Technical Just picked up a 1937 Humpback and of course a quick question

Got it home and saw that a key was broken off in the ignition. Not willing to mess anything up at the moment but is there an easy way to remove the cylinder?

 

She certainly doesn't look like a humpback!

 

No it’s not easy. Hopefully someone who has been successful will chime in to explain their method.

I think you’d get better responses if you put “Ford” in your title.

 

If it's unlocked, I would go under the narrow (bottom) edge of the key with a dental pick. Going under the edge will hopefully give a good catch on the last cut on the key. Patience and a steady hand.

 

There’s drilling involved of the security bolt that holds in the lock cylinder. Be a lot easier on the bench than in the car.

 

Yes, I would try to get the key out before the lock cylinder

 

May also mention “how to remove key/lock cylinder from ‘37 Ford”

 

With the chrome "Bolt" sticking out, it has the steering wheel and ignition switch unlocked currently. To attempt to remove the key, you will need to get it to rotate clockwise (which seems backwards compared to modern vehicles) and retract the "bolt", or the key will not be released. If you can get it to turn back to the locked position, I would try a couple small dental picks on the piece of key, as has already been suggested. The broken piece of key should be useable in getting a new key cut if you are successful in extracting it.

 

Try the dental picks first, and has been mentioned above, take your time, be patient. If that doesn't work, a hairpin inserted between the key tooth and tumbler, then pulled out rapidly, has worked for me. Burglars do it that way, quick and dirty and it works sometimes, especially when you need to turn the thing to unlock it. Spray some powdered graphite in there first, though, whatever you do.

 

If the key broke off in the "run" position, you will probably have to turn the cylinder back a click or two to "off" before you can jiggle the piece of key out.
I'd be tempted to shape a guitar pick or popcycle stick to the width of the key and use a drop of JB Weld to pull that bad boy out. (Wait a day to set up.) I'm thinkin', a small strip of paper on each side of the brass to shield the epoxy from touching the cylinder, and just grabs the stub.

 

I was gonna say paper clip....but... it's cool where it is cause you can start and drive it