Picture of an Original Ignition Key

Commando850 · Mar 19, 2014

Hello all. I just purchased a 74 Commando 850. The bike is all original including the ignition. The old lady I bought it from has a bag full of 100s of keys and says it might be somewhere in there. Does anyone have a picture of an original ignition key. Does it have Norton or Lucas or anything stamped on it?

just looking for an easier way than trying every key in the ignition. Would be cool to have an original key. I've never seen one actually.

Thanks in advance!

Paul.

drones76 · Mar 19, 2014

Commando850 said:
Hello all. I just purchased a 74 Commando 850. The bike is all original including the ignition. The old lady I bought it from has a bag full of 100s of keys and says it might be somewhere in there. Does anyone have a picture of an original ignition key. Does it have Norton or Lucas or anything stamped on it?

just looking for an easier way than trying every key in the ignition. Would be cool to have an original key. I've never seen one actually.

Thanks in advance!

Paul.

I have one at home. My bike came with the original ignition and keys. I have since replaced the ignition but I don't throw anything away. If nobody else responds, I can post a pic later.

grandpaul · Mar 19, 2014

Don't they say "LUCAS" on them?

Maybe that will narrow it down...

concours · Mar 19, 2014

"UNION"???

debby · Mar 19, 2014

I've got my original ignition switch and keys that I believe to be original. The switch went bad years ago but I kept it because they can be taken apart and rebuilt. I thought I might try to do that some day when I have nothing better to do. :roll: Pretty sure the keys said UNION. I can go look for it and get a photo if nobody posts one first.

Nortoniggy · Mar 19, 2014

Square one is ignition. Round is steering lock.

Ian

Commando850 · Mar 19, 2014

drones76 said:
Commando850 said:

Hello all. I just purchased a 74 Commando 850. The bike is all original including the ignition. The old lady I bought it from has a bag full of 100s of keys and says it might be somewhere in there. Does anyone have a picture of an original ignition key. Does it have Norton or Lucas or anything stamped on it?

just looking for an easier way than trying every key in the ignition. Would be cool to have an original key. I've never seen one actually.

Thanks in advance!

Paul.

Click to expand...

I have one at home. My bike came with the original ignition and keys. I have since replaced the ignition but I don't throw anything away. If nobody else responds, I can post a pic later.

Thanks that would be great!!!

Commando850 · Mar 19, 2014

Thanks Nortoniggy...and eveyone else for your help...these pictures are perfect!!!

Deckard · Mar 19, 2014

See if you can locate the round fork lock key out of that haystack. I don't think blanks are available for them anymore. I doubt any of us really use it any more these days, but at least you'd have that for trivia.

DogT · Mar 19, 2014

Here's mine, but the 74 may be different.

Dave
69S

gortnipper · Mar 19, 2014

My 74 uses Union keys like Iggy posted.

CanukNortonNut · Mar 19, 2014

Nortoniggy said:
Square one is ignition. Round is steering lock.

Ian

Yes Sir,
Union it is.
Check the front plate where the key goes in to the slot. This will have a Letter / Number stamped. and will match (As per Photos of Nortoniggy's) The key Id for your bike.
Correction
Edited: None of the 4 position switches have this on the face. But the key should be the square with "Union" if its original. Ask her to look for keys that have "Made In England". That should narrow it down.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

Bruce MacGregor · Mar 20, 2014

Hi I have several pairs of square Union key # FS880 that came off an English made Mass Spec analyser that I scrapped out.
They fit my 74, 850
If you have no luck finding the keys , I will send you one to try.
Bruce MacGregor

pete.v · Mar 20, 2014

This key blank is common with MG, Austin Healey and the like. I have gone to the local lock shop and they have sleaves of them.

If you did not have a key for your switch, they can make one. It is a matter of reading the pressure points from the cylinder pin on a key blank and deft touch with a file. Cheaper then a new switch. They also cut one for me on the steering lock, not that it's worth a darn.

Picture of an Original Ignition Key

Similar threads