KEYS WON'T TURN!!

As weird as it sounds maybe it is as simple as the key you are using has worn to much?

when i was a young takka, my ol mans HQ ute had something bust up with the ignition (too young to remember what went wrong) he ended up grinding a slot in the top of the steering column and attached a bolt to the sliding part of the mechanism.
from that moment on it was a bolt start HQ ute
it could be the round gear that changes the rotational motion of the barrel into the linear motion on the rod

it not the steering lock stuck on?
turn the wheel away from the lock position and try the ignition again

Try removing the switch assy at the end of the pushrod (you will see it on the top left hand side of the steering column). Can be a bit tricky. If the key can turn when removed then you have found the culprit. If not then the problem most likely is inside, near the key/barrel assy.

The below link is a picture of the switch assy removed. The column can be removed and completely disassembled, but be sure to use a puller if you are removing the steering wheel, or you will bugger the upper bearing. (NOT GOOD!!).

http://i856.photobuc...

try a different key, if that still doesnt work:
remove lower dash panel. unbolt bolts holding lower column to firewall (about 6 i think). Undo 3 large bolts holding upper column to dash area. column will come unstuck from firewall and drop down. on top section of column about half way down you will see the switch itself (has a big plug and a rod coming down to it). un plug it, mark where it is (the holes are slotted for adjustment, mark where slots are at with a white out pen or something). remove the 2 bolts holding it on. maneuver switch to release the rod from it (you will work out how it slips in when you see it).
Now check to see if the key turns properly. dont pull on the rod or turn the key to far because you might upset the gears near the barrel (make them a tooth out etc). Im not sure if this is possible but dont risk it. If it does turn properly the switch is at fault.
If the key still doesnt turn properly, and you can move the switch by putting a screwdriver etc in where the rod went and switching it by hand then:
remove steering wheel using a steering wheel puller (dont yank on it you will damage upper column bearing). Remove indicator stalk and indicator assembly as a unit. (a few screws you have to move indicator stalk to get at them all). you should see a slot where barrel is with a tag thing sticking up in it. Some castings didnt come out perfect in the factory and the slot may be covered over, but you will be able to poke the hole through the thin layer of bad casting. Put the key in Acc position (i think), push tab in the hole down with a bit of wire etc, and pull on barrel to remove it. Check to see if you can pull/push the rod (to the ign switch) further than it previously would go. Dont push or pull it too far and upset the gears (as explained before). If you can it will probebly be the barrel you removed. inspect to see if it will turn out of the column. If your still having problems moving the rod read on.
Remove the circlip on the end of the steering shaft (it has a spring and probebly washer behind it). Remove spring etc and upper part of column (with the bearing in it). It should should slide up and off. In the next section of the column you will see the plastic/fibre or whatever gears that convert the twisting motion of the key barrel to the pull/push motion on the rod that goes to the ignition switch. These may be at fault. Inspect them.
Have fun getting the cirlip back on the end of the column with the spring behind it. I have no advice on how to make this an easy task. May be easyier to undo the couple of wiring plugs, removing the coupling from the end of the steering box, and pulling the whole column out of the car.

All of this information is done from memory so i may have missed a few little things

Cheers guys for the replies especially one_tunna_lova's detailed description.
A couple of years ago I replaced all the locks including barrel to having matching keys.
So I removed the newish barrel, and found out that the 2 year old barrel is buggered and wont turn past accessories.
So I just got the old ones and put them back in, and now everything good!
its funny how the original barrel is still going after 38 years but the repro ones only lasted 2.
cheers guys

Cosmo

Hi Guys just looking for a bit of help!!

The pass front door on mb WB stato is locked shut, the button will not lift up from the inside and the key wont work from the ouside, I used a set of pliers on the knob, with medium force but to no avail!! anyone come accross this before??

Cheers
Barnsey