Ignition key duplicate
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New User
Joined: Jun 2008
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Ignition key duplicate
I've been trying to get a duplicate ignition key made for my 1981 F150. Every one that I have had made does not work. This isn't supposed to be difficult. I even bought original Ford blanks. Is it the person making the key or is there some other issue I'm missing??? 
Any advice is appreciated.
Any advice is appreciated.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
How old is your ignition tumbler. I would guess if it's original, that these new sharp edged keys aren't fitting quite right in your old smoothed out tumbler. You can just get a new tumbler with keys, they usually only run about $20.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
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From: Lorain County, Ohio
Piece of cake to change, too.
Remove the column lower trim, turn the cylinder to On, push the pin on the bottom of the cylinder housing, pull the cylinder out. Put the new cylinder in and turn it until it drops in place, turn the cylinder to OFF. You're done.
The next time you do it on another vehicle, you won't need to pull the trim. There is an access hole in the trim, but the pin is hard to find if you've never done it before. Less than 30 seconds, start to finish.
Remove the column lower trim, turn the cylinder to On, push the pin on the bottom of the cylinder housing, pull the cylinder out. Put the new cylinder in and turn it until it drops in place, turn the cylinder to OFF. You're done.
The next time you do it on another vehicle, you won't need to pull the trim. There is an access hole in the trim, but the pin is hard to find if you've never done it before. Less than 30 seconds, start to finish.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
GM cars required that you remove the steering wheel,steering lock plate and turn signal switch to remove a lock bolt securing the cylinder. Maybe that's what you are thinking of.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Out of here
Some have the pin by the switch, and some have them under the steering wheel and you need to pull the wheel to gain access to it.
I've drilled enough cylinders to know. Most of the columns that I pull from the junk yards don't come with keys and they almost always need to be drilled.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: North of Normal
No offense, but I get steering columns all of the time out of the junk yards and I'm telling you for a fact that they are NOT all the same.
Some have the pin by the switch, and some have them under the steering wheel and you need to pull the wheel to gain access to it.
I've drilled enough cylinders to know. Most of the columns that I pull from the junk yards don't come with keys and they almost always need to be drilled.
Some have the pin by the switch, and some have them under the steering wheel and you need to pull the wheel to gain access to it.
I've drilled enough cylinders to know. Most of the columns that I pull from the junk yards don't come with keys and they almost always need to be drilled.
Stosh is correct. I had to change my tumbler on my 85 non tilt and had to pull the steering wheel along with the turn signal cam pulled up slightly to get to the pin.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Are you sure?I've been inside probably hundreds of Ford columns from ~1980-present. I don't recall ever having to pull the wheel to remove the lock cylinder.
As I think about it, the vast majority have been tilt columns. There surely had to be some non-tilt columns in there somewhere, though.
I'm not disagreeing, especially now that 2 people have mentioned otherwise. I just can't believe that in 25 years, I've never had to remove a lock cylinder from a fixed Ford steering column.
Edit: Make that 4 people by the time I posted this. Hmm, I learned something tonight.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 14,941
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From: North of Normal
HuH? Are you sure?
I've been inside probably hundreds of Ford columns from ~1980-present. I don't recall ever having to pull the wheel to remove the lock cylinder.
As I think about it, the vast majority have been tilt columns. There surely had to be some non-tilt columns in there somewhere, though.
I'm not disagreeing, especially now that 2 people have mentioned otherwise. I just can't believe that in 25 years, I've never had to remove a lock cylinder from a fixed Ford steering column.
Are you sure?I've been inside probably hundreds of Ford columns from ~1980-present. I don't recall ever having to pull the wheel to remove the lock cylinder.
As I think about it, the vast majority have been tilt columns. There surely had to be some non-tilt columns in there somewhere, though.
I'm not disagreeing, especially now that 2 people have mentioned otherwise. I just can't believe that in 25 years, I've never had to remove a lock cylinder from a fixed Ford steering column.
I am sure cause I had to repaint my column afterward.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
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From: Out of here
I've seen non tilt wheels with the pin by the switch and under the wheel.
It's one of the first things I check when I see a new truck in the yard. If it has cylinders with the keys in it, and whether or not it's tilt.
I usually pull them for spares if I can get it out without pulling the wheel.
It's one of the first things I check when I see a new truck in the yard. If it has cylinders with the keys in it, and whether or not it's tilt.
I usually pull them for spares if I can get it out without pulling the wheel.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Did you know that there is a tool to help remove those lock cylinders (missing keys) without drilling? 78 Ford Ignition Bypass Tool LT-78 Lock Technology in Sports Equipment & Outdoor Gear - BizRate If you run into a lot of them, it's a worthwhile purchase.(They used to be $25) Drilling takes time and some finesse because those locks are designed to deflect a drill bit and it's easy to damage the housing. That tool will remove the cylinder in about 30 seconds. You can actually do the same thing with a big screwdriver that wrench flats near the head.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Are you sure?I've been inside probably hundreds of Ford columns from ~1980-present. I don't recall ever having to pull the wheel to remove the lock cylinder.
As I think about it, the vast majority have been tilt columns. There surely had to be some non-tilt columns in there somewhere, though.
I'm not disagreeing, especially now that 2 people have mentioned otherwise. I just can't believe that in 25 years, I've never had to remove a lock cylinder from a fixed Ford steering column.