On Wed, 9 Sep 1998, Gary Shea wrote:

> On Wed, 9 Sep 1998, Dan Burgos wrote:
> > I'm gonna try the hot water treatment.  I was able to get the lock out
> > through the inside panel.  I've also discovered that these locks are
> > sealed...meaning they cannot be repaired if they break.  That also means
> > that if you buy a new lock, it cannot be keyed by a locksmith...so now
> > you'll have a 2-key vanagon.
> > RMMW has the lock for an '81 Vanagon for $64.95.
> > Does anyone know of a more reasonable place to get the lock?
> >
> > Dan burgos
> > '81 westy

> I don't know if it changed or what... I have an '81 also, but I put
> an '86 hatch on it; I've had that lock apart (it was frozen when I got
> it, couldn't even put the key in...), and had it rekeyed to my old
> '81 key.
>
> That lock has a rollpin on the back that you push out, then the whole
> thing falls apart.  If the '81 doesn't come apart all I can say is
> eeeeeewwwwwwwww, bad design!
>
>         Gary

Boiling the lock in water for 2 hours and then working it back and forth
with a pair of pliers while the key was inserted finally did the trick.
It loosened up the frozen parts.  Now the lock works fine.
As for the '86, well I was told by a VW dealer and RMMW that (at least for
an '81) these locks are sealed and therefore there is no way to get them
rekeyed...yes, bad design but probably economical from VW's perspective.

Thanks for everyone's help,
Dan Burgos
'81 Westy