I will report back on the long-term results of the "operation", especially to see how effective using white lithium is. But although I know it is going to corrode again, it is now pretty easy to fix (and I won't let it get this bad again).
I was getting the occasional bit of corrosion around the key hole of the gas hole till I slopped on a bunch of Lock Ease. I worked the key in the lock and got the liquid spread around pretty well. After it dried it left a film and it seems that this film has prevented any more corrosion from forming. Plus the lock is MUCH easier to turn now.
YMMV
Did you disassemble the latch assembly at all before applying the Lock Ease? It seems that the corrosion also gets inside the assembly, along with the exterior and springs.
I would think maxtog's lithium grease attempted to do the same thing -- put a film on the exposed aluminum inside the assembly. Doesn't seem to work for the long haul, though I would think it's better than nothing.
looks like salt corrosion
Well, it has been almost exactly two years since I started this thread with the last round of aggressive cleaning due to near failure of the latch and lock. The mechanism has been getting worse the last few months and the last fillup, I almost couldn't get the cap open at all.
Today I took out the latch and it was cleaner than before, no black stuff (which I now think was the graphite), but lots of white powder again (see photo). I hadn't added ANY type of additional lube the last two years. I used a Dremel with wire brush to remove it from all surfaces. This time, I decided to try a different lubricant, a thin amount of molybdenum disulfide grease, it is the only other thing I have left to try. I applied not only to the wear surfaces, but pretty much all over.
The lock mechanism was just as bad, but I wasn't in the mood to remove it and deal with the hundreds of parts falling everywhere, so I shot some spray graphite into it for now. Since the lock is still not really clean, it is still a bit stiff (and doesn't spring back), but a lot better than before.
The bike?
That is the worst case of corrosion I think I have ever seen on a motorcycle. Seriously. And I cannot imagine why that is happening either. ?? ?? ??
Yep, I would replace that ass'y; by the time you get the corrosion off, I believe the parts will have lost all sizing and toleranceing.
Just curious but is the bike subject to a lot of condensation? I mean do you cover it, for example, and find it wet underneath the covering often?
Are you very close to the ocean?
Whatever is going on there is extreme at the very least.
<snip>
This is not a low humidity area, it is kept covered always, in a tent-like structure with vents. I don't find it wet, though.
<snip>
Well, it has been almost exactly two years since I started this thread with the last round of aggressive cleaning due to near failure of the latch and lock. The mechanism has been getting worse the last few months and the last fillup, I almost couldn't get the cap open at all.
Today I took out the latch and it was cleaner than before, no black stuff (which I now think was the graphite), but lots of white powder again (see photo). I hadn't added ANY type of additional lube the last two years. I used a Dremel with wire brush to remove it from all surfaces. This time, I decided to try a different lubricant, a thin amount of molybdenum disulfide grease, it is the only other thing I have left to try. I applied not only to the wear surfaces, but pretty much all over.
How thick is powder coating, and could that work on these parts???