Lost Keys

[MillerScottLite]

My 3 year old has become fond of keys/key rings. My TR7's keys have gone missing and I think my 3 year old put them in a special place that I have not been able to locate as of yet.

Is there a way to get a key(s) made from the vin or something else?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Scott

[TR Tony]

Oh dear - unless you have a record of the key numbers you have a big problem. The key numbers are not marked on the locks, they were only a little tag with the original keys.

If your car has it's original locks then you can apply for a Heritage Certificate from British Motor Industry Heritage Trust which will show the original key numbers.

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ ... index.html

You could probably then find a locksmith who could cut new ones from the code for you.

I guess you could try & find a complete set of locks with keys from one of the TR7 specialists, but then you have the hassle of changing them all over.

Hope that special place comes to light soon .......

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">

[Jolyon39]

Take out the ignition switch (this involves removing the one way screws and removing the two screws holding the switch on the wiring loom) and take the whole thing to a Lock Smith.

There is a tiny brass pin that they pull out by drilling next to it and levering. Once this pin is out the barrel can be removed and the wafers are measured. By looking up the measured wafers against the codes they will locate the correct code for you and cut a new key.

Next order the incredibly over priced Heritage Certificate and wait a month for it to arrive. (You provide your VIN for them to research your car) The Heritage certificate includes all your key codes on it so you will be able to order a key cut to code for the boot lock and glove box.

I engraved the key code on the side of my ignition after this. Make sure you engrave it in a place visible after the thing is bolted back on the steering column but hidden under the plastic covers.

There is a problem with the barrels:

The barrel has two prongs off the end that plug into the switch and turn the ignition from the key. These break off!

If your lock Smith says one is snapped off then I am unsure where to find a new barrel. I am thinking of buying one off a Triumph 2000 or 2.5 to see if they fit. (It works fine with one lug but obviously that is doomed sooner than later due to the extra force on it and age.)

Any ideas where to get good new barrels?

The wafers for your code can be easily swapped over


Jolyon

[trphil]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jolyon39</i>

Take out the ignition switch (this involves removing the one way screws and removing the two screws holding the switch on the wiring loom) and take the whole thing to a Lock Smith.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Remember the door locks are the same as the ignition lock, it's far easier to take the barrel out of a door lock. In fact the one on the passenger side of my car isn't fixed in, it comes out attached to the key!

[TR Tony]

Or you could buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-TR7-8-NEW ... dZViewItem

Bit of an expensive way to solve the problem but you would have matching nice new locks.

Doesn't help with the boot & glove box locks of course, Heritage Certificate still the best way forward there I think as you can't even replace the old ones unless you can open them in the first place[:(]

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">

[MillerScottLite]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I did manage to find a spare ignition key and I am sure that my main set will turn up. I need to get another made just in case my 3 year old strikes again.

Scott

[Chris Turner]

I havent done it recently but up until a couple of years ago, you didnt have to buy a Heritage certificate, they would give you the numbers over the phone if you could prove the car was yours.

www.triumphtr.co.uk
SJW 539S TR7 sprint
1980 TR7 Premium.

[danny]

Hi
I just wrote to them and sent a copy of my registration document. I included a SAE and they sent my key numbers back by return post. I got new keys cut to code at a local locksmith.


Danny
1980 TR7 fhc Brooklands green
1967 Spitfire Mk3 Signal red
View my Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/index.php/danny

[MillerScottLite]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will have to get some new keys made. I will probably wait untill after the holidays.

Scott