Re-Keying / Repairing WASO Steering lock / ignition switches

[pharriso]

Later Elan Sprints & Elan Plus 2 S130s use a WASO sourced steering column mounted ignition switch which also incorporates a steering column lock.

I had 2 assemblies, one without any key & one with a broken column lock latching mechanism. I searched the internet & found very little information on dis-assembling the steering locks or on re-keying the locks themselves. So with locksmithing advice from my brother-in-law I figured out how to take the steering locks apart & how to re-key the ignition lock itself. I have written up the techniques used & attach them here in the hope that they will be useful to someone else in the future:

ReKeyingAWASOIgnitionLock_V1.00.pdf

(1.29 MiB) Downloaded 294 times

[trw99]

Thank you, Phil,

Most helpful.

Tim

[Bodmin]

Well done for figuring this out and recording it for future reference. Extremely well written and illustrated.

I’ve done a cop out and removed my steering lock completely. I now have a dash mounted ignition switch on my new dash as per S4 layout.

[Bud English]

Nicely done Phil. This just helped me immensely freeing up my frozen steering lock. I was able to completely tear it down and remove fifty years worth of stiff grease and pot metal powder build up. It's now working great.

I have a related question. Maybe you can help. The shaft that extends through the lock assembly to rotate the switch ends in a simple thin bar. The switch recess is a flat sided oval.

Should there be a plastic or rubber piece that fits over the bar to adapt it to the switch recess? It works as is but seems to have quite a bit of slop.

[pharriso]

Hi Bud, there isn't anything between the metal driving piece & the slot in the ignition switch itself.

The driving tang on your switch looks to be too small. Here's a photograph of the driving tang on the 3 switches that I have just re-keyed:

Having that driving tab would certainly introduce a ton of slop in the movement, could you build it up with JB Weld or similar?

[Bud English]

Thanks for the quick reply Phil. It appears that my setup isn't original. I've had the car for forty four years and that's the first time I've been in there. Looks like a bit of fabrication is called for.

Where did you come up with three switches to rekey? Secret source?

[pharriso]

Where did you come up with three switches to rekey? Secret source?

Kinda took on a life of it's own as these projects do...

Needed a ignition switch anti-rotation bracket as mine was missing, bought a Europa one with a column & ignition switch... taught myself how to dis-assemble & re-key the lock... then saw other locks for sale inexpensively on eBay... so if anyone needs a WASO lock with key I'm your man!

[alan.barker]

Surely most of these parts are triumph spit and easy to buy and cheap.
Alan