60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

[Joe P.]

I was going home from work earlier this week, when i tried to turn the key in the ignition, the key got stuck right away as i tried to turn it. I thought i put it in upside down. I took the key out and reinserted it and the car started no problem! All the locks were replaced 3 years ago, and the ignition lock was put on upside down.. So i would put the key in upside down.. no problem so i thought... Now i dont know if the tumbler was actually put in wrong, or the whole unit was off by 180 degrees, so the key needed to be turned upside down to function.

The next day i insterted the key and it wouldnt budge... and i havent been able to start it or remove the ignition assembly from the dash..

Luckily it was in my garage.. although i was late for work.

I did read many posts posts like the exerpt below, about how to remove the lock..

"insert key back into the switch, turn to off position , then insert a very small pin or a small cotter key into the small hole in the ingnition switch bezel, then turn the cylinder, with the key and with the cotter derpressed(its against spring pressure)in a counterclockwise direction and then pull the cylinder out of the ingition switch. would also remove the ingition switch which can be disassembled , cleaned and lubricated with silicone paste. usually its just dirt or crud . if its the key cylinder, you'll probably need a locksmith. much cheaper to remove the cylinder and take it to locksmith than have the old boy stop by to work on your vet. good luck, mike"

My problem is that i can feel the spring mving in, with the key in when i insert a large paperclip but the cylinder wont move in any directon, even to get it out.. if it does move the whole unit spins together. I am not sure where it is stuck but after fidling with it for a few hours it could be between the off and on position.

Any suggestions on what i can try short of calling a locksmith to remove it from the dash ?
Just added two pics, one is with the hole in the ignition face at 2 o'clock and the other is the rear of the ignition lock assembly at the same orientation.. they will not move independently..

Thanks

Joe

[Peter L.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Joe - By design the ignition lock cylinder and other lock cylinder cannot be installed in the switch or lock incorrectly. Is the ignition switch a Delco-Remy switch? I looked at the Delco switch and it does have what appears to be a line up "bump" but it's not very pronounced so it looks like installation orientation of the switch is not "fool proof" as on some later switches that have flat side on the switch where it goes into the dash.

My guess is that the either the switch mechanism at the back of the switch is broken and binding up or the retainer that holds the tumblers and springs in the lock cylinder has come loose at one end and is binding in the lock cylinder bore of the switch.

If working the key and trying to move the lock cylinder to the ACC position and using the paper clip to push in on the brass pin and turning further in the counter clockwise direction doesn't work, it sounds like you will have to do open heart surgery and remove the switch from the dash and have it looked at outside the car.

Good luck.

Pete

[Joe P.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Joe - By design the ignition lock cylinder and other lock cylinder cannot be installed in the switch or lock incorrectly. Is the ignition switch a Delco-Remy switch? I looked at the Delco switch and it does have what appears to be a line up "bump" but it's not very pronounced so it looks like installation orientation of the switch is not "fool proof" as on some later switches that have flat side on the switch where it goes into the dash.

My guess is that the either the switch mechanism at the back of the switch is broken and binding up or the retainer that holds the tumblers and springs in the lock cylinder has come loose at one end and is binding in the lock cylinder bore of the switch.

If working the key and trying to move the lock cylinder to the ACC position and using the paper clip to push in on the brass pin and turning further in the counter clockwise direction doesn't work, it sounds like you will have to do open heart surgery and remove the switch from the dash and have it looked at outside the car.

Good luck.

Pete

Thanks Pete, any suggestion on the best way to remove the switch and assembly from the dash without damaging the dash and hopefully being able to reuse the ignition lock?

Can it come out by doing the surgery from under the dash?

Is it necessary to cut off the bezell and retaining nut with a dremel, or hacking away at the switch behind the dash.. or both?



Joe

[Steven B.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Joe, if the bezel on the front side of the panel doesn't come loose by hand try protecting it with a cloth and very gently use pliers or channel locks to turn. I had to do this once on a friend's '60.

Steve

[Thomas H.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Joe,

I just went through something similar with the ignition lock on my 60 this week. First, you will not be able to remove the switch assembly without first removing the lock cylinder. The cylinder flares out to a point that the screw on bezel will not be able to go over it.

You might want to first try spraying some WD-40 into the lock cylinder and then working the key in and out several times. There may be a stuck tumbler. If this does not free it up, you may not be able to remove the cylinder as it needs to be rotated counter clockwise while using a paperclip to press in the little thingy in the small hole.

When the key is inserted, a small locking block retracts in the lock cylinder allowing it to rotate. If this piece does not retract, you won't be able to rotate the key.

Good luck,

Tom

[Stephen R.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

The lock on my 59 went last year. Got stuck and I couldn't move it one way or the other. Played with it for an hour, using WD 40 etc. Finally ended up using a screw driver and twisting the insert so that I could use the paper clip to pull out the tumbler. what I found was: When you insert the key, a small metal bar withdraws out of the key way and permits the rotation of the tumbler assy, in my case some of the mini springs failed and would not let that little bar retract. Nothing I could do would save that assy, had to get a repro.

[Joe P.]

Re: 60 IGNITION LOCK STUCK

I finally was able to remove the ignition lock and switch from the dash... unfortuanely will need some touchup paint... and will have to replace the bezel, it was cross threaded by bubba.. so he had to use a spacer to get to tight...

I fidled with it for a couple of hours and no luck... key moves just enough to be considered a wiggle.. soaked it in liquid wrench...

I can push the spring in with a paper clip but the that seems to be the only thing i can get to move.. So off the the locksmith...

[Joe P.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Quick update.. i took the ignition switch with barrel and key to two locksmiths.

Consensus..

Buy a replacement..

I am going to try to see if i can dissassemble the switch from crimped end and attempt to do some recovery efforts..

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Joe

[Peter L.]

Re: 60 iGNITION LOCK STUCK

Joe - Good luck and let us know what you find. Pete