Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
#1362571
01/01/13 02:58 AM
01/01/13 02:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 157
Santa Rosa CA
Bones
OP
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 157
Santa Rosa CA
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My 1972 Demon has been sitting for so long that when I went to get in it the other day I could not get the door locks to turn with the key. They won't budge. Does anyone know how to remedy this problem. I really need to get in my car and get it running again.
Do not hug a man holding a wrench in his hand.
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: Bones]
#1362572
01/01/13 03:06 AM
01/01/13 03:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
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Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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How long has it been sitting? Are you sure your using the right keys? Santa Rosa isn't exactly the rust belt..... Try some dry graphite, if you don't have that try penetrating oil...
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: Bones]
#1362574
01/01/13 03:50 AM
01/01/13 03:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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get inside with a slim jim then take out the lock cyl. The ones with the chrome removeable covers you can open em up & clean the mini tumblers/spacers/springs. Lube it with powered graphite. On a side note with some spare cyls you can mix/match em so all your cars use the same key (even the trunk) & you can even leave a hole or 2 in the cyl blank, nobody picks locks anymore (except in the movies)
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: Bones]
#1362576
01/01/13 05:07 PM
01/01/13 05:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 157
Santa Rosa CA
Bones
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OP
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Posts: 157
Santa Rosa CA
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I'll try squirting some penetrating oil in there first and if that doesn't work maybe just slim-jim it open. I've never used a slim-jim before, how hard are they to use? Also, if the locks are stuck won't they still be stuck even if I use a slim jim?
Last edited by Bones; 01/01/13 05:19 PM.
Do not hug a man holding a wrench in his hand.
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: B5 Bee]
#1362577
01/01/13 06:44 PM
01/01/13 06:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,825
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 21,825
Kirkland, Washington
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Quote:
Besides my occasionally used auto door locks, I have the same problem with seldom used home door locks.
You may be able to get them to turn with regular lubricating oil. If you use a penetrating oil first, once loose, give them a shot of lubricating oil. I've been using PB50 lubricant, same company that makes PB Blaster penetrant.
BTW, WD40 is not a good penetrant or lubricant, use something better for both needs.
Actually WD40 is great for frozen door locks . "WD" stands for "water displacing" it literally moves it out of the way.
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: Dunnuck Racing]
#1362580
01/01/13 08:00 PM
01/01/13 08:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 343
S.E.Mich
drew72
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 343
S.E.Mich
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Quote:
A locksmith I know told me the best thing for his business/ worst thing to lubricate locks with is graphite.
That's interesting. My locksmith says just the opposite. A lube attracts dirt and hinders the movement of the pins.
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: MPerry]
#1362581
01/01/13 08:41 PM
01/01/13 08:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,904
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,904
Athens, Greece
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is it rusted? Are the temps really really cold? Will putting your keys through a flame aid in the loosening of the cylinders?
I have found Liquid Wrench works better than WD40 when temperature is a factor
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
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Re: Door lock cylinders frozen. How do I unstick them?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#1362582
01/01/13 09:44 PM
01/01/13 09:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,020
Pangaea
B5 Bee
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master
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Posts: 8,020
Pangaea
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Quote:
Quote:
Besides my occasionally used auto door locks, I have the same problem with seldom used home door locks.
You may be able to get them to turn with regular lubricating oil. If you use a penetrating oil first, once loose, give them a shot of lubricating oil. I've been using PB50 lubricant, same company that makes PB Blaster penetrant.
BTW, WD40 is not a good penetrant or lubricant, use something better for both needs.
Actually WD40 is great for frozen door locks . "WD" stands for "water displacing" it literally moves it out of the way.
He's in CA, I think he means frozen from corrosion, not ice/water.
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