I have a 2006 STX15 and lost the key. I got a replacement 3018 from Kawasaki through a third party but it did not work. I tried the trick above. Got all the magnets lined up on the lock. Got the plastic key lined up fine. Lock did not release. Suggestions please!
just signed up to help and get help.
notes. my 2001 900 sts has been sitting for like 7 years. just started to clean it up and check it out today. i too followed the directions above, but changed them up a bit.
i popped open key. placed magnets over ignition (mine lined up for the top 3 spots, and nothing. would not turn. i noticed the magnets would only stick 1 way. each side of the magnet was a slightly different color (one side dark and the other light). i noticed 2 were "face down" (light side towards ignition) and one "face up" (light side faced me).
what i did differently.
i placed the magnets upside down back in the key. for instance. the magnet on top spot had the lighter side towards the ignition on its own. which means the darker side was facing me. i took that magnet off the ignition, and placed it back in the top spot of the key with the lighter side going into the key, forcing the darker side towards the ignition. (forcing it to line up opposite of what how it wanted to line up naturally).
i did this with all 3 magnets and it seemed to click over. though i dont have a battery yet so i could not 100% confirm. i will try to test next weekend.
to make it easy, you can place magnets on ignition. paint top of magnet with a thin layer of white out. take magnet off, place in key, and when looking at key you should see white tops of magnet.