My truck has a spare tire lock. Kinda like a wheel lock.

Lost the special adapter key needed to unwind the spare tire off.

How do I begin to attempt to break the spare tire free.

 

I believe someone on here said they used a damaged nut/bolt remover socket on a bunch of extensions. Something similiar to these. Craftsman 10 pc. Damaged Bolt/Nut Remover Set, Low Profile Bolt-Out - 52166 at Sears.com I dont know personally if it works though.

 

Let me elaborate. The spare tire release is through a round tunnel above the license plate. Normally you have to stick a long extension with 3/8" square into the round tunnel until you get to the screw to turn it to drop the spare tire.

Instead of the normal 3/8" square. It now has a special pattern and the special adapter is missing.

If there is no other salvage alternative. I will attempt to cut the retaining line and remove the whole unit and skip the spare tire.

 

I know what you meant, the person that I am thinking of (can't remember who) used one of those sockets and said it actually grabbed onto that special screw. I can't find the thread right now(Its a couple of months old and search doesn't work for me lately) I think you can get replacements through a Ford dealer that has the set of keys though.

 

Sure. Its a bolt extractor. It has internal teeth that bite into a bolt (or in this case the shaft) with increasing power the more force you apply. They're generally used particularly for removing broken manifold bolts.

And anyway, I seem to have read that there are only about 16 different patterns, so a dealership might be able to give you a part number for your specific pattern.

 

You could go to the dealer but that will cost. So what I did was let all the air out of the spare put a 2 X 4 across it and then jacked it up to get the tension off of the cable. I then took a cut off saw and cut part of the cross bar that holds the spare up. Then I slipped it through the spare tire hole let the tire down. I then could take the mechanism that holds the spare up apart and I welded a 3/8 drive socket to the end of it so I could put an extenion with a ratchet to let it down. I welded up the cross bar and all was well. I put the spare back up and that was it. I bought the truck used and the key your talking about was missing.

 

Or you could go to the dealer and get the socket that attaches to the two shafts which run both the tire lowering winch and the hand jack and lug wrench. Might be a bit expensive, so a used autoparts or wrecker could have what you want, i dont think there are different ones. It has a part hook which slides into the socket inside and a little spring that it holds itself in with. Almost like a really long large flat head screw driver would work on my 2005 and 2000 i had before. If you still have the jack, the two bars and the lug wrench, just the socket can be bought. Probably a lot cheaper then tearing apart and welding sockets and what not.

 

dflex is right, about the post several commented on how neat of a idea it was.Craftsman socket used just like he described. Sounded like it was the quickest way and easiest.. Tried to find that darn post myself and no luck.Thought it was only a mth ago. but hell wasn't too long ago it was christmas. time really flies.

 

You can remove the piece for the special adapter to go into and lower the tire. With the special piece removed all you need is a 3/8 extension to drop the tire. The lock can be removed with a pair of pliers. It is tough to do with the tire installed but can be done.

 

My 04' lock was the same as my dads 99 and a coworkers 00. So maybe you could just find a friend to help you get it out. Asuming they are all the same or atleast this was and odd occurance? Then do the mods to remove it might be easier that way!!

 

Remove the plastic funnel shaped tube. on my truck it came out real easy. friction fit no bolts to take off. I got rid of the tube the first time I tried working the awkward system
during a practice run. after removal you can see what needs to be done to grip the spindle head.
I remember the thread about the bolt extractor solution. The guy said sears sells a kit.
Try googling "Grip-tite super sockets" for a example of what your after.