Date:         Wed, 8 Dec 2004 11:03:39 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: keys
Comments: To: Steve Sandlin <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY23-F28C18965CCF4ABF41E7A0BC6B60@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Steve,

When I lived in Alaska, I had an 85 GL that had a locking gas cap. I
thought the thing  was pug ugly and got sick of having to use the key
all the time to open the gas cap.  So, I opted to replace the cap with a
simple, screw-on cap that looked like a gear with gear teeth.

After a time, I went back to the pug-uggly keyed locking cap. I kept
leaving the non-locking version somehere on the road whn I would stop
for gas. I would drive off and leave the thing sitting there on the gas
pump. Got kinda expensive.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Steve Sandlin wrote:

> Again, there has been some mis-information given regarding gas cap
> keys and
> glove box keys.  The earlier gas caps were not designed to use the
> ignition
> key, but used a smaller key.  Later Vanagons and Syncros used the
> ignition
> key, and used the same wafer positioning and geometry as other Vanagon
> locks.  In many cases, the gas cap actually requires the smaller X132
> key,
> but will operate with the ignition key only becase the lock is so worn
> that
> actually anything will turn it that will go into it.  The glove box
> does use
> the SC key series, which calls for ILCO 61VW.  I've never seen one of
> those
> locks that reqires NO KEY, therefore I must assume that someone has
> removed
> the wafers and springs from the lock mentioned in a previous post.  As
> manufactured, the lock will not operate with an uncut blank.  There
> are no
> codes on those locks, but keys can be made by various methods.  That lock
> has a plastic housing, so if a locksmith wants to create a key by
> impressioning, he must be careful because excesive force will cause
> the lock
> to turn even though the key is incorrectly cut.
>
> Steve Sandlin
> Steve's Lock Shoppe
> http://www.steveslockshop.com
> '84 Wolfsburg Westy
> '79 Transporter
> '00 New Beetle
>
>