Cant remove Key
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 3
From: Oglesby Illinois
Cant remove Key
I have a 1970 Corvette with a manual transmission and I cant remove the key. I had to change out the head gaskets and i found a "mickey mouse" clip on the ground. I had the key in the ignition so it was in neutral so i could rotate the engine. I have it back together and cant remove the key. What mechanism locks the key in the ignition, i.e. where should that clip go?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Trans must be in reverse . There is a lever at the base of the steering column on the engine side, it will have a cable attached that goes to the reverse lever on the trans. If the cable is missing, just move the column lever up and you should be able to turn the key to lock and remove it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
OR...even if you do get the transmission reverse...the cable that moves the lever on the column can kink..and thus not rotate the parts in the steering column to allow you to be able to remove the key.
Sometimes I have to pull up on that lever a little bit....or remove the cable from the lever and manually pull up on that lever to allow the key to come out....and then call the customer and let them know what is needed to fix the problem.
In 30+ years I have had only ONE steering column that required me to disassemble it because the mechanism inside it.... that moves.... to allow the lever to move was seized due to old rock hard grease.
DUB
Sometimes I have to pull up on that lever a little bit....or remove the cable from the lever and manually pull up on that lever to allow the key to come out....and then call the customer and let them know what is needed to fix the problem.
In 30+ years I have had only ONE steering column that required me to disassemble it because the mechanism inside it.... that moves.... to allow the lever to move was seized due to old rock hard grease.
DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,268
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi b69,
Here's where the 'clip' goes and the lever which both '75 and DUB mention must be in the full 'up' position.
Moving shifter to reverse moves the lever UP.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Right side of steering column.
Here's where the 'clip' goes and the lever which both '75 and DUB mention must be in the full 'up' position.
Moving shifter to reverse moves the lever UP.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Right side of steering column.
Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 19, 2016 at 08:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 3
From: Oglesby Illinois
Thank you very much, I got the key out. Is there any adjustment in this mechanism or do i simply need to lubricate the cable as it continues to do the same thing over again.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,268
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bill,
The cable is a fixed length with no adjustment at either end.
You're correct in thinking the cable should be free to move in it's sheath so that the lever on the steering column is moved as far up as possible when the reverse lever on the transmission is moved.
Regards,
Alan
No adjustment possible.
The cable is a fixed length with no adjustment at either end.
You're correct in thinking the cable should be free to move in it's sheath so that the lever on the steering column is moved as far up as possible when the reverse lever on the transmission is moved.
Regards,
Alan
No adjustment possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
The bracket that the upper end of the cable attaches to is held to the firewall by 2 nuts on the inside of the car at the base of the column. You may be able to loosen those nuts and twist the bracket up enough and then re-tighten them. Not really designed as an adjustment, but may accomplish the same thing.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
IF this woven wire cable KINKS or has kinked...then getting it back so it does not kink again is NOT easy.
IF you take off the end on the firewall side. Manually check the lever of the steering column and make sure that it goes up and down fairly easy. Obviously...you have to turn the key in the column to allow this lever to move.
If the lever is hard for your hand to move.....then you have the issue like I have mentioned in a previous post where the grease in the steering column is causing this lever to bind up.
If your actual cable is the problem...then all I can say it that BOTH ends of the cable need to be removed so you can manually move the cable and let your lubricant get in and free up the cable to the housing.
DUB
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