Can you rekey a standard lock cylinder?

[Bertie]

Hi guys

I just bought a new pillion cover from eBay that has obviously come off a race bike. Its completely new and includes everything including the lock barrel. I have rekeyed a few BMW locks for panniers etc. and its simply a matter of moving and swapping the leaves until they don't stick out when the key is in.

Thing is the lock leaves will not come out of the barrel. Its not clear why and I am getting the idea that they aren't meant to come out, unlike a barrel you buy from the dealer for a pannier.

Any tips welcome

Cheers

Phil

 

[alex]

Some locks are not re-codeable.
The re-codeable, spare locks from BMW are ~?17 the mounting kit for the lock is ~?50

 

[Bertie]

Thanks Alex, that confirms I am not going mad then. I will get a new cylinder if its that cheap. The mounting is there already as its a genuine BMW pillion cover. My bike is a "red" one that I have swapped tank sides to white so I am looking forwards to seeing what a white tail looks like on it. Here is what it looks like currently.

I have an Arrow can on order from Italy (2017 cans not available in the UK yet) and yes those fender reflectors are coming off!

 

[alex]

You're welcome.

If I'm honest, I think it needs a black tank to off set the white, to be perfect for me, but removing the red is a winner. BMW totally missed a trick in not allowing people to specify the tank piece colours, it's not like they don't make them in all those colours as it is.

 

[soofsayer]

Looks good bertie. Alex has a thing about black tanks, said the same to me when i changed my bike colours (he was right lol). Im sure theres a euphemism there somewhere lol.

 

[alex]

Once you go black you never go back!!

Ask the other owners


- Sent from a magical lightbox

 

[JimmyMac]

Bertie, that lock barrel is re-codable.
The newer ones have the face plate crimped on as can be seen in your photo. Simply prise off the plate by using a small flat screwdriver and underneath you will see the head of a pin which is like a small Brad nail. Tap the barrel on a flat surface like a bench or wooden table and it will slide out a little. Simply pull it out and then the leaves are easily removed and re inserted in the correct order.
Reinsert the pin.
Then just crimp the face plate back on and give it a little squeeze on the edges with a pair of mole grips or tap the edges to get the original crimped parts to take a bite again. Jobs a good one.

The only thing to watch is under the faceplate there is a little spring that keeps the letter box flap closed to stop muck getting in to the lock. Do not lose it when you are carrying out the re-code.

Not as straightforward as the old locks but still quite simple to do.

JimmyMac

 

[JimmyMac]

Some locks are not re-codeable.
The re-codeable, spare locks from BMW are ~?17 the mounting kit for the lock is ~?50

All the BMW locks can be re-coded Alex, there are just two types requiring two different methods.

JimmyMac

 

[alex]

Ok, i just don?t like the sound of prising it off


- Sent from a magical lightbox

 

[JimmyMac]

Ok, i just don’t like the sound of prising it off

- Sent from a magical lightbox

Like nails on a blackboard? Lol, just wear ear defenders.

The covers are a little loose, I did Beavis's cause he had the new ones too, only took about 5 minutes start to finish.

JimmyMac

 

[Flyingscotsman]

Bertie, that lock barrel is re-codable.
The newer ones have the face plate crimped on as can be seen in your photo. Simply prise off the plate by using a small flat screwdriver and underneath you will see the head of a pin which is like a small Brad nail. Tap the barrel on a flat surface like a bench or wooden table and it will slide out a little. Simply pull it out and then the leaves are easily removed and re inserted in the correct order.
Reinsert the pin.
Then just crimp the face plate back on and give it a little squeeze on the edges with a pair of mole grips or tap the edges to get the original crimped parts to take a bite again. Jobs a good one.

The only thing to watch is under the faceplate there is a little spring that keeps the letter box flap closed to stop muck getting in to the lock. Do not lose it when you are carrying out the re-code.

Not as straightforward as the old locks but still quite simple to do.

JimmyMac

+1

I have recoded one of the newer locks in the way Jimmy suggests. Quite easy, you just need to re-crimp the metal cap where you see the indent in your photo. I did that with a mole grip.

 

[JimmyMac]

Bertie, when you have finished with the colour change and mods send a picture of it to your insurance company and make sure you tell them it is purely cosmetic and not anything to do with performance or braking system.

They will most likely not charge for any additional info to be added but in the event of a claim they will most definitely try to refuse to pay out if you haven't told them. A joiner that works for me was last year refused insurance as the van he bought was white on DVLA records but had been painted black by the dealer before he bought it, they point blank refused to cover him despite the fact he had a clean licence loads of no claims and had been with them for years.

I always email my insurance company with any colour change and mods and always receive a positive response from them, the only stipulation they make is in the event of a claim they would put panels back on the bike that are original BMW colours.

Bike looks great by the way.

JimmyMac

 

[Bertie]

Ta guys, I did it a slightly less subtle way in the end as I read JimmyMac's answer just after I had finished. Basically I inserted the key and ground off the excess leaf showing out of the barrel - it was a close-ish fit to start, and then checked there is lots of leaf showing with the key out. I have other BMW keys and none work other than the correct one so I am sorted for now.

I will put up a picture of it on the bike in a minute.

By the way which bit of tank do you recommend as black Alex? The actual tank, the airbag cover or both?

 

[alex]

I meant the actual tank under the white plastics. But it's a big change. I was giving my idea of perfect but please don't think I don't like what you've got!

 

[Bertie]

Hi Alex, no worries at all. Playing around with your bike is one of the joys of owning one and its always interesting to get others ideas re colours, mods etc.

I was actually after a black seat hump but the one I bought was complete, OG and new for good money so I thought I would try it white and if it looks gash then get it painted. I rather like the white tank/airbox right now and its only cost me about ?80 to do it so all good.

I meant the actual tank under the white plastics. But it's a big change. I was giving my idea of perfect but please don't think I don't like what you've got!

 

[soofsayer]

FWIW when I was looking to change the tank to black on my bike I used a can of spray on plastidip to ?try before you buy? to see if I liked it. You could always take the same approach with any fairings to experiment if you are unsure in the future. It peels off .

 

[Bertie]

The seat hump fits fine though I think I will get it painted black. Here it is fitted.

 

[alex]

Got photoshop? Colour it in and see it you prefer it before changing it.

 

[Bertie]

Thanks Jay, black is better I think

 

[Beavis]

Like nails on a blackboard? Lol, just wear ear defenders.

The covers are a little loose, I did Beavis's cause he had the new ones too, only took about 5 minutes start to finish.

JimmyMac

You did mate , remember you losing the wee spring as well !