How to get a 36 Ford spare tire cover lock off without a key

The 36 Ford spare tire lock that are for sale often come without a key and the barrel is locked in place.
The locking bars are not secured in the lock position when the lock is locked and are always in the locked position. They are spring loaded and can be depressed with very little effort. The key retracts the spring loaded fingers. If the fingers are stuck you can try get the barrel out by drilling out the lock cylinder. 
However, you run the risk of ruining both the lock cylinder and the barrel. 

To get the barrel out, depress the spring loaded brass fingers.
The barrel in the tire cover

The screw holds in the lock cylinder
The two brass fingers(only one shown here) lock the cover to the spare tire holder

From the top you can see one of the brass fingers and spring

From the bottom those two pins hold in the brass fingers
The locking fingers are not secured in the lock position when the lock is locked and
are always in the locked position.They are spring loaded and can be depressed with very little effort
if not stuck.

Here is the lock cylinder.

Note the hole where the keeper screw goes

The barrel in the tire cover

First remove the barrel by depressing the brass fingers. You can take out the screw that holds in the lock cylinder.
A punch could be used to ease out the lock then without a key. I haven't tried it myself since I ruined the one I bought. 

I have very seldom seen these locks for sale so it would be good to get yours apart. If you do, the cylinder has the numbers on it for the lock to make a key.
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