What is the trick to remove the tumbler?
 

I spent almost 2 hours and still could not pull out the tumbler. Here what I did, I turned the key to 1 Position, put the tool inside the two holes, I flet I pressed down the spring and pulled the tumbler at the same time. No matter how hard I pulled, the tumbler would not come out. I have some idea how to do the job. Are there any other tricks? Thanks.

You have to turn the black "surround" section around the tumbler. Do you already have your new one? If you do you can see the mechanism that "unlatches" when you press the release. Once the mechanism is unlatched the black surround part should turn counterclockwise while pulling out on the tumbler. Once you have it out it is intuitively obvious how it works;).

you can find even more with a search

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=42867&highlight=tumbler

very very confused
 

Thanks all. Another 30 mins. hard worked. No luck. Engatwork, I am even more consfused. You means I need to turn the black rubber cover while I am pulling the tumbler, I have the new tumbler (only the sliver part), there is a black spring, the goal is put the tool into the tunnel to press down the black sping so I can pull the tumbler staight out. If the spring not all the way pressed down, the tumbler could not be pulled out. There is possible the spring not all the way pressed down. But how can I mak sure the spring is all the way down???

I always practice on the new tumbler. It takes a little "feel" to tell.

Another day of hard work, The tumbler still could not be pulled out. Why??? Help me please. Thanks.

What size wire are you using? (or do you have the real McCoy tool) When I did this proceedure, I started with 14 guage copper Romex household wire but was not successful until I switched to 12 guage. When I got the tumbler out, I could tell that the 14 guage wire was working its way UNDER the spring instead of OVER it.
The point I'm getting at is that the wire size is important, and so is the angle on the end of the wire.

Good luck. Post back with results.

Jeff Pierce

Coat hanger wire is about the right gauge wire.

If you made your own tool, did you cut/file the ends into the correct shape?

glenmore
1991 300CE

Some coat hanger wire is too thick. That's what just happened to me right now when I tried. I found some steel wire that worked fine. Give me a minute and I will write you up a nice post.

Here are some instructions:

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/3200/19su.jpg

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/226/20eg.jpg


1. Here is the key in the ignition
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/2203/dsc024405hm.jpg

2. This is how the key should line up so that you can insert the wire into the slots in the lock barrel
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/6915/dsc024442oy.jpg

3. Here is the slot on the other side
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/4836/dsc024450aq.jpg

4. This is the steel wire I used. I just cut a piece and made a "U" shape
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/2697/dsc024470nz.jpg

5. This is the steel wire being inserted into the ignition
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/9818/dsc024487cg.jpg

6. Here it is coming out
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/4530/dsc024491bi.jpg

7. Here it is apart
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/7333/dsc024503nm.jpg

I hope this helps you.

Hi all, I tried 12 and 14 gauge wire, coat hanger wire was too big for the channel. I studied the cd and forum again and did the work today, failed again!! It seems to me the black rubber wrapped around the tumbler would not let the tumbler out. First, what is that black rubber? Second, in order to pull out the tumbler, do I need to remove the rubber? Please help me out to finish the project. (I thought it was a easy Task!!!).

Did you look at my post? http://www.peachparts.com/shopfor...ghlight=tumbler
I typed out the directions from the shop manual, with comments from me.

Excerpt: "Note: the releasing wire of 2 mm steel wire is self made according to the specified dimensions. Straight length of wire = 300 mm. (Make two bends 20 mm apart to form a ‘U’. Grind the tips to a 70 degree angle, inside angle (the tips of the angle grinds are on the outside of the ‘U’)(Stiff, but not too fat coat hanger wire might just work. If not, get some good stiff wire.)"

One problem after another!!!
 

Lino, great pics. thank you very much. Now, I know I have to remove the black rubber (called lock barrel sleeve) first, but how? I broke my screwdriver with that, I tried to pry it out, failed. Go back to step 1: I need to remove the panel in order to make some room to work with. The problem : The black plastic around the head light switch would not pop out, if I force it, it will break for sure. I have to get rid of the black plastic in order to unscrew the panel. Any more step by step instructions?? it is driving me nut!!

