Getting the 36 Ford spare tire lock without a key
The lock has little brass fingers that are held out by only a weak spring. Fingers can be depressed easily without a key if you can get to them but you can't. The key retracts the fingers It only takes a very little pressure turning the key to retract the fingers. With a key the lock should pop out very easily.
I destroyed the first lock I got by drilling it out because I didn't know how the system worked like the above two pictures. Luckily someone found a couple replacement locks for me at last year's Portland swap meet cheap, pretty hard to find actually.
Fingers can be depressed easily without a key if you can get to them
The lock has little brass fingers that are held out by only a weak spring. Fingers can be depressed easily without a key if you can get to them but you can't. The key retracts the fingers It only takes a very little pressure turning the key to retract the fingers. With a key the lock should pop out very easily.
I destroyed the first lock I got by drilling it out because I didn't know how the system worked like the above two pictures. Luckily someone found a couple replacement locks for me at last year's Portland swap meet cheap, pretty hard to find actually.
Fingers can be depressed easily without a key if you can get to them
Carrier prevents you from getting to the fingers, so drill two holes in the back to get to them. You won't be able to see the holes with the carrier and wheel mounted on the car. It still wouldn't help you if the fingers are frozen.
Lock cylinder is held in by a set screw: