84 300SD Ignition tumbler - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

NoSparkNeeded · #1 06-03-2015, 04:07 PM

Spent the last hour or so using the corner of my palm sander vibrating
a very stuck key in my wife's SD. nothing at all was happening. Almost
gave up and boink the key turned and I was able to easily stick a small
jewelers screwdriver in the hole and remove the tumbler.
Could I please have an opinion from you kind folks?
A Meyle or Febi is only around 20 bucks-ish, while an OEM is a hundred.
Has anyone here reading had any long term use of the cheaper tumblers?
I'd hate like heck to have a cheapo fail and have to drill it out since I got
so lucky this time.

Diesel911 · #2 06-03-2015, 04:25 PM

I had what I thought was and Tumbler issue and it turned out that the inards of the Steering Colum Lock was broken inside.
My Lock Tumbler got stuck and after a lot of fooling with it finally turned and I was aboe to get the Tumbler out.

At the time I had one of those little Harbor Freight jewelery Ultra Sonic cleaning tanks and I threw the Lock Tumbler into that and cleaned it good. That with an new Steering Colum Lock assembly and I have had about 4 years with no issues.

A new steering colum lock assmely comes with a new Ignition Switch and a new Vacuum Valve (the one that attaches to it).

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/333785-steering-colum-lock-ignition-lock-housing-causes-ignition-switch-failure.html

I was also in a locksmiths shop and listened in on a coversation. The lock smith said that people that have a large amount of Keys hanging off their Car key have more trouble with their ignition tumblers because of the hanging weight.

I have no personal experience with aftermarket Lock tumblers but a few have said they only got 1 to 1-1/2 Years use before they developed a problem.

I also am adding that I have been using Ignition Keys since I bought the car back in 2007. Previous to the Steering Colum Lock innards breaking I had on several occasions hosed out the key slot of the Lock Tumbler with WD-40.

While I think it is likely that the WD-40 helps to wash out any chips or dust in the tumbler I can't say they for sure.

Lubrication generally helps any moving parts and reduces wear.

When the Lock Tumbler was in the ultrasonic tank and it was turned on a small cloud of fine particles came out of it.

Diesel911 · #3 06-03-2015, 04:29 PM

If someone has used the aftermarket Ignition Lock Tumblers and had it fail could you also say what your best guess is as to what failed on it. Meaning was there any exterior dammage and so on.

ah-kay · #4 06-03-2015, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

A Meyle or Febi is only around 20 bucks-ish, while an OEM is a hundred.
Has anyone here reading had any long term use of the cheaper tumblers?
I'd hate like heck to have a cheapo fail and have to drill it out since I got
so lucky this time.

I would go OEM just be reading what a pain you went thru. I changed out mine, W124 for $75. A tumbler plus a new key from the dealer.

NoSparkNeeded · #5 06-03-2015, 06:42 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Ah-Kay said "I would go OEM just be reading what a pain you went thru."

Yes indeed since getting a stuck key out could have been really bad I didn't
want to face it again and fail. Ah-Kay I have been reading your posts for years
I cannot imagine what anyone would hassle you about.

Diesel911, I read all your posts as well. The rest of her lock seems fine.
Actually everything was fine, no warning, the key just got stuck.

Our good old Benz has always, when it had to fail and not often, it is always
kind enough to do so right in front of my house. We love this car. Never
stranded us since we bought it in 91

ah-kay · #6 06-03-2015, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

Ah-Kay I have been reading your posts for years
I cannot imagine what anyone would hassle you about.

You will be surprised. Someone here suggested to ban me. I had a lot of disagreement with the ex-MOD. Thankfully, I am on good term with the current MOD. I only post if I know the stuff. I am after quality posts, not quantity.