D2bernhard: Question about your link step #4 , I want to know how you removed the black covering cap (lock barrel sleeve ?), Did the tumbler and the cap came out together ? Did you remove the cap first?

newkid,
I feel your pain. I worked and worked trying to get mine out of my 300SD and failed. I had lots of expert advice and felt like I just was too dense to get it. Soooooooo I took her to the dealer and low and behold the first certified mechanic could not get it out and he had to go and get the "master". He was in there about 10 seconds and out it came.
Keep trying, I really think it is a matter of getting everything in the right place and sequence and applying enough pressure
good luck

Is this the piece you are having trouble with?
http://img145.exs.cx/img145/8752/copyof8211cs.jpg

Yes, yes, yes
 

Lino
Yes, this is the trouble maker. Do I need to remove this part first or they will be pulled out together? Thanks a lot.

That piece is made out of the same space metal they made MechaGodzilla out of. It will break things like screwdrivers and drill bits. This is one reason our cars are down low on the list of cars chosen to steal. Mine came out with the tumbler all at once.

Ha ha, it comes to the point I have to call it quit. I have to finish shopping for the holiday first . (Spent to much time on the car!!!) Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas to all of you.

newkid - what part of the world are you in? Maybe someone nearby that frequents this forum could come by and give you a hand with it.

Last Friday evening, I had to leave my engine running at a christmas party because my key would not return to the off position!

After reading this thread, I proceeded to remove my tumbler too but because I could not line up the two holes, I ended up removing the knee bullster and that gave good access to remove the whole unit!

Once out, and lucky it stuck where it did because you cant unplug it from the harness unless the key is switched to ignition on position (strange!)

After discovering I could turn the key shaft from the other end, I could now get the key out! Later, I positioned the key so the holes lined up and tried and tried to remove the tumbler, no luck!

But now with the key operational, I loaded the hole unit up with 90 wht. oil and it turns freely through all positions, so I ended up putting it back in and so far it works OK.

Incidentally, if you ever need to remove your VDO cruise amp, it's real easy to get to with the knee bullster removed, and removal of the bullster is easy and quick! And that goes for the buzzer too! ;) BB

BB, where is the buzzer and what does it look like? I've been under there wanting to replace it, but I wasn't sure what I was looking at. :confused:

I think that the angle on your wire may not be sufficient.I had mine raked back pretty far almost like a one sided sharpened pencil.
2nd you have to remove the rubber portion of the key to get it off. I hear that you can buy new rubber key covers, but you definitely have to to take the black square rubber part of your key off.
Previous instructions I have read say that you have to twist the black ring off once you get the "tool " inserted properly

I did not have to remove the rubber portion of my key.

I wish I could tell you what the buzzer looked like! My hand was against it while removing the whole ignition. I know this because it was buzzing and everytime I touched it with the back of my hand it would change pitch in sound. If I had wanted to disconnect it, I would have paid it more attention, but with dust and insulation falling into my eyes while on my back looking up and the sun shinning through the back window into my eyes, I just wanted to get the ignition out, fix it, and put it back in!

My fix worked for three days! Now I've decided to replace tumbler afterall!

Another project for next spring! The car is covered for the winter today! Too much road salt and wet weather. I'll drive the Volvo for the rest of the winter! :( BB

Is this the same for a 1990 350sdl? somebody said I would have to replace the ignition , tumbler and outer sleeve not to mention taking half the car apart. I just need to replace the tumbler. Can anybody help?!!!

What please are your symptoms

I have a 1986 201. I've followed this thread and I have removed the black bezel; but I cannot get the lock cylinder out. It feels like there is something else holding it in. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong. Here is a pic of how far I have gotten.
http://www.majhost.com/gallery/bluet...mat/il_007.jpg

Sorry, I don't know how to make this image smaller.