My Brumby is at the car painters, he called me as the ignition key wasn't doing its thing so I shot down to see what was going on.

Turns out something is wrong with the he key does its job but feels 'dead' ie when you twist  the key the oil and ignition lights down't come on and the headlights also don't work then when you twist the key  the starting position nothing happens and there's no spring-back when you release the key, it just stays in the 'start'  position.

The paint shop was shutting for the day so I couldn't do much to find out what was  causing the problem.

I suspect the switch has come away from the ignition lock - or has broken some lug off the switch so that the lock doesn't  twist it?

Any help appreciated.

(I'll head back to the paint shop in the morning to see what I find)

You can remove the cowling around the steering column to access the ignition switch behind the ignition barrel. It’s held in by two small Phillips head screws.

It’s odd for the switch to just drop out from the back of the barrel if that’s what it’s done.

All so weird is the headlights not working, they should work in all positions unless someone completed some home wiring to change that setup.

Cheers 

Bennie

1 hour ago, el_freddo said:

You can remove the cowling around the steering column to access the ignition switch behind the ignition barrel. It’s held in by two small Phillips head screws.

It’s odd for the switch to just drop out from the back of the barrel if that’s what it’s done.

All so weird is the headlights not working, they should work in all positions unless someone completed some home wiring to change that setup.

Cheers 

Bennie

Thanks el_freddo!

I don't believe there has been any home wiring ever done (Previous old guy owner had the ute for 26 years before I bought it from him.

It seems nothing that requires the ignition to be on is working regardless of how far round I turn the key. (Steering lock still works if that's worth mentioning).

I'll report more tomorrow, hopefully with good news!

Steering lock will still work. From memory it operates off the shaft between the barrel and the ignition switch. It’s been a while since I’ve had one apart so I’m a bit hazy on the exact details how it works. 

The shaft is held in by the ignition barrel, the only way to remove the shaft is by pulling the barrel out. 

All the best with it. 

Cheers 

Bennie

Update: The carpainter used the blow gun on his air hose to give a blast into the ignition keyhole and tried the key - and the ignition key now works!

Ive put some graphite powder into the keyhole and on the key to see if that helps however I still think when I get the Brumby home  I’ll pull the ignition barrel and check out it’s interior.

OK, got the Brumby back from panelbeaters and paint shop and ignition switch is working as normal.

However while at the panelbeaters it was driven in and out of the workshop with the choke full out - hence it wouldn't even start when i went to drive home, ended up getting a tow start and after half a km it burst (roughly!) into life!

I gave it a good run and it's now running OK.