What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Ignition lock and lost key

snowdriver

snowdriver

1/2 ton status
 Premium
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Posts
942
Reaction score
1,011
Location
oregon
I have got a 1985 f-250 that I need to get a key for,( it is not a Chevy ,sorry,I "inherited" this rig) what is the best way and cheapest way to either get a key for,or replacing the lock cylinder , my biggest concern right now is just getting the steering unlocked so I can get it in my shop
 
First thing, is to round up all your friends who have Fords and borrow their ignition keys.
There are a limited number of key codes out there, and you just might find one that will fit.
Either directly or with a little jiggling. It only has to work once. When you get it to the run position, there is a hole or slot under the steering column just past the ignition cylinder bulge.
With the key in run, you can use a small drill bit or allen key to push up a pin in the hole.
Once you push the pin in, the cylinder will pull out.

Once you get the cylinder out, just prise off the silver or gold strip and pour all the pins out. You will have to turn it back to off to get them all out.

After that, you can turn it back to run to push the pin back in. It will pop out when you turn it back to stop.
Then put the cylinder back in and it will crank without a key.

If you have access to the key that opened it for a while, you can take the cylinder in to a locksmith shop and they can rekey it to whatever key you want.

Or replacement cylinders with keys are available at parts houses fairly reasonably.
 
I repossessed car and trucks for a number of years. Older Ford trucks were some of my favorites. Easy to slimjim and easy to get the ignition out. If all you care about is getting it to the shop to work on it and you are going to replace the ignition anyway, you don't even have to worry about getting the keys from your friends. Just force the ignition over. Use a large screwdriver and force the "ignition ears" to the start position. This will most likely break that part off. Then use the same screwdriver and a wrench to force the actual ignition to the start position. This will allow you to either start the truck or use a pick or other device to push the pin Fordum is talking about to pull the ignition cylinder out. Your choice.

Have fun.
 
I dont know about Fords,but I have had keys made for GM's by removing a door lock and bringing it to a locksmith..they could get a code off the lock and make door keys,then they could usually determine which one of a few choices would work on the ignition...

I "inherited" two key rings with over 200 GM keys from vehicles we scrapped at the boneyard and from friends who worked at body shops..so far there has been only a few GM's between 1960 and 1990 I have not been able to open the doors or start by trying key after key,till I find one that works...saved some friends some money and hassles doing that--after they find one that works,they just go have a copy made at the hardware store..sorry--I dont have any Ford keys...
 
been out looking at this thing and was looking for the hole to realease the cylinder,could not find it,now if i just force the cylinder,will i break anything or just the cylinder??
 
If you can force it, all you should do is ruin the cylinder. I can post a picture of the hole in my '89 tomorrow to give you a clue.

But, the hole will not do you any good until you can turn the lock to run, because that is the only position it can be pushed in.
Plus is small and hardened, so you can't just drill it out.

Also, if you get the cylinder out, you cannot just stick a screwdriver in and turn the truck on.
There is a hardened steel plate with a slot cut in it that cannot rotate. The lock cylinder has a piece that fits through the slot and rotates the gear drive on the other side of that piece.

It just so happens I have mine apart right now, so I can supply some pictures tomorrow that will make things a lot clearer.

If you cannot find a key that will work it, the chrome ears will snap off when you force them.
They are part of the cylinder, so no loss if you are replacing it.
At that point, if you know much about locks, a small drill will drill out the pins, just don't drill past the bottom of the cylinder.

You will have to drill down through the pins, blow our rake out the pieces, and then drill again to get the next parts of the pins that will push down when the first parts are drilled out.
Keep trying to force it with a screwdriver after each drill session. The screwdriver will work in this case, because the part of the cylinder you are forcing has the part that goes through the blocking plate, so when you rotate it, you will turn the ignition gear.
 
