ignition system

[piggy40]

after the sad passing of my brother in law ive taken on the restoration of his cb750 (see piggys project for pic) but up to now we have been unable to find any keys for it, i presume if i contacted honda uk with reg and frame number they could  furnish me with a new set but as it has been in a garage for 20+ years i dont know what state the ignition system is in and wondered if it would be better just to get a new ignition system, any thoughts or idea of costs would be appreciated.

[UK Pete]

You can usually retrive the key code on the back of the lock, but then you have to find someone who that code means anything to
dave silver sells the blanks, i think about six pounds,   also try ebay, i have managed to get spare keys for my k1 and k0 all pre cut just entered my key number and the word honda on ebay search, oh yes you asked my advise about  comstar wheel cleaning as well
I have cleaned up two pairs one i kept original and used a non abrasive cream kitchen cleaner and tooth brush on, they turned out real good, however if the clear anodising on the rim has broken down and normal cleaning does not work then with lots of hard work you can sand and polish them back to aluminium and use autosolve, however that is a very long hard proccess, i know as i have done my other pair
just for your info the rims are clear anodised aluminium , and the spokes are steel  coated with aluminium paint which seems to be chemically etched to the steel somehow, if you are showing rust spots they often will just polish out, mine did with cream upvc cleaner, i then wiped them with acf50 to seal out the moisture
Pete
good luck pete

[tom400f]

Hi Piggy

When I got my 400F it came w/o keys. This was a while ago but there was a firm that cut them from blanks if you provided the number taken from the ignition lock. Whether they are still around I don't know but I'm pretty sure I have the invoice so I'll dig it out tonight.

Tom

[ST1100]

Interestingly I'd to find out that the keys of both my 500/4's, one a '72 the other a '76 are identical (BTW the same on steering- and seat lock...)?!

Given that new locks, avail with round and square connectors, with new undamaged contacts and barrels come for like $ 14~15,- US I am not sure if the hunt and costs for getting matching keys and machine them to the old, probably worn out locks is really the ideal option.
http://www.cb750supply.com/products/5/electrical/36/ignition-systems-coils-plugs-switches

Despite that an replacement key might (or not) have the logo embossed, would it keep more historical value with a 'made key' and the old lock in place?

[tom400f]

Well whaddya know.... Express Keys are still trading...
According to my invoice they mave moved.... from No 23 to No 29!!
http://www.express-keys.co.uk/index.html

If you look down their list of services they mention "Classic car and motorcycle keys". This is the place I got mine cut according to the number on the barrel. My keys are not like the original Honda ones with the black plastic - they are flat metal throughout so they don't look right. But this was in 1998 so may be they have better blanks now - call them up.

[Lobo]

I used Express Keys only last year for the '73 K2. They assured me the keys were Honda shape - but they were not. Disappointing.... which got worse when they would not work the steering head lock because the key 'shaft' was too short to allow that lock to push up into the locked position. Ended up a bit of a palaver with my cutting the shaft of the key out & thence soldering into head of the correct shape 750 keys I had surplus from somewhere.
By feel the keys are OEM, by sight not! They are obviously the working pair to allow the only original to be safely stored away.
Bottom line, perhaps check more rigorously about the shape, or beware you might have issues with the steering lock if akin to the early 750 type.

[tom400f]

Hi Lobo

Well you have to speak as you find so fair dos. I got mine a long time back and then there were no blanks with the black handle, so these are mine. Not too pretty but there it is. May be they would cut DSS blanks if you sent them.

While I'm here must apologise to hairygit for not initially crediting his recommendation for drilling out my steering lock. That is spot on (but 10mm is too big!)

[piggy40]

thanks very much for all your help,if the snow clears i,m going over to the garage to remove ignition monday to get numbers.

[K2-K6]

If you can get a correct blank genuine Honda shape, then a local key cutter will have no problems if you have one to copy.

I replicated one (i had one original) for a 1984 Honda by getting the blank from local honda dealer, then cost me £2 to get it cut elsewhere as he didn't have any means of cutting the profile.

[sweetpeauk]

Reproduction Decal in Canada has original keys,
http://www.reproductiondecals.com/moreinfo_hon_keys.html

[piggy40]

thanks again for all your help used express keys good fast service keys worked perfectly