Key won't go into tumbler?!?

[quickervicar]

Working on a friend's '85 325 that has been sitting for quite a long time (couple of years). Went through all the pre-firing steps to bring it back to life. After a couple of hours' worth of fiddling I climbed in to crank it over to check oil flow and was met with a strange issue. The key will not fit into the ignition switch. It passes through the first tumbler but stops dead after that. Tried releasing the pressure from the steering wheel lock but that didn't help.

I expected to be defeated by this project, but just not in this way. :(

[Jean]

Maybe it's the wrong key? Possibly he's got a key for the doors and one for the ignition? not uncommon.

[quickervicar]

Nope. That's what I thought, too. Same key he's always had. Tried his spare, just in case. No go.

If you shine a light in the slot it appears as though the V that aligns with the groove in the key has slid down & is on the wrong half of the key. Bizarre.

[quickervicar]

Bump

[AndrewBird]

Pull the lock out and pull it apart. Sounds like its all gummed up and one of tumblers is stuck. Search and you will find out how to pull it out.