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I have a glovebox lock from a '51 with a broken latch tab. I have a good empty housing with a good latch tab. How can I get the button out of the bad housing so I can install it in the good one? I can't figure out how in the world it comes apart, but there must be some way to do it, since Brigss & Stratton sold the housing separately.

Isn't there a clutch head screw holding the 2 pcs together. At least that is the way my 49 is.

There was a screw holding the retainer on, but the button and main casing don't have an obvious means of separation.

Update - I broke the housing apart to extract the button. There is a tab and groove that hold it together, and it looks like it can be dismantled with the key. I tried it, and it didn't work, but it looks like it should.

Okay, I've figured this out, in case someone ever wants the information. Push the latch tab all the way back and rotate the key to the right. The button will then come out. Installation is the reverse - push the tab back, rotate the key to the left.

Someone has been selling a small mountain of NOS Briggs & Stratton housings (without button) on eBay. If your latch is broken, but you want to keep it keyed to match your ignition, this might be the way to go.