the lock cylinder may have seized after years of accumulating crud [no disrespect] (my front passenger door)or it's a replacement cylinder that just needs to be keyed to like with the existing cylinders (my slider). hopefully, Steve the locksmith will pick up on this post ...

--- On Tue, 12/6/11, Steven Yoon <drssyoon@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: Steven Yoon <drssyoon@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Vanagon key blanks
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 4:20 PM
> Speaking of key issues -
> 
> My 83 Westy's rear hatch cannot be locked. I tried both the
> ignition key
> and the gas cap key, but neither will turn the lock. Was
> there a third key
> for the rear hatch or something else going on here?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> /S/
> 
> On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 3:54 PM, BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > Andrew,
> >
> > Perhaps the problem might be the key you had copied
> was worn at the tip.
> > If it's too short, you might not be engaging the lock
> wafers at the right
> > spots. The tip of an unworn Vanagon/T3 key should be
> shaped almost like an
> > arrow. At least that is how all new keys I've had
> came. I've had a couple
> > of hundred at least. And when I took my featureless
> old key decoded, the
> > new key cut by code had the miraculous arrow point at
> the end again.
> >
> >
> > Best of luck,
> >
> > BenT
> >
> > sent from my sharp keys
> >
> > On Dec 6, 2011, at 12:25 PM, "Andrew Martin" <ramblinvan@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Interesting...� I tried every which way but
> loose to get them to fit and
> > > even thought about shaving them down a bit...
> > >
> > > I will investigate this further.� Thanks
> Ben!
> > >
> > > Andrew
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: BenT Syncro [mailto:syncro@gmail.com]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 10:13 AM
> > > To: Andrew Martin
> > > Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Vanagon key blanks
> > >
> > > Andrew,
> > >
> > > My VW factory rubberheaded keys operate all the
> treasure chest doors in
> > all
> > > three of my Doublecabs just as well as my plain
> head keys.
> > >
> > > Steve has cut a number of Vanagon keys and
> rekeyed a number of locks for
> > me
> > > as well.
> > >
> > >
> > > BenT
> > >
> > > sent from my electronic leash
> > >
> > > On Dec 6, 2011, at 7:36 AM, Andrew Martin <ramblinvan@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I had Steve rebuild the lock cylinders and
> make new keys for my
> > >> Transporter single cab.� I received at
> least one each of the style
> > >> options mentioned below and all of them are
> very high quality and work
> > > perfectly.
> > >>
> > >> Doka and Sinka folks please note:� The
> plastic headed keys (VW logo or
> > >> Italian made) cannot be inserted far enough
> into the treasure chest
> > >> door locks to operate the locks.� Be
> sure to retain a good all metal
> > >> "hardware store generic" key for your
> treasure chest!
> > >>
> > >> Steve's work is excellent and my door locks
> operate as new.
> > >>
> > >> Andrew
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
> On
> > >> Behalf Of Steve Sandlin
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 6:08 AM
> > >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >> Subject: Vanagon key blanks
> > >>
> > >> There has been a bit of discussion on the
> availability of key blanks,
> > >> and several people asking me what I have
> available, so here goes.� I
> > >> keep in stock plain metal hardware-store
> generic blanks, an
> > >> Italian-made black plastic headed key blank,
> and the VW original with
> > >> the plastic head and inset chrome logo.�
> There has never been a
> > >> replacement blade made for the flip keys in
> the Vanagon keyway.� With
> > >> worn locks, yo can force the key for the
> other water-cooled cars into
> > the
> > > Vanagon locks, but it is not correct.
> > >> We see lots of Vanagon keys sent to us that
> are incorrectly cut on
> > >> that keyblank.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks for the continuing support.
> > >>
> > >> Steve Sandlin, Registered Locksmith
> > >>
> > >> Steve's Lock Shoppe
> > >>
> > >> www.steveslockshop.com
> > >>� � � � � �
> � � � � � � � �
> � � � � � ���=
> > >
> >
>