Modern Vespa

The plastic that forms the hole in my blue key got threaded and broke.


Did you guys just drill another hole or what?

Are there any electronics/chips in the blue key that would make this a bad idea?

No there's a chip in there.

Bad idea.

MV Saint and resident key guru jimh says don't drill that key. See his post and pics in Drilled blue key and doesn't start

more pics and info here

Ugh is there an easy solution to this?

Even a condom that fits over the key securely with another hole would work.

How much would it be to get another key made?

A while ago I realised that I never ride the scooter without my jacket. Now the scooter key is either in my jacket pocket or in the scooter. It never needs to fraternise with my other keys or any key ring.

In one post or another, Jim recommended that you don't hang other keys from your vespa key. Probably because it breaks the blue key from all the weight of the other keys when hanging from the ignition.

Best
Miguel

ignition+topcase...

I've seen "key identifiers" basically rubber "heads" that slip over existing keys to give you a quick way to sort keys by color in various head shapes. Perhaps there is one that would stretch over the Vespa key head. Something like these http://www.mrlock.com/35057.html that shape to a variety of key shapes/sizes.

when you buy a top case can they re-do the lock on the case to make it so that your vespa key can open both?

You can do it yourself.

How To: Re-Key Your Top Case

That is, if it's a Vespa top case. Mine is a Givi and the keyway is different.

I do the same thing. Imagine that loop broke while you were on the highway. Bye bye house keys. Besides you don't want keys swinging around scratching up your paint.

Guilty

The answer to this question is maybe.

If the top case uses the same type of locking cylinder as the ignition, then it's simple. If it's different, then it can't be done without changing the top box cylinder.

My new GTV's OEM top box uses a different cylinder, so I have two keys.

Mine are different as well (2009 GTV 250 and top box purchased together)

Best
Miguel

What about taking your chip key to a local locksmith and having a couple regular metal keys cut? (Or order cheap ET4 keys on line). Then tape your original chip key inside the glove box. So you use a regular metal key in the ignition. And you can put the metal key on your keychain or loose in your pocket. I hate chip keys.

Bill

Thast a great idea wil that work?

Can't see why not. You have to get used to leaving your blue key in the glove box though.

thats no problem at all, just hide it in there permanently.

thx for the great idea

Can anyone actually verify that this works?

It will work, but then anyone with a screwdriver will be able to spear the ignition on your scoot and drive it away.

Doesn't MV Saint and resident key guru jimh 'clone' and make new keys for those in the need?
I think however, in an earlier post this summer he was taking the summer off, it couldn't hurt to contact him.....

Lacking JimH's excellent services; a blank blue key can be bought from your local dealer, cut at a local locksmith, and you do the programming yourself with the red key. (that is why everybody says not to lose the red key )

I have seen a key case that comes with leather sheaths that go over the keys to hold them, instead of using the holes in the keys. I always thought that was the ideal solution to tearing thru your vespa keyhole. When I did that, i just bought another key from the dealer, had it cut, and reprogrammed it. But I only hang a color-coded swiss army knife from my key now, not any other keys, to minimize the stress on the flimsy hole.

I use the small two-blade swiss army knifes that come in different colors, so I can identify what key goes with what scooter. I have a black knife on the key that goes to my Red GTS, and a red knife on the key that goes to my black LX. That way I fool any potential thieves. Pretty clever, huh?



Darn, now that I posted that the secret is out!

-Dan

Yeah I've been looking everywhere for a letaher key sheath, you know where to get one?

Search for "key cover" or "key cap." Google brings up quite a few.

bleh, just tried but all the ones im seeing are for conventional thin house keys.


If anybody knows where to get a leather key cover that will solve the key-hole problem please feel free to post and help a brother out

Not leather, but a solution I've used in the past. Get some heatshrink that just covers the key - preferably the type with integral glue inside. Use a length that's about twice as long as the end of the key. Shrink it down, and before it cools off, pinch the open end together to make a solid form. Cut to shape/drill to suit.

you"might" be able to fit a piece of soft copper tubing in the hole and swage the ends open.
a photo of the damaged key could help.

if you google "tube rivet" it should give you an idea, if you were a little perplexed...

I wonder if you could make a mould out of modeling clay and cast a new key head out of liquid rubber.

Bridge the gap with some epoxy then use Plasti Dip.

there are moldable plastics that set up like sugru and instamorf...if they can be used as tool handles, i 'spect key repair is doable.

Maybe someone with a 3D printer could create a new key cover. It wouldn't be the nice rubber, but would be better than nothing. Or do that and then dip it into one of the rubber coating things.

My daughter's boyfriend has a 3d printer, I'll ask him...

-Dan