VW stick shift lock 1954 cabriolet

goldpro

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has experience fitting keys
to the lock at the base of the gear change lever on a
1954 Volkswagon Cabriolet? A porche blank fits in.
Ilco #DM4 and cut a bit shorter. The customer removed it
from the car and brought it to our shop.
It has 4 rounded pin tumblers in a push lock type brass cyld.
After some attempts I can’t seem to pick it.
It doesn’t leave good marks for impressioning.
Does anyone know which way it turns?
A shim from the front won’t go in.

I’ll include a pic later.

thanks for any help.

Tom

Timothy

Not sure but maybe have to push the cylinder in to pick the lock. Yes would like to see picture….Timothy….

goldpro

here’s some pics of it stripped down without the
shifter lever.

I think it should turn ccw but not sure.
still haven’t been able to pick it.
there is a spring inside that forces it out and
it has a chrome cap that goes over the face to
capture it when the key is turned.
I think it’s basically a push lock with a round shaft
on the locking end.

I think the operation would be:

from unlocked– insert key, turn key and push key & lock cyld in
and hold in while turning the key back to insert position
and then pull the key out with the lock cyld remaining recessed the
distance you pushed it in. The key will need to have a long enough neck.

from locked: insert key and turn it. lock cyld & key will
pop out under spring pressure. turn key to removal position.

Thanks for any help.
Tom

Timothy

It there anyway to get the cylinder out..??.. It may help of what you looking at…..Timothy……

Tom Gordon

Try steve@steveslockshop.com
He does a lot of old VW’s
Cheers
Tom

goldpro

Thanks very much for that lead Tom.
I sent him an email with pic.
Hopefully he can tell me which way it turns.

Tom

goldpro

just an update.

I was finally able to fit a key, but it was a bit of a butcher job.

I had to drill holes in the underside to determine which way
it turned. CCW.

It had 5 pins tumblers not 4. all the pins were dead flat on the bottom
so no wonder it wouldn’t mark for impressioning.

there was a collapsed spring.

I tried an electric pick but that didn’t work.

finally had to mount it to a wood block so I could hold it in the
milling machine vise. milled the front face at the shearline so I
could shim it. didn’t work so well …shim got stuck…was able to pick it.

finally got it apart and created a key….phew what a battle.

not pretty but the chrome cap covers most of the damage.
I t works pretty much the way I figured.
the local VW repair shops were no help in telling me what way the key
turned…all said clockwise.

Had to fit a key to the glove box as well…easier.

Tom

Huw Eastwood

Well done Tom, perseverance pays off and the fact you had to drill a couple of holes to confirm rotation and tried milling the front to shim it, doesn’t make it a bad job imho. To me thats ingenuity and thinking around the problem, so many others would have given up when it wouldnt pick, impression or shim etc. Job well done I’d say.