Ignition falling out

[milehighboater]

So this has now happened a few times, when I turn my key off the bike will react like the key is still in the on position. The first time it took me a minute to get it figured out but it appears the lower part of my ignition switch can fall out of the lock cylinder. I can put the key back into the on position and wiggle the base back up there but I would hate for this thing to die in some way that would leave me stranded. is there a set screw our clip I need to find to keep this thing in place? Thanks.

[EasyBee]

You'll need the repair manual. You can download it for free from http://www.carlsalter.com/download.asp?p=304
Beware, it's 464 pages and the page your looking for is 399. It's 23 Megabytes.
Otherwise the name of this pdf file is "BMW_R1100_850_93-00_BMW_Service_Manual.pdf"
Now you can take the whole bike apart and put it together again.

[CycleRob]

. . . it appears the lower part of my ignition switch can fall out of the lock cylinder.

This is a definite Do NOT Ride parts failure warning. Its not just the dangerous result of the engine and headlight shutting off AT SPEED in traffic . . . at NIGHT. It's also the possibility of exposed internal terminals being shorted to ground by parts of the frame or the falling out of the internal spring loaded sliding terminal plates. Then you have a blown main fuse and very likely loosing those internal parts, requiring the replacement of the ignition switch instead of a careful remounting with the current fasteners and a high strength epoxy like J-B Weld, cheapest and readily available:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/J-B-WELD-8265 ... e/40723713.

[milehighboater]

I'm not too comfortable about epoxying my ignition switch back together. What fasteners normally hold this thing together? I am almost certain this has fallen out during a ride and the bike remains operational. The only few times it has happened I didn't even know it until I turn the bike off and look back and the headlight is still on. I just put the key back into the "on" position and press the backside back in. I guess if it was a press fit I can glue it, but if it is ever supposed to come back apart I may be screwed if I glued.