I am working on my old truck, and went to the junkyard today and bought a 1971 Ford F100 ignition cylinder and wiring. I have no key.

I popped the chrome off the key area. then popped the outer bits of pop metal. I can depress the release where you would normally go to the accessory switch then depress the detent...but I cannot get the lock cylinder out.

Any suggestions?

 

Don't know if this will be any good since you have done what you have. Can you turn the cylinder?

By turning it to the left to flat horozontal it will come out if the key was in it. Can't say now.

When you get to the end of the line, you can drill it out. Next time take it to a lock smith, probably for $20.00 he would have put a new key in the existing one.




John

 

Yeah, you need the key to gut the tumbler assembly out. Otherwise all some one would have to do to steal your truck is pop it out and pop in a new one.

 

Take the switch to a locksmith, have the cylinder picked.

 

All you have to do is unplug the harness from the back of the switch and use a different switch with a key to "steal" a truck. These trucks were not exactly high security.

On another note I always save the keys from trucks I part out. You would be surprised how often a key will work. With 40 years of wear the pins and keys are not exactly perfect. The truck I bought last week had a locking gas cap with no key. Amazingly I had another key that opened it. Now I have a matching pair for a two tank truck.

 

^^^^^this is the best way. Won't take much for a competent locksmith to get it apart and then make a key for you.

Been there, done that.

 

I wasn't referencing the ways to steal a truck, there are many, just explaining that you can't take out the cylinder and one reason why.

 

Perhaps I came across wrong. What I meant was with a spare ignition switch one could move the truck or even drive it, say to a locksmith, until a key was available or until the lock got picked. I have never had to have one picked. After 40 years most of these ignition switches will work with another key cut just sort of close.

We used to have a bunch of Toyota trucks at work. One day I was out with the keys to all of them for some reason. We kept one key ring that had 8 or so keys on it. Someone just happened to be locked out of their Toyota truck near where I was. I said let me give it a try and on about the 5th try the door unlocked. The poor girl was horrified. I'm sure the key was just sort of close but it opened the door just fine.

 

Thanks all for the input. I guess I must have come off as someone who does not know much about cars, or classic cars. Basically, all I wanted was a switch that I could use to make a working harness from...the tumbler is too large for the 1950 F1 I have, and I never planned to ruin my original dash by using this. I am selling my truck, and I wanted to finish my harness and have something for the next owner to decide what ignition switch they wanted and how many options they can have switched off the key since I have a late model donor harness.

So if I intended on using the switch, I would have bought a new one. The switches are cheap. I went to the junkyard to get a $1 switch, to use as a place holder, nothing more.

Yes, you can remove the lock cylinder from the switch...I was just asking for the trick I knew existed. I pulled it out within minutes after posting, so sorry for having all you reply. I have been working on it instead of checking the internet.

THanks for the help.