Thread: LOCK a doodle do !

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About a month ago I noticed that my key wouldn't open the trunk on the Fairlane. I did what everyone suggested and sprayed some graphite powder made for Auto Locks into the mechanism with no success. So after some googling and asking around at Auto Parts and other Locksmiths, everyone suggested this one locksmith south of me for that kind of work. After putting it off and not being able to get his and my schedules in line I called this morning and he said to bring it to him which I did.

When I got there I gave him both sets of keys which he tried in the trunk lock with no success. THEN, he opened the passenger door and proceeded to remove the glovebox lock saying that they are usually the same as the trunk. OK, he's the Pro so I follow him into his shop/lock store. For the next hour and ten minutes he taps, brushes, grinds and looks thru the rack of key blanks. NOW, during this time it's obvious that he does not and will not carry on ANY conversation that he doesn't start, which was zero so I sat quietly and waited.

Then he headed toward my car and I followed. He put the lock back in the glovebox and told me that he didn't have a key to fit it. Then he went to his Van and brought back a very small hammer and some kind of small spray can. He sprayed into the lock and, of course, gray graphite gunk flowed out. He asked if I had put graphite in the lock and I told him I had then he said "there are three things you do not put into locks graphite, WD-40 and super glue. I told him I was aware of the super glue NONO but not the other two. THEN, he put the key in the lock and lightly tapped on the end pusing it towards the lock. Then he removed it, put it back into the lock and tapped on it again. VOILA, it opened and he told me that the graphite was clogged and blocking the key from going all the way like it needed to.

I didn't mention that it didn't open even before I put the graphite in the lock - - - - I just paid my $60, thanked him and left. Now, if it will open again so I can put the spare and tire tool in then I'm happy - - - or at least content.

Sorry 'bout the length,
Em

Well, live and learn I guess!!!

I'm not a locksmith, but I'd disagree with him on two counts. Graphite is made for locks and it was not what was causing your problem. Could have been that somebody sprayed WD 40 or something similar into and it rusted up or it could have been from not be used in a long time. The door locks in my Vette didn't work when I got it and that's what I used to free them up and they work fine. The old style lock mechanisms are fairly easy to deal with, I've re-keyed many, Ford, Chevy and Dodge.

Yea I had a go around this morning with a parts store. I bought a battery for my 91 Chevy pick-up in Jan. It went dead. I tried charging it. using all the tricks I know. It would not charge. I checked it and my load tester said DEAD. I brought it to the store they said there tester said it needed a charge. I said go for it. they told me it would take 1 hr. I left and came back 1 hr. later. They said it was taking a charge and it would be about another 1/2 hr. I figured OK IF it will take a charge It would be OK. I went back over a 1/2 hr. later and my battery was sitting on the concrete floor by the counter. I asked is it ready? I get this answer, "If it were ready and if it were any good I wouldn't have put it on the floor". I asked "So then what" He says go pick out a new battery and bring it here. I told him to get it and check it before I take it. About this time his boss came out. He had no idea what was going on, A little arss chewing went on and an apology was offered and a battery was taken out and put in the bed of my truck. Guess it just maters who you talk to.

Sometimes you just have to be the "Squeaking Wheel, eh Charlie?"

Since I spend 10 to 15K there a year I would have figured they would just give me a battery, and so did the owner.

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Sometimes you just have to be the "Squeaking Wheel, eh Charlie?"

One of my Favorite things to do when other things go wrong .
Learned it from my Pop, who owned a couple of businesses.
He always told us kids "The customer is ALWAYS right even when they are wrong"
Must be why he ended up owning the businesses he had worked for as a salesman for so many years..



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Originally Posted by cffisher

Since I spend 10 to 15K there a year I would have figured they would just give me a battery, and so did the owner.

Reminds me of Marcel Ledbetter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOgLc15x9fw

Very interesting story about your lock problem and I hope all is well now with it. But guys, I thought WD40 was " The Product " for all cures and I have used it for years in a rusty old padlock on the garden shed that stores bitz'n piecez I hope to one day throw together into a '28 A Roadster, so I don't go into very often so a squirt of WD40 up into the padlock does wonders as I have never had trouble getting into the shed when needed. Now that non talking man tell us never use the product on locks, go figure...

Up this way it's been well known that Water Dispersant 40 (WD40) was for drying wires and lighting a camp fire.

Locksmiths said to never use graphite back in the 70's 'cause it'll pack up and bind the lock. Just some 3M oil is all that's needed...

Works for me.

When I was in the Marine Corps reserve we would turn the weapons back in at the end of drill weekend and the next month when we would check them out they would be covered in surface rust. I knew for a fact that they were being turned in clean and with a light coat of oil since I was one of the inspecting S/NCO's. Seems the armorer was spraying them down with WD 40 and once he stopped the problem was solved. IMHO, it's good for practically nothing.
As far as graphite goes it came from a locksmith in 65 that made new keys for the trunk latch for my 36 that I had found in a junkyard.

I meant to ask him what he sprayed in the lock but I was more interested in just going home. I don't sit in one place very well at all and plane trips nearly put me away.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Up this way it's been well known that Water Dispersant 40 (WD40) was for drying wires and lighting a camp fire.
Works for me.

When I was in Pathalogical Farrier's School (Horseshoeing) my Instructor told us that the formula for DMSO was almost the same as WD-40 and that's why some folks got relief of their Arthritis by using it. Don't know but that's what he said and he was very smart and talented.

And his art of conversation left a lot t be desired aye Charlie. I know when I lived down the bottom of NZ and my car sat outside through winter the door barrell locks would freeze so the only way in quickly was pouring hot water down the door over the lock and getting the key in and turned real quick before that water froze again. nothing cured that problem apart from hanging a cover over the door and glass to stop the ice building up.

Originally Posted by MelloYello

When I was in Pathalogical Farrier's School (Horseshoeing) my Instructor told us that the formula for DMSO was almost the same as WD-40 and that's why some folks got relief of their Arthritis by using it. Don't know but that's what he said and he was very smart and talented.

I remember well DMSO.. I think all the farmboys knew of it's usefulness at easing arthritic joints. My uncle had a horse that he would have stand with his forelegs in a bucket of a DMSO solution when he had troubles walking.

It was a floor cleaner if I remember right?? Very low specific gravity too.. that's all I remember tho...

I KNOW that WD-40 will wash away any protective layer of lubricant. I won't let it in my shop and my folks make sure to get me a can each Xmas! I must have 6 or 8 of them here at the house, I use it on the snowblower after each use, that way the chute doesn't freeze in place..