Ignition cylinders - difference?

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by John Holden, Nov 6, 2012.

  1. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    I hope I don't have a problem! I've got my steering column all restored and installed in the car. I have a nice set of door locks and ignition cylinder with matching key. Tonight I went to install the ignition cylinder in the steering column and it will not fit. I have no idea what year car the column came out of and I don't know what year car the cylinders came out of. Are there different cylinders for different year cars?
     
  2. krelboyne

    krelboyne Remember

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    Yes, there are at least two different tips on the bottom ends of the cylinders. One is triangular, and the other is a another shape. They won't seat in each other.
     
  3. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    Mine won't even go in a little bit. There are grooves on the inside of the column where teh cylinder goes in that are supposed to align the cylinder. The grooves are way to small for the protrusions on the cylinder to fit into. I do see what you're saying about teh triangular part though. The column has the triangular part in the bottom of the hole and the cylinder has something different.
     
  4. pegleg1858

    pegleg1858 Member

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    Can you change the tumblers between the 2?
     
  5. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    I have to find one that fits first.
     
  6. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Let me know what you have and I can help you out. Email me DIRECTLY (see below) if I can help.
     
  7. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    I have an assortment. I have to dig through them and see if any will work. I really just need information (I think).
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2012
  8. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    If you can find one that will fit, you can take it to a locksmith and have your door locks changed to match.
     
  9. pegleg1858

    pegleg1858 Member

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    I meant the tumblers inside the key switch. Can you dissassemble the 2 and make the new key fit the old switch.
     
  10. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    That I do not know. Much easier to change the door lock cylinders I assume.
     
  11. MSmithPDX

    MSmithPDX Member

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    A good Locksmith should be able to set you right either way. You could re-key yourself but better to take to a locksmith. I've re-keyed quite a few locks but never the ignition. It's not something I would recommend you start with on something you need to not break. The first lock I ever re-keyed fell apart a week later when I was trying to get into my house. I've gotten significantly better since then but I don't think I would tackle a ignition switch yet. I do have a habit of re-keying all of my trunks to the same key though, that's nice.
     
  12. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    How do you re-key the trunk? The ignition and door keys won't fit in the cylinder. And yes if you re-key the ignition you only have to do one but if you re-key the doors you have to do two.
     
  13. MSmithPDX

    MSmithPDX Member

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    Well if I wanted to re-key it to match the door plates I would have to do a lot more than just re-pin the tumbler. I just re-key it to match my other trunk keys, same key opens my bronco and my comet. Opened anyway, the Bronco is dead now.
     
  14. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Not really, just remove pins one set at a time from the lock that doesn't fit the column and reinstall them in the same order in the correct lock... There are two pins in each position(10 in all), be sure they are inserted with the rounded end to the key and pin with small end goes in last with spring fitting on on small stem... I re-pinned all the locks on the Comet so a new set of keys I had on hand would fit, easy once you've done one...

    I'm 99% the triangle shape was used in the early 70s, and ovalish shape in mid/late 70s... The later ones fit through a steel retainer inside the column that can't as easily be pried out(but are still no match for a slide hammer)...
     
  15. John Holden

    John Holden Member

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    Krazy Comet, Are the retainers you're talking about like two wire springs?
     

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