The Ford Barn

Scott H in Wheaton · 04-09-2015, 06:41 AM

Jim,
no problem. there should be a locking pin on the underside of the drop. drill out the locking pin and the lock cylinder will come straight out. Should take you all of 3-5 minutes, if the problem is just with the key cylinder.
There is a slide inside the drop that may be rusted/frozen. That will take a little more effort once you have the key cylinder out. I just went through this with a drop I'm working on for my truck.

Alaska Jim · 04-09-2015, 09:34 AM

Thank You.

WQ59B · 11-08-2015, 11:05 PM

Via post #11's pic, does the steering wheel have to be aligned a certain way for the column to then lock?

JM 35 Sedan · 11-09-2015, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WQ59B

Via post #11's pic, does the steering wheel have to be aligned a certain way for the column to then lock?

Yes...In the center of that #11 picture is a steering shaft with an attached locking collar. The steering wheel is keyed and locked on a tapered and threaded end of this shaft. This collar is held in place by two set screws that thread into the locking collar. These screws have non threaded ends that go into non threaded holes in the steering shaft. These screws keep the locking collar in place on the shaft. The locking collar has one rectangular slot (as shown in picture posted in #11), that a locking pin (as shown in picture posted in #12), located in the column drop, can slide in and out of as the key is turned in either direction, when the toggle lever is in the "off" position. Clear as mud?

WQ59B · 11-09-2015, 06:19 PM

Actually- quite clear.

So… is the correct procedure to turn the key, then turn the wheel until the lock clicks in & the shaft is locked? Then you can remove the key? Is the 'correct' position 'straight ahead'?

My '40 has the key in place, it turns but doesn't want to remove… but the wheel isn't locked. Either the pin is frozen 'up' or I haven't turned the wheel to the correct position for the pin to drop (haven't driven it yet, haven't run the wheel a full revolution either).

39topless · 11-09-2015, 08:01 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WQ59B

Actually- quite clear.

So… is the correct procedure to turn the key, then turn the wheel until the lock clicks in & the shaft is locked? Then you can remove the key? Is the 'correct' position 'straight ahead'?

My '40 has the key in place, it turns but doesn't want to remove… but the wheel isn't locked. Either the pin is frozen 'up' or I haven't turned the wheel to the correct position for the pin to drop (haven't driven it yet, haven't run the wheel a full revolution either).

you've got it. The pin is not in the locked position. Spray some WD 40 in there and turn the column using the steering wheel while working the lock switch. As you've stated above, the pin has to be in side the hole in the column before the key will come out.

WQ59B · 11-09-2015, 08:45 PM

Seems by looking at that one pic above, it has one dedicated position to be in for the pin to drop into the rectangular slot on the column...

rich b · 11-09-2015, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WQ59B

Seems by looking at that one pic above, it has one dedicated position to be in for the pin to drop into the rectangular slot on the column...

The pin is spring loaded in the locking pin assembly; the key can be turned to the lock position and removed in any wheel position; if the wheel is turned thereafter the pin will engage once the slot is aligned.

TonyM · 09-29-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich b

The pin is spring loaded in the locking pin assembly; the key can be turned to the lock position and removed in any wheel position; if the wheel is turned thereafter the pin will engage once the slot is aligned.

While messing with my 1937 Ford, I accidentally forced the wheel against the lock and the shaft was apparently liberated from the pin. The wheel seemed to turn freely. Not sure if it was turning the tires. I unlocked the column and took the car for a short ride around the block and it steered fine. I took out the key and then turned the wheel until the pin fell in the hole. It seems to be locked now just like it used to be. Did I screw up this lock/pin combo?

DavidG · 09-29-2021, 08:24 PM

There were at least half a dozen passenger car steering column brackets that served as the ignition switch and column lock prior to WWII plus commercial vehicle and big truck versions. As far as I know, only the 1932 passenger car/commercial vehicle version has been reproduced in its entirety.

04-09-2015, 06:41 AM	#21
Scott H in Wheaton Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Wheaton, IL near Chicago Posts: 861	Re: locking steering column Jim, no problem. there should be a locking pin on the underside of the drop. drill out the locking pin and the lock cylinder will come straight out. Should take you all of 3-5 minutes, if the problem is just with the key cylinder. There is a slide inside the drop that may be rusted/frozen. That will take a little more effort once you have the key cylinder out. I just went through this with a drop I'm working on for my truck.

04-09-2015, 09:34 AM	#22
Alaska Jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 1,575	Re: locking steering column Thank You.

11-08-2015, 11:05 PM	#23
WQ59B Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 69	Re: locking steering column Via post #11's pic, does the steering wheel have to be aligned a certain way for the column to then lock?

11-09-2015, 06:19 PM	#25
WQ59B Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 69	Re: locking steering column Actually- quite clear. So… is the correct procedure to turn the key, then turn the wheel until the lock clicks in & the shaft is locked? Then you can remove the key? Is the 'correct' position 'straight ahead'? My '40 has the key in place, it turns but doesn't want to remove… but the wheel isn't locked. Either the pin is frozen 'up' or I haven't turned the wheel to the correct position for the pin to drop (haven't driven it yet, haven't run the wheel a full revolution either).

11-09-2015, 08:45 PM	#27
WQ59B Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 69	Re: locking steering column Seems by looking at that one pic above, it has one dedicated position to be in for the pin to drop into the rectangular slot on the column...

09-29-2021, 08:24 PM	#30
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: locking steering column There were at least half a dozen passenger car steering column brackets that served as the ignition switch and column lock prior to WWII plus commercial vehicle and big truck versions. As far as I know, only the 1932 passenger car/commercial vehicle version has been reproduced in its entirety.