I was having problems with the tailgate on my '89 Bronco and brought the truck in the garage. I got everything fixed and the window goes up and down using the tailgate key (trouble with the dash switch) and now I can not get the $@#& key out of the lock!

I have Kroiled the key and wiggled and pulled, I do not want to break the key. Any thoughts???

 

Graphite! Powdered graphite. Was it tough to shove into the tumblers? Key must be vertical in the lock but you know that much.

 

The key and the entire lock assembly were spinning in the tailgate and I had to slide the assembly that pushes the switches on the back of the tumbler. The retainer clip had come off during the tailgate repair. All of this was done with the key in the lock. Could I have gotten the key and assembly 180 degrees "out of time" so that the key isn't in the correct vertical position to pull the key back out? I use the tailgate window switch so infrequently I had forgotten about it having to be vertical to pull the key out. It will go vertical one way but not the other.

 

I just took everything back apart and spun the lock 180 degrees opposite and the key came right out. So there is a specific orientation that needs to be maintained! I am getting good at taking the tailgate apart....