1991 ignition

[flaymon1]

a buddy of mine had question about his gen2

I have a 1991 ranger and the ignition will not turn either direction so I cannot push the release pin. How can I remove and replace this lock?

 

[Dave R]

Even if you were able to push the release pin in, the lock cylinder would still not come out if it's not rotated into the correct position.

Might be easier to replace the assembly with one from the wrecking yard.

 

[AllanD]

It's POSSIBLE to get it out, but explaining it to someone who may or may not be trained and/or experienced in "brutal necissity" is difficult.

If the cylinder will not turn AT ALL even with the key
then the first step is to DRIVE the latch in inwards with a 1/8" taper punch

Next BREAL OFF the finger piece on the end of the lock cylinder.

Next DRILL the cylinder as closely to "down the middle" as you can
And eventually you'll hit the narrow "neck" of the little "nub" on the end that actually turns the sector gear inside the column and the cylinder will slip out.

OR you can go for greater brutality...
Break off the drive nub and using a slide hammer attachment for dent pulling with a 1/4" lag screw just JERK the cylinder with the slide hammer.

Afer one or the other of these methods you can simply rotate the sector gear until the "nub" that has been broken off the end of the cylinder is aligned with the "Guard plate" inside the clumn where it can be grabbed and withdrawn with a long skinny
pair of "stork nose" pliers.

All of this presumes that the cause of the cylinder refusing to turn is indeed the cylinder
and not that the "Rack gear" inside the column that actually works the ignition switch hasn't broken and thus the sector gear (and the cylinder) cannot turn it.

VERY FEW people, even in a large group of professional mechanics, have the
aptitude AND inclination to actually disassemble a steering column.
MOST people will, if given ANY chance whatsoever, avoid doing so by the simple expedient of replacing the entire steering column as a unit.

AD

 

[smokey]

have used the slide hammer method it works well. fast and east