VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Stuck Ignition Key

On my 29 with the correct ignition cable, the lock cylinder is stuck in the on position, and I can not remove the key. That is the key will not turn the lock cylinder to the off position.
I was able to take the lock cylinder out of the cable housing and now have it on the work bench.
I can not figure how to get the key to rotate the lock cylinder to the off position. (something may be stuck??)
Anyway is the a method, or something to push that will allow me to rotate the key to the off position or to remove the lock assembly and/or key out of the barrel?
or
Are these lock cylinders and key available to buy to replace the one in question?
Thanks.

The lock cylinder assembly for the 1929-32 electrolocks are not available. A few have showed up over the years but that's about it.

For the plug (the part where the key goes) to freeze up in the barrel of the lock cylinder is fairly common. The problem is that pot metal expands with age and those lock cylinders tend to freeze up with the expansion.

The key usually can only be removed when the lock cylinder is in the off position. You might try soaking the lock cylinder in some type of penetrating oil to see if you can return the lock cylinder to the off position so that the key can be removed.

I'll try and let you know. Thanks.

I got the key to turn, but the barrel is still pretty tight. Any suggestions? Thanks.

After you get the key to turn to the vertical position, remove the plug assembly (the part where the key is inserted) from the lock cylinder housing but leave the key in the plug so that all of the little wafers and springs don't fall out. Then ream out the lock cylinder housing so that the plug will turn freely in the housing and reinsert the plug assembly.

You are probably better off letting a locksmith do the above operation.

Thanks. How does it remove?

You have to remove the button and spring on the back of the lock cylinder, along with the slide bar.

Again, you are better off letting a locksmith perform the procedure.

Your are right. Does anybody out there do this sort of work? Thanks

A local locksmith or VCCA member Jarvis Erickson in Washington. Jarvis is listed in the Services Offered section of the G&D.

I did remove the above mentioned parts but could not get the plug with the key part out. When I did the door handle and rumble seat handle, there was a pin that released the plug. But I could not find a pin, on this lock,to release the plug. Any ideas before I give up.

Jarvis is the answer.

There is no pin on the plug in the lock cylinder that is used in the electrolock.

I don't get the G and D. Can you give me a phone number and e mail for Jarvis? Thanks

The VCCA monthly magazine is called the G&D. You're a member & don't get the magazine?...Joe

You have the VCCA logo below your user name which indicates that you are a member of the VCCA. Your VCCA membership number in your profile is 40765, which means you have been a VCCA member for sometime, therefore, you should receive the G&D every month.

If you are no longer a member of the VCCA then you need to delete the VCCA logo below your user name and also delete your VCCA membership number in your profile.

Tu papa is not a current member.

I think his best option would be to renew his membership.

You want me to renew a membership just to get a person's phone number?

With membership comes certain priveledges ---membership fees help off set the costs of running this site I am sure---I think you will find it a small investment considering all the valueable help you get from the VCCA as I see your name on the chat post board quite often. It is only right to support the site you go to for answers !! Only my opinion sir !!

Well said!

Appears that the VCCA membership privileges have been deselected for him also.

I was a VCCA member for a long while, until I learned the following:
1. There were no chapters within 200 miles of me and I really could not participate in events. I had no luck trying to get one started either
2. While I found that many people in the club were nice there were many who where not. If I asked a question I often times got my head bit off. I sort of felt like I walked into a private club or dinner party. That is why I dropped out of VCCA
3. If your group would like forum users to join the club to use the forum or pay you all should say so up front.
I am a member of SDC and forum user, I am also a looker at other club forum sites (ie AACA) and they do not get upset when a question is asked. Often times I have helped other people and did not bite there heads off and did not try to charge them. It seem to me some of you people have the attitude problem, not me.
PS I got the lock to work anyway.

Tu Papa,
I read your most recent post several times and each time except the last I told myself to let it lie and not respond, least someone that was not aware of your history on Chat might conclude that you have not been treated with respect and tolerance.


That's odd. I googled "San Antonio to Cotulla Texas" it comes up with "1 h 24 min (89.1 mi) via I-35 S". There is a fully functioning VCCA "Bluebonnet Region" centered in San Antonio. I have been to Cotulla numerous times as my daughter and son-in-law own a ranch just west of town. I am a member and live approximately 200 miles away. I have participated in several of their events and meetings. They are a great group of folks.


I don't know of a case where you asked a question and didn't receive a straightforward, direct, timely and thoughtful answer the first time. In may cases the same question was asked again and again sometimes the same day and others days apart. Some questions were asked a multitude of times over a few months to years period. When it was pointed out that answers had been provided several times in the past your response was often argumentative, accusative and downright uncivil. Several people that have received your responses have vowed to never respond to you again.


We surely would like all forum users to join the club. That should be obvious. I costs ??? to establish and maintain a website. Those that benefit should be willing to contribute to the support. If I have an attitude problem, I was not aware of it. Thanks for pointing it out. Guess my thousands of posts are not interpreted as trying to help others enjoy their old Chevrolets. I will try to do better.


That's great. Hope the Chat responses might have contributed to that outcome in at least a little.

Point one: I did not know about a San Antonio chapter when I was a member..wish I did.
Point two: I was not argumentative, just asking a questions over the years, and if I asked the same thing more than once I guess it was because I got the same sort of answer like this time concerning a phone number for the locksmith.
However another member was nice enough to provide me with the locksmith's phone number. I would bet that he did not think I was argumentative.
Point 3: As for attitude, I let any readers look at these posts concerning the locksmith and the phone number and let them decide.
Point 4: I figured out the lock problem on my own work and liquid graphite. The chat did not help except for the man who sent me the private e mail mentioned above.