Hot Rods Stuck ignition

The ignition on my 1955 Chevy is stuck on the “ON” position and I can not get it to release to turn it “OFF”. I know there’s holes in the tumbler that you can insert a paper clip into them so to release the tumbler from the ignition switch itself. It must “ONLY” work if the ignition is in the “OFF” position first because I can not get them to work . Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

What if you pull the ignition assembly out of the dash and try that way ?

only ways I have remove an ignition cylinder with no key is either call a lock smith or drill the cylinder out , it’s a mess of brass and springs and white metal, but you essentially hollow out the cylinder then remove the outer shell.

 

The paper clip trick requires a key to work.

 

If you can remove key have a new one made 'by the numbers' not on a duplication machine. Then wiggle and jiggle til it moves to off position. I think it has to be in accessory position to use end of paper clip.

 

You can’t remove the switch unless you ruin the retainer bezel and the thumb piece on the tumbler. Spray some WD in the tumbler. Then work the key in and out back and forth might loosen it up.

 

One post every four years. Sorry I didn't answer the Bat Phone. I was in the Bat Cave.

 

His last post was 12 years ago...must be a slow typer...

 

Just in case OP doesn't reply. It's out.

 

I'm thinking that along with the key in the tumbler the switch has to be turned to ACC to be able to depress the brass pin to turn and release the tumbler.
I never throw an old key away and have maybe 50 of them on a big wire ring that have saved my bacon several times. That model of Chevy had about 17 different keys if that many and if you don't have a key a well worn key is your friend.

 

What happened was OP's car was running at the time and went to shut it off and couldn't. It became semi stuck with ON and START as the only position's still working. He had to disable voltage feeds to stop the engine. He got it apart with force and ordered everything to do with the ignition switch.

 

Have you tried it with the key in the switch? Seems like we used to leave the key in and jiggle it with the pin slid in the hole.

 

Looks like he fixed it and it will be a couple of years before he posts again.
You are correct, they have to be on accessory or right close to it to push the pin in to release them.

I can't remember all the particulars on tri 5 Chevy ignition switch lock cylinders. I know that there were some years in there that you could work without a key if you just turned the key to off and not to lock and don't remember if you had to have the key to turn it to lock or not. I'd have to go over an rattle a buddy's cage on that as he has a batch of those cars.

No telling unless he gives us the particulars. Wouldn't be the first 66 year old ignition lock cylinder that decided to crap out right in the big middle of things.

 

The X frame cars ignition switch was one that you could remove the key and still use it. As long as you didn't turn it to lock you were golden. They were supposedly not able to turn to lock without the key, not always the case. LOL I think you could remove the cylinder without the key on those.

Seems like that era GM didn't have many master keys either like 7 or 11 or something like that. I remember it was an odd number and not ever possessing master keys for them I can say that this may just be conjecture.