Date:         Tue, 11 Feb 1997 16:10:32
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         EXPRES@gnn.com (Ron Salmon)
Subject:      Re: tank key



>I recently bought an 83 Westie ... but the key to the water tank is
>missing. I tried the paper clip trick to open it, but it didn't work.
>Does anyone know if this is a "generic" key or are they all keyed
>differently? Is there any other way to open it?
>
>Thanks
>
>DDF

The story, as I understand it, is that on early to mid 80's models, 
Westfalia used a German lock cylinder that had been built for postal boxes 
in Germany.  Besides requiring metric tools to make a key (which US 
locksmiths generally don't have), apparantly key blanks were never made 
available for German postal security reasons.  

When I bought my '85, it was missing the key.  I could not find a locksmith 
who could make a key (although I think someone once posted to the list that 
they were able to get a duplicate key made at a locksmith). I finally ended 
up having the locksmith simply pick the lock for me and remove the cap, and 
eventually I replaced the recepticle. New replacement recepticles come with 
a plastic key like the late 80's Westies, but at $50 that's an expensive 
solution.

-Ron Salmon