OK, since you are not a member, I uploaded some pics to Photobucket. I had to pull the steering collar off down in the swamp when the little actuator shaft on the end of my key cylinder broke off.
Since then I have been cranking it by pushing in on the part that the rack and pinion pushes when you turn the key.
Works pretty good.
I mentioned that you have to turn the cylinder to the run position to push the locking pin in, I forgot to mention that the actuator shaft, which you see the picture of, turns behind the round steel plate and will only come out in the run position.

The pinhole you are looking for is on the bottom of the collar. That U-shaped slot next to the hole, is where the emergency flasher knob sticks out if that is any help.
Another idea, is look at the edge of the door when you open it. There should be a rusty tab sticking out.
You can pry that tab away from the outside of the door, and pry it out at the same time.
Its not hard, don't force it too much.
Once it comes out, the door lock cylinder will pull out. As soon as you get it in hand, immediately tie a piece of string to the actuating rod and tie it off somewhere.
Then, you can take the E-clip off and remove the cylinder. Take it to a locksmith, and they can probably use it to make a key.
I think that year uses the same key for doors and ignition.

Here is the link to the pictures.

http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/OlBlueK5/library/Ford Ign Cylinder
 
fordum,you have been a big help,i will be messing around with this tomorrow afternoon,i will let you know how it goes
 
diesel4me said:
I dont know about Fords,but I have had keys made for GM's by removing a door lock and bringing it to a locksmith..they could get a code off the lock and make door keys,then they could usually determine which one of a few choices would work on the ignition...

I "inherited" two key rings with over 200 GM keys from vehicles we scrapped at the boneyard and from friends who worked at body shops..so far there has been only a few GM's between 1960 and 1990 I have not been able to open the doors or start by trying key after key,till I find one that works...saved some friends some money and hassles doing that--after they find one that works,they just go have a copy made at the hardware store..sorry--I dont have any Ford keys...
Click to expand...

The few Fords I've had all came with two keys, iggy and door (round head door, square head iggy). Imports are better for this idea and most are single key.
 
Most GM's had rounded keys for the doors and truck,glove box,and a square ended one for the ignition too...but I have found in several instances,I was able to start a vehicle with a door key,and vice versa--the "letter code" on the keys had to match up most of the time..(GM has several alphabetical codes stamped on the key just before the toothed area like an "A" or "B","G","K","L" etc...)..


A friend who runs a repair garage spent 125 bucks for a set of "master keys" to unlock vehicles doors and start them...when he got them,he was pretty disgusted--they were simple stamped sheet metal "blanks" with teeth on them...looked like something you'd buy at Toy's R Us for your toddler to play with!..:doah:

He was ready to send them back,when his co-worker said "what the hell--lets TRY them and see if they DO work"...they went outside to a 2004 Ford Expidition that a customer left to be repaired,and LOCKED the keys in it,hidden under the floor mat!..:rolleyes:...

He stuck a key in that had the double sided teeth like some other Ford keys from other vehicles in the lot had,and he fumbled with it for several minutes-no go,he was getting irritated...then another guy pulls in,who runs a body shop a few miles away,and he sees us fiddling with the lock,and he comes over and says "here--let ME show you how to use these keys--I know your thinking they SUCK,but they DO work"!..

He jiggled the key up and down rapidly,while trying to turn it,and sure enough,within about 10 seconds,the door lock pops up,and he opened the door!..after practicing with those keys,my friend has had pretty good luck opening doors with them...but on ignitions,they are no help on most vehicles made the past 20 years,that have "chipped" keys,because even if you can get the ignition to turn,its still not gonna start...but he's used them to get the ignition cylinder out,so he can replace it in a few vehicles..usually he has to call a locksmith on newer vehicles because they have to mach the chip to the computer--a few cars had to be towed to a dealer and have the computer re-flashed for it to start and run...400+ bucks..:doah:
 
Yes locksmith can make a key but try to get the key from the dealer. Any problem occurs after making the key dealer will repair it for free of cost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom