Removing Battle Locking Steering wheel, help needed

[Jack Putnam, in Ohio]

I'm looking for the secret to remove the steering wheel lock from the column. It was made by the BATTLE LOCK COMPANY and of course the key is long gone. I cannot see any pins that could be keeping the lock in place. Some paint does remain that could be hiding a pin. If anyone has any knowledge on how to separate mechanism from the column please share. The gears at the top of the column need to be checked and greased

[Mike Silbert]

While I am not familiar with that model sometimes the tumblers need to be removed first to get access.
When I buy a car with a missing key here is what I play with.
Sometimes it can take a long time but usually is rewarding, eventually.

[bobt]

Question. When you say locking, is it locked or is it freewheeling? bobt

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Let's see some views from the bottom side.

[Loftfield]

Hi Jack,
Any decent locksmith can make a key for you, more $$$ but less stress than attacking the mechanism. I have one of those on one of my cars, let us know how you get it off.

[Mike Silbert]

This may or may not be helpful here but some thoughts:

There has to be a locking mechanism somewhere so the question is where.
Is it hidden under the lock tumbler?
Is one(s) of the plate rivets longer making a locking mechanism?

I would measure a stock gearbox and figure out where around the housing it has to be located.
Do the plate rivets even line up correctly?

Here are some links to various pictures to maybe give some ideas.
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 1377609837
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/7 ... 1503209674
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/2 ... 1172706748
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/8 ... 1523226902
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Fordmod ... 3429915548

And be thankful you are not dealing with one of these steering wheels
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/7 ... 1511281484

[big2bird]

Look for a set screw.

[big2bird]

Look for a set screw. Perhaps under the nameplate.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I see some odd discolorations here, located 180 degrees apart. Locations of hidden pins? If so, they're likely driven out from the bottom, (hence my request for bottom end pictures).

lock.png (347.14 KiB) Viewed 445 times

[speedytinc]

I see some odd discolorations here, located 180 degrees apart. Locations of hidden pins? If so, they're likely driven out from the bottom, (hence my request for bottom end pictures).


lock.png

I also saw the one on the right also. Pin locked. One way. You will have to drill them out.
It wasn't made to be removed once installed.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I see some odd discolorations here, located 180 degrees apart. Locations of hidden pins? If so, they're likely driven out from the bottom, (hence my request for bottom end pictures).


lock.png

I also saw the one on the right also. Pin locked. One way. You will have to drill them out.
It wasn't made to be removed once installed.

If it's like a FOX steering wheel lock, (and some others), the pins will drive out from the bottom. Look up from the bottom of the housing for small notches along the threads that screw the device onto the gear case. In the case of the FOX mechanism, only a very slender pin punch will work.

[John kuehn]

Unless the lock is broken internality it can be picked open. Use some type of light lube like Kroil or WD-40 to loosen the pins or wafers in the lock. If you can see the lock pick set that Mike S posted use one of the picks that’s starts with the one that’s third on the right or some the others from there and “rake” the pins back and fourth several times. That will get the pins internally loosened up. Once that’s done use one of the tension bars shown and a pick and start to move the cylinder with the inserted bar. It should begin to start to turn . Keep doing it and it should open. Good luck. It’s not hard to do and once you do it you usually can open any door, tool box lock and etc using the same technique.

Yes locks should be lubed with graphite but if the pins are stiff Kroil will loosen them up. Dry the lock out and then lube with graphite after it’s opened and cleaned out.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Where has the OP stated that the unit is locked??? He seems to just want it removed from the column.

[Allan]

Tapered pins were commonly used for various applications. Stewart speedo swivels had tapered pins to hold the drive gear end in the potmetal housing. If you try to drive them out the wrong way you will do damage. If there are pins, make sure any attempt to drive them out considers the possibility of a tapered pin.

Allan from down under.

[John kuehn]

A close reading says the key is long gone so the assumption is that it’s locked by the post.

[Mike Silbert]

I do not know the operation, installation, or removal of that particular model steering wheel lock so this is purely thoughts.

We have 2 possibilities here:
1) The motion is locked and the steering wheel can not turn. There appears to be a key number on the tumblers so that can help getting a new key.
2) The motion is free and they just want to remove it from the column.
The OP is not really clear on this question.

If I were designing a steering wheel lock and I wanted to lock it onto the steering column very securely I would hide the locking mechanism inside the housing lock tumbler hole.
This would require a key and removal of the tumblers in order to access the area to be able to remove the parts.
Maybe I am designing a system that is too secure?
Maybe it is there, and maybe not, but if I could not find another answer I would remove the tumblers and look.

Until it is proven exactly what is going on and how it is built and how to remove it, all of this is only speculation.
The original poster was looking for ideas and that is what people are presenting.

I hope once it is removed there will be a follow up post so we can all learn from this issue.
Mike

[Scott_Conger]

The gears at the top of the column need to be checked and greased

In my line of work, that would be considered a "clue" as to whether the mechanism was locked or not.

Not that it makes one whit of difference to anyone at all, nor to getting it off as is the point of the thread, but my bet is that this thing is unlocked and the steering gears presently operate as designed, key or no key.

As far as getting it off, until the back side is shown as Jerry requested, we're all pretty much guessing, and guessing usually solves nothing.

[Dan Hatch]

Zoom in where the circle is. A pin maybe? Just above the tag.

[ModelTWoods]

Hi Jack,
Any decent locksmith can make a key for you, more $$$ but less stress than attacking the mechanism. I have one of those on one of my cars, let us know how you get it off.

The procedure is call "impressioning" a key. The trick is finding an experienced locksmith these days who knows how to do it, as most older generation locksmiths have retired or gone to that great keyboard in the sky. Most current generation so called 'locksmiths' only know how to duplicate a key on a machine. A decade ago, I needed this done and was lucky to find a local locksmith who could, and did, do it for me, and his charge didn't break my bank account.

[Scott_Conger]

Making a key solves the problem of locking/unlocking the steering wheel; there is only a very negligible chance that a key is going to lead to removal of the device for the purpose of servicing the grease, and that is the problem that Jack is asking help for. The great majority of these things are semi-permanently installed via mechanical jamming with pins, as other posters have suggested.

100 years after installation, these old steering lock devices are nearly 100% of the time, a damn nuisance. I feel for you Jack.

[South Park Zephyr]

I sent the pics to a locksmith friend.
He said most likely the tumbler will need to be removed, and a key might be needed to do so

He has worked. On two Guardian wheels I have that came without keys. The cylinder had to come out in order to get the the attachment hardware that held the wheel together

Hope that helps.

Scott

[Jack Putnam, in Ohio]

I don't know if you call it locked or unlocked but the steering wheel does turn and steers the car. Fwiw.
Pins have been located by wire wheel paint removal..
Thanks for all the advice.

[Allan]

I'd say the wheel is unlocked if you can still drive/steer the car. In the locked position you are likely not able to turn the steering wheel. It is more likely than not that the pins were driven in from the top, meaning they will have to be driven out from underneath if the quadrant will allow access. This presumes that tapered pins were used and the pin hole is not blind!

Allan from down under.