Ignition Tumbler Question W123
 

I have a removed ignition tumbler from a W123. The tumbler got stuck. Luckily with the key in there at the time it got stuck, it was removed without causing a mess and came out with ease. I'm curious has anyone taken these apart? I'm sure that this thing is crudded up and I could clean up the pins inside, lube it make it as good as new.

Cleaning is always an option; however, if it is the original tumbler for the vehicle I would highly suggest ordering a new one. I myself just completed removing the steering lock from the column, which is a feat well versed on the boards. If the tumbler gets bad enough and will no longer allow the key to turn to the "ON" position you have to either drill out the tumbler or remove the entire ignition lock from the column.

Unfortunately, my local dealer informed me Mercedes no longer keys tumblers to the VIN and the new tumblers come with a set of two new keys. New tumbler with set of new keys came to ~$96.

There's a recent post about how to take the ignition tumbler apart. You have to drill out the roll pin. Before doing that, I would suggest putting it in an ultrasonic cleaner with Dawn dish detergent and get all the gunk out. If it is just gunk and the leaves or key is not worn, you may end up with a working tumbler. This worked for me on my 83 300D untill I got a good deal on a new aftermarket tumbler and swapped it out for POM.

X2 on the Ultrasonic Cleaner. I have an Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank and I did that with My Tumbler and a lot of tiny stuff came out of it.
I used something similar to Purple Power/Simple Green.

Since I don't think most People have an Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank you might ask you local Fuel Injection Shop to tank it.

I though My Ignition Lock Tumbler was bad but it turned out to be the Steering Colum Lock Broken inside.

In this case, it was definitely the tumbler. ;) it is the second tumbler I believe the car had so far. I think what I will do is take those pins out and file them down with an emery board too after I clean it. I think the pins inside too are brass. I will make note of this with pics when I decide to take this apart. Thanks for all your response(s) guys.

Is it OEM or aftermarket? The aftermarket ones are supposedly spotty.

Can't you check that the tumbler turns smoothly out to the car? If your ignition switch was getting stuck, it may not be the tumbler. In my 1984 300D, the problem was the spring-loaded detent came apart. That is a thin cast aluminum housing, so I expect many others would break and cause jams. You must remove the key stalk and pry off a steel cover to see it.

Spoke too soon...
 

The replacement tumbler does not apply to the original steering lock/tumbler housing due to the difference seen below. Options are to have the original tumbler housing machined a little deeper to accommodate the replacement. However, there is no release hole on the replacement tumbler; how would one remove said tumbler in the future?

yup. those pre 81 tumblers are now a rare commodity. as far as i know you have to replace the entire housing if you want to use the new tumblers. encountered this problem on a friends 77 240d.

Yes, a dealer part. Powdered graphite is a good way to maintain these tumblers I hear and from forum research I have read. Bad idea to spray lubricant in them and gum them up definitely. I think this might be the case and I can save it. The key is stuck inside the tumbler. I haven't pulled apart a tumbler, but replaced quite a few now. If this guy is savable I should have some pictures up Thursday this week or early Friday AM of disassembly process.

I think was Gastropodus that had this problem with his 77 240D. He replaced and upgraded his lock assy to the newer style. I believe the older stuff is NLA.

Charlie

That is correct. I had to get a new tumbler for my 79 280E and the only kind available was the later style. Even the classic center can't get the early ones anymore.

Great! Another lovely member of the household decided it would be best to throw away what I was working on. Now I lost the tumbler and a new cut key. Well, I have over 15 ignition tumblers I could fix, but the problem was that this was a brand new key to replace a really worn out original key. The original point was I wanted to take it apart to get my new key and do a DIY pictorial for those wanting to get a key out of their barrel. :rolleyes:

My Wife is not quite that bad but close. She usually limits Herself to moving the item/s someplace and not telling Me. The effect is that I think I missplaced it and end up rummaging through the House cursing for a few Hours till I give up.
When I She gets Home from work and I ask what happned to X the first response is to deny She knows what I am talking about and that turnes into "what did you do with it".

After I explain how much I need the X and how much suffering I went through trying to find X She finally admits She may have moved.

She wonders off and generally in a few minutes She brings Me X or points and says "is that it".

On the good side I have a bad memory and if I do missplace something and I left it someplace where it can be seen and I can describe it enough so She can recognize it (this is tough sometimes because English is like Her 3rd Language) about 98% of the time She can find it for Me.