/escondido/), [Carlsbad](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/carlsbad/), [El Cajon](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/san-diego-county/el-cajon/), [All service areas](https://themotorcyclelocksmith.com/san-diego/service-areas/)