question??

[cag]

Hello everyone, I'm cag's wife and I have a question, He broke the key in the ignition, does anyone have an idea of how to remove this key?? We tried tweezers, didn't work....He is out working the tractor with all this snow, it can turn off and on with long nose plyers,but the key will not come out.../forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[BigDogues]

First I'd shoot some WD-40 into the ignition to help lubricte the whole mechanism. That lubrication should also help with extracting the broken key. If you can get a grip on the key try to wiggle it at the same time that you are trying to pull it out. Lots of wiggling should help the lube flow around the old key and loosen the pins in the lock.
Good Luck!

 

[BigDogues]

Okay, first the disclaimer… Try this at your own risk. Don’t hold me responsible if it makes things worse.
If you are absolutely adamant about getting the key and absolutely do not want to call a locksmith you could also try using a coping or scroll saw blade to extract the key if you cant get a grip on it with pliers. What you would do is use a very sharp saw blade to slide down along the key with the teeth facing backwards so that when you pull on the blade the teeth bite into the old key and pull it out. You would want to cut the end of the blade off that doesn’t have any teeth on it before putting it into the lock. Locksmiths have tools that work along similar lines. If you can get the key to back out just a bit then grab it with your pliers and remove it.
Good luck.

 

[Highbeam]

Let me guess, he bonked it with his knee? Mine has been bent but is still serviceable.

 

[depratt_equip]

strong magnet..... the keys don't really fit that tight to begin with....

 

[RedRocker]

Keys are non ferrous aren't they? He might take the ignition out and hold it upside down to work it out.

 

[BigDogues]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( strong magnet..... the keys don't really fit that tight to begin with.... )</font>

Well, if his tractor was anything like mine and left out in the weather without the cap over the ignition you would be surprised just how stiff that switch can become.

Oh, and no matter what anyone tells you... Don't use superglue to try to glue the key back together!

 

[JerryG]

Mrs. Cag,
I have used two different ways to extract broken keys. One is to use a pick. It is a small screw drive looking thing that is sharp like an ice pick. They are usually in a set of four. You would need to use the straight one or the one with only a slight crook first to get a hold of the broken part to work it out. The other way it to straighten out a paper clip, put a speck of super glue on the end and then stick it to the key. You have to be careful to only stick it to the key and not the the sides.
Good luck getting it out.

 

[VictorW]

Those little round scroll saw blades work great. I have used one like you said and it pulled the key piece right out. Otherwise, take the key switch out of the dash, lubricate well and hit it on a board while upside down. Good Luck Mrs. Cag

 

[cag]

I did it!!!! I removed the key with a precision screwdriver, 1.4mm to be exact. cag will be very happy, so am I, now I won't have to buy him a backhoe. Thank you all for your replies .. Denise (Mrs cag)