Motorcycle steering stem

Hi Aldene, Your vehicle seems too young to have a problem with a worn key so I suggest that the problem was related to the position of the steering wheel and the tongue of the locking mechanism. Sometimes when the lock engages it is under the load of the weight of the front wheels, if they are not in the straight ahead position. A small movement of the steering wheel is usually enough to release the steering lock. Regards John

Ok, this is what the service manual says.

1. Loosen upper triple clamp pinch bolts. Remove upper triple clamp and handlebars.
2. Loosen fork stem bolt. Let fork stem drop approx. 5 inches. (127mm)

On the left side of the steering stem there is a "half-moon" indentation that has been machined into the steering stem for the lock. Let steering stem drop until this indentation is in full view.

3. Use a scribe and remove lead plug.
4. Unscrew set screw
5. Insert key in lock and turn partially
6. Wiggle lock and pull until enough of the lock comes out to get a grip with pliers or other suitable tool.
7. Rotate steering stem slightly, while pulling on lock until lock is removed.

Good Luck
Steve

You need to tighten/adjust your frame neck bearings. There are an upper and lower bearing in the frame that the lower triple clamp pivots on so you can steer the motorcycle. If they are not adjusted correctly and are basically set too loose you can have several problems from steering wobble on deceleration to vibrations at varying speeds. Take off your bars and upper clamp , then snug up the steering stem nut just enough that it is starting to bind, then back it off enough that the bar turns smoothly lock to lock (probably1/4 to 1/2 turn). Then tighten the stem nut and recheck for binding. If you can feel pulsing or bumps in the smoothness of the pivoting/turning of the handlebar , you will need to replace the bearings. Tightening the steering stem nut may be all you need to do to stop the vibration.

I don't have the instructions for the Softail but I do for the Dyna series bikes. I'm pretty sure it'll be the same.

Loosen the upper triple tree clamp pinch bolts and remove the upper triple tree and handlebars.

Raise the front end off the ground and loosen the fork stem bolt and allow the front fork assembly to drop down approximately 5 inches.

On the left side of the steering stem thare is a "half-moon" indentation that has been machined into to steering stem for the lock. Let the steering stem drop until this indentation is in full view.

Now, there is a set screw that holds the lock into the frame steering head. The set screw screws upward into a recess in the lock mechanism. The set screw is covered by a lead plug so that it is not easily seen or gotten to. The book says to use a scribe to remove the lead plug.

Unscrew set screw.

Insert a key into the lock and turn slightly

Wiggle and pull the lock assembly until you get it worked out far enough to get hold of the lock with a pair of pliers or something.

Rotate the steering stem slightly until the lock comes out.


Good Luck
Steve

Right out of the book but earlier model. It should be the same.

Removal of the fork lock:

1. Loosen upper triple clamp pinch bolts, Remove upper triple clamp and handlebars.

2. Loosen fork stem bolt, Let fork stem drop down approx. 5 in.

On the left side of the steering stem there is a "half-moon" indentation that has been machined into the steering stem for the lock. Let the steering stem drop until this indentation is in full view.

3. Look on the underside of the lock on the right side of the frame and there is a lead plug driven into a hole. In this hole is a set screw that holds the lock into the frame. The book says to use a scribe to get the plug out with.

4. Unscrew the set screw.

5. Insert the key in the lock and turn partially.

6. Wiggle lock and pull until enough of the lock comes out to get a grip with pliers or other suitable tool.

7. Rotate steering stem slightly, while pulling on the lock until the lock is removed.

You have to loosen the upper triple clamp pinch bolts and remove the upper triple tree and handlebars. Loosen the fork stem bolt and let the fork stem drop down approx. 5 inches. Then your lock will come out.

Note: On the left side of the steering stem there is a "half-moon" indentation that has been machined into the steering stem for the lock. Let the steering stem drop until this indentation is in full view.

Right out of the book.

Good Luck
Steve

Ok, this is how you replace the lock on the front end.

1.Loosen upper triple tree clamp pinch bolts. Remove upper triple clamp and handlebars.

2.Loosen fork stem bolt and let fork stem drop down approx. 5 inches.

Note: On the left side of the steering stem there is a "half moon" indentation that has been machined into the steering stem for the lock. Let steering stem drop until this indentation is in full view.

3. Use a scribe and remove lead plug. (there is a flat looking place below the key lock. The lead plug is underneath this and it hides a set screw. Dig the lead plug out to get to the set screw)

4.Unscrew the set screw

5.Insert key in lock and turn partially.

6.Wiggle lock and pull until enough of the lock comes out to get a grip with pliers or other suitable tool.

7.Rotate steering stem slightly, while pulling on lock until lock is removed.

INSTALLATION

General
There is an internal boss in the left side of the steering head opposite the external boss. The end of the lock fits into this internal boss.

There is a hole in the bottom of the lock into which the set screw fits. This hole must be at the bottom when the lock is installed.

When the lock is correctly installed, a forward-facing flat on the lock will fit against a flat inside the external lock boss and the face of the lock will be flush with the face of the external boss.

1.Steering stem should be in above position. See steps 1 and 2 above.

2.Grease the end of the lock (the part that goes into the internal boss) and slide lock into external boss.

Note: Steering stem must be in locked fork position.

3. Move steering stem into locked fork postition. Rotate steering stem sligtly, while fully installing lock.

4.use Loctite 242 (medium strength blue) and install set screw

5.Use key in the lock and tighen set scrw until lock begins to bind; then back set screw out 1/2 turn.

6.Pound in lead plug (or use a good quality sealant)

7. Install fork stem, upper triple clamp and handlebars.

Right out of the book. Hope it helps. Good Luck.

hi from uk please try this ? with key removed try gently turning steerwheel to the right if you feel a slight spring in steering ? hold on the spring and insert key it should work and release lockand turn ign on ? if steering is springing on left ? try as above the same method not unusual for steer lock to prevent turning key as the steering even in straight position ? the necessity to gently release load on lock is req'd to allow key to turn/unlock the steering lock from the steering column practice doing the above each time you fit key to unlock steering and tuning ign on to start hope this helps

The steering lock consists of a hardened pin and it may not be releasing any more although it shouldn't interfere with the turning of your key, just your steering unless the Geo is done differently.
If it was mine, I would get a little rough with it and turn the steering wheel hard from left to right while trying to turn the ignition key. 
Even disassembly is not easy since the lock area is supposed to be secure so it cannot be easily defeated.