Dropped my spare tire today for inspection. Now I cannot get the factory key to engage to raise the tire back up.

Can someone explain to me how to remove the dang key.

 

With the spare out of the way you should be able to pop the key off the winch with a sturdy screwdriver. Chuck the key and the mating part that goes onto the rod into a dark bottomless hole. The hole on the bare rod will fit on the winch and work fine.

 

What aawlbernin350 said. You do not need the key.

 

I wish I knew about that simple fix.

On my F-150, the the receiving end of the key somehow always got clogged with mud/dirt and there was no way to get the rod to fit into the receiver.

I fire-axed it out and welded a couple of 7/16" nuts to the receiving end, and a 7/16" socket to the end of the rod, and that fixed it for me.

 

Thanks for the reply. There is a plastic funnel attached to the hoist( a guide for the rod and key). Do I just rip this out of the hoist to be able to see, and locate, and pry out the matching key. There is no way to see or get a screwdriver in there without getting rid of the plastic funnel guide.

 

Just unbolt it, only 2 nuts. Once out you will just pry out the piece that the key fits too. It comes out with little effort. Now the rod will fit the slot you just made.

 

Thanks for everyone's advise.

I finally got the spare back up and secured using the key. Needed the truck.

Will be heading to Atlanta over the 4th.

Will address the key situation when I return.