I've talked with a few Western Star drivers and one complaint that comes up a lot is the placement of the ignition key and how easy it is to hit it with your knee, bending it, and eventually breaking it. Has anyone seen or heard of anything made, or something you've made, to protect the key from being hit?
Western Star Ignition Key bent/broken. Solution?
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Steelyd, Oct 28, 2014.
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I would not insert the key until I was in the driver;s seat.
Steelyd Thanks this. -
This is more likely to happen when parked and running. The key can be hit with your knee just by turning in the passenger seat for whatever reason. Especially if you have long legs. Possibly the worst place to put an ignition key, but they've been doing it for years.
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Quality is a thing of the past anymore.Better get a few keys made and stop by a Western Star dealer and see if they have anything to protect the key.
Steelyd Thanks this. -
The main reason I'm curious is I have an idea to make a guard on my 3d printer. Designing stuff like that takes time, and there's no sense in spending the time if someone has already made one, or there is already something on the market. Any other Western Star drivers have this problem, or is it just myself and a few other clumsy drivers I've run into? lol
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It's the long legs. Do it my kw all time, heck I shut the truck of once cruising down the road by hitting it with my knee. Thank you diesels for not needing spark lol.
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What year of kw is that jsprocket? They're on the left side I believe?
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2011 660, I'm 6'5 so don't take mucharge and yeah left side. I have a set that stays in ignition, the other has second key and keys to all my boxes and etc. I hit it all the time getting in and out. I know take key out but just a habit.
Steelyd Thanks this. -
I'm an average height and leg length and I still manage to hit it. The thing must stick out 1 1/2 inches and couldn't be in a worse place. Well, maybe to the left like the kw's! That's crazy!
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I have a key cut with a smaller head, or failing that, grind the one you are using in the ignition down to a size that you can still turn, but is harder to hit. The other thing is we leave a key in them and lock them up so the shop can service them while we arehome, and the key got turned to on when someone got out.
I got it going by myself only because I had to get moving or mess up 6 drops that day. This is on a Cascadia, it seems one thing that is a little worse than on the older ones.
I can't remember where the key was on the Western Star I used to drive, but I liked the air horn pull in the center.
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