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need water tank key for '84 Westy
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K58
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:41 am    Post subject: need water tank key for '84 Westy Reply with quote

Steve's Lockshop in Texas wants me to send him my lock cylinder
Isn't there an easier way to get the lock re-keyed or a get a new key?
TIA
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Mulcheese
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Give this a try. Otherwise I think any locksmith (not your local hardware store) is able to make a key. If they cant then try another, thats there job. No need to send it away. You will need to bring in the lock/core so if it is in the van that is another story. http://www.vanagon.com/problems/water-tank-key.html
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Mr Brown
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had mine made at a local Locksmith. He claimed to have made many Westfalia water tank keys. Cost me $20 Shocked for the two keys, I guess he had to take the cylinder apart. I had to remove the filler assembly from the van, then disassemble the locking cap to get it out.
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TimGud
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

deleted

Last edited by TimGud on Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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mightyart
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is yours locked, and you don't have the key?
It's a very basic design, mine hasen't locked since I had it, but sits there real nice.
It was three months before I got the bright Idea to pull on it to see if it was locked. I just assumed it was since I bought the Westy.
Here's what it looks like.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

here's a post on the westy plumping
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=120652
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RichBenn
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any locksmith should be able to make one for next to nothing. Only problem I had was the key blank used was a little on the long side, so it's hard to get in and out if i put the plug in the wrong way (key cut part facing down).

Rich
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K58
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mightyart wrote:
Is yours locked, and you don't have the key?
It's a very basic design, mine hasen't locked since I had it, but sits there real nice.
It was three months before I got the bright Idea to pull on it to see if it was locked. I just assumed it was since I bought the Westy.
Here's what it looks like.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

here's a post on the westy plumping
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=120652

now there's an idea...I'll see if it's locked
just got the van and been working non-stop on the nagging electrical issues
seems to me you could just pop in a lock cylinder of the same size and be done...why not?

BTW, thanks to all for the responses
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randywebb
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Suppose your newly bought Westy has a locked water fill lock and no key...

then what? can you remove the 4 screws on the square door and pull the whole thing out?

or does that just remove the surround and not the locked cap itself?

thx!
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iiigoiii
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes you can remove the lock from the outside of the van by removing the utility flap first. i can't remember the exact sequence, but it was easy. just remember to note the order that all the nuts, washers, etc. come off in, for reassembly.

i used steve for mine - he has one of every possible water tank key, so he just tries them in order until he finds yours, then sends you the lock and keys back. reasonable price too, if i recall from a year ago....
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randywebb
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thx - how do I contact "Steve"?
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iiigoiii
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ah yes, sorry - that would be the 'steve' of 'steves lock shoppe' mentioned previously in this thread, reachable at http://www.steveslockshop.com

and to clarify, to get your locks off (snicker) you need to remove the whole utility port thing via the 4 screws (not just the utility 'flap' as i said in my last post), then undo the hose clamp, then it gets obvious from there. good luck.
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Last edited by iiigoiii on Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
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85_Westy
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

FWIW, I have the water tank keys for my '85 Westy and have never used them. I've had it for 7 years now. I always fill the tank from inside the van. I have to access the tank from inside in order to clean it anyway so filling it from there is a natural.

Mike
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RichBenn
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any locksmith can make one. At worst they'll need a day or two to get a key blank, but may have one in stock. They could even pick it for you, if you pay a little more...
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iiigoiii
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

from my experience doing this a year ago, most local lock shops did not have the correct key blank
> ILCO DM31; ILCO 1092 C or Y12 can be shortened to work
and the couple of them that did wanted much more than steve did to make the key.

i'm guessing that the labor required to make the key based on the pins (much less pick the lock and find the blank) is far more than steve simply trying each of the 20+ keys and sending you duplicates he has in stock....

for me, it's easier to fill via the utility port, especially when the van is already packed and the water tank lid is covered with stuff. (not to mention the one time i did fill from the inside...and the cheapo plastic nozzle i was using popped off of the hose at fairly high pressure and blasted the inside of the van!)
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Jon_slider
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried 2 locksmiths, neither could make a key for my water tank lock, which currently has no key.

One of the locksmiths has an ILCO DM 31 keyblank for $20, that could be used to cut a spare key..

But, Steves price is only $13 to make the first key, and $4.50 for the second key.

Steve's Lock Shop current correct contact info is

Steve's Lock Shoppe
63A Summer Pl.
Huntsville, TX 77340
936.293.9362 (cell)

He informs me there are 34 possible key combinations (he has every key), and he also has a few OEM tumblers for sale.
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erdonline
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:35 am    Post subject: Water tank key Reply with quote

My new '85 Vanagon Westfalia came with the main key (which on mine also does the gas cap, the glove box key, and the key for the water tank lock (old style with a real lock under the flap, not the locking cover with the little plastic tab key.) I wanted to get some duplicates. I already had the main key blanks.

I looked at this and a few other threads about the ILCO key blanks that fit. The DM 31 was $10 at a nearby hardware store that could get it but had to order it. They did have the ILCO Y12, which is supposed to work if you shorten it a bit. The locksmith there shortened it and cut the key, but when I got it home and tried it, it didn't fit. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the groove is a little narrower on the Y12 than on the original. I'm going to try to widen it a bit with my Dremel, and go ahead and get the $10 key that is supposed to fit right.

Has anyone found that the Y12 works? How about the ILCO 1092? The shop didn't have that one. Hopefully the DM 31 will fit without alterations.

I'll report back if the mod to the Y12 works.

Ed in CT
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ed, I don't think you should spend that $10 for a key that just might not work.

I had this same issue last week and I bought 3 of the dm31 keys thinking I'll have spares but that key was too big for my lock. The keys were from a locksmith and they were $1.50 each. I returned them and got my money back.

The key that I did get from a nice lady, that did work in my lock was much smaller. I have the locksmith trying to find out what the key is as the markings on it just said American.

I believe my key came from a 85 Westy and my Westy is an 87.

Check around some more locksmiths before you drop that $10 for a key that might work.
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erdonline
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:03 am    Post subject: Water tank key Reply with quote

I tried using the Y12 keys, and they didn't go in at all. The key looks slightly thicker, and the grooves are not quite as wide. I used my Dremel to widen the groove and slim down the key. I tried this on the two that I had made (the locksmith who copied already shortened it- it was also a little too long.)

One key now works if I push it in really hard; the other one still doesn't go in. I'm having them order the correct DM31 ILCO equivalent. A bit pricey, but I'm willing to try one from my semi-local store. They're pretty helpful and friendly and willing to help me research)

Ed
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ed,

I've been poking around the web and found my key that opens the water filler lock.

It's an American Lock Co. key ALPKBA, I have sent them an email asking how and where to purchase. Maybe you have a distributor in your area you can try.

Hope this helps?

Tim

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