Ignition Lock Removal 1978 Bay Bus

[smitty1976bus]

Hello all,
Just bought a 78' Westy! I'm very happy, I now have all the pieces I need to build on awesome bus. It was delivered to me last weekend, and I have a slight problem... The steering wheel is locked up. I believe it to be the ignition lock, I think this year has that. The other problem is, I have no keys for this bus. I took the column almost all the way apart, but can't slide off the part with the ignition.. Does anyone know how to retract the lock? I can't seem to see it any where accessible. Any help is much appreciated.

-Smitty

[busdaddy]

Congratulations on your new bus!

I could type for an hour and still not describe the job as well as this book does, you need one regardless:

Shop around, they are all over the web at various prices.

For now you'll likely be better off to lift the floor plate and disconnect the steering column from the steering box, you'll have to push the wheels to aim but you'll be able to move it around the yard until your Bentley manual arrives.
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[Tcash]

thanks to ratwell.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/SteeringColumn.html

[Wildthings]

With luck the ignition lock cylinder will still be set up to use the same key as the doors. Remove your passenger door lock and take it into a locksmith and have him make you a key.

[aeromech]

Assuming that the ignition lock cylinder has been changed over the years I suggest working on removing the lock cylinder from the switch housing. Once it's out you can simply unlock the column with a flat bladed screw driver. Not sure on the 1979 but earlier buses have a small hole in the housing where you insert a probe to depress the lock cylinder catch spring. Once depressed the cylinder will pull right out of the housing. The bitch is finding and accessing that hole.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Wasted youth]

Thanks to Tcash for posting Ratwell's article on this. I used that to replace the ignition switch on my 1977 bus. Not that difficult, but care must be exercised when handling the grouped wire plugs for the Accessories that connect the column housing circuits to the wiring loom. These wire groups have multi pin plugs that are difficult to see when plugging back in when the job is nearly finished:

I replaced my switch, which had a crack in the plastic casing causing difficulty when trying to start the engine. I think the crack in the case allowed the switch contacts inside to become misaligned. I got my Meyle replacement from my favorite vendor:

At the base of the cast metal housing, there is the rivet that must be drilled out. In this picture, it is out of view on the other side (left side, lower part of cast metal housing assembly when viewed from the seat)

[smitty1976bus]

Thanks guys, all very helpful. I've got most of it apart,and can't quite get to the release pin thing, some plastic collar is covering it. Also, can't seem to find an access hole to depress it, I don't think 79s and earlier have them. I called the guy i bought the bus from, and asked him to look for the keys, any keys. ha. The lock smith idea is a good idea, I may have to try that.
Will update, thanks guys!

[SGKent]

I used this on my 1971 some 35 years ago. It may or may not help on the 1978. I don't recall if it was needed for my 1977 which has a 1978 column in it.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Wildthings]

Notice that Ratwell's instructions (and I suspect the Bentley's) say to insert the key as part of the lock removal process. No key and the lock cylinder will not come out even after you have properly located and drilled the hole and have depressed the spring clip.

[aeromech]

I think that's just so you have something to grab onto
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[aeromech]

I think that's just so you have something to grab onto
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Tcash]

If I remember right any key from that series of lock will work.

[smitty1976bus]

that Ratwell link is a freaking gold mine, thank you for it!

Ok,I havent had a lot of time to work on my bus, or post, been working wayyy to much. But, I did get some luck to finally swing my way. The dude I bought the bus from, found a VW key, which he believes goes to my bus's column. He mailed it to me, I got it today, and bam!! It turned the ignition! The lock popped off, and I slid the housing off! Couldnt be happier, because i honestly have no idea how I would have done it without the key, it would of sucked. haha. I think I'll be buying a nice new ignition set up tho.

I also bought a few bus manuals, first one was the green official service manual, which busdaddy mentioned. Great stuff, thanks guys! Time for me to rebuild my 2.0!

[busdaddy]

[Tcash]

Time for me to rebuild my 2.0!
You need to read and understand this book.

Good luck

[smitty1976bus]

Just got that repair manual in the mail today Tcash! Amazon is amazing, i have just about everything I need now. Know anyone who offers a good rebuild kit for a 2.0? Gaskets, bearings, piston rings, etc.? BusDepot seems to have a lot of good stuff.

I tried the keys on the locks on the bus, but didn't seem to work, the keys pretty worn out, so not sure if its the original or not, i'll have to check the codes on them all.

[Tcash]

Locating your Key Code...various years and models