Key not going all the way in to ignition lock barrel

[Tallguy]

Hi, suddenly today the key won't go all the way in first time.
2012 GSA TC non-LC.

Some wiggling and in-out action eventually gets it to go all the way in (add your own entendre, single or double). Key slides out easy and doesn't jam inside.

There's been no obvious degradation or change in "lock feel" until this point.

I'm concerned it'll suddenly fail when I'm out and about.

Anyone had this before, any easy fixes, or do I need a new barrel?

 

[autogs]

the barrel does tend to crud up,plenty of wd 40 then using an air line blow it all out and lightly lube.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

the barrel does tend to crud up,plenty of wd 40 then using an air line blow it all out and lightly lube.

I was advised by a reputable Locksmith, to NEVER put WD40 into a lock and only use GT85 or ACF50. I used to have to buy new padlocks for our beach hut every couple of years and since using ACF50 in the lock barrels, I've not had to replace them in over 6 years and they look as good as new.

 

[SteveM]

Is ACF50 25% better than WD40?

 

[autogs]

notice the bit about blowing it all out with an air line,then a very light lube,the wd 40 is acting as a cleaner,i certainly would not put gloopy acf50 in there but there ya go

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Acf50 is a bad idea in a lock. All the crap will go in and end up as a paste. Gt 85 might be OK as it dries and leaves a coating. Best bet though is a proper graphite lock lube. Once the solvent evaporates it leaves a dry graphite lube behind leaving a nice slick lock. Avaliable on eBay or Amazon for a couple of quid.

 

[Tallguy]

Confusing so far, GT85 WD40 and ACF50 all recommended and not recommended.

Perhaps some electrical contact solvent cleaner followed by graphite lock lube?

Do you mean the fine dry powdered graphite in the small square squirty bottles, or the 3-in-1 aerosol graphite lick lube?

 

[twizzle]

I've used WD40 to clean and free locks on old houses, cars and bikes for years with no ill effect - I'm with Auto GS I would not put ACF50 in too sticky.....

 

[King Key]

I was advised by a reputable Locksmith, to NEVER put WD40 into a lock and only use GT85 or ACF50. I used to have to buy new padlocks for our beach hut every couple of years and since using ACF50 in the lock barrels, I've not had to replace them in over 6 years and they look as good as new.

I'm a locksmith (hence the name King Key ) . You were well advised, ACF50 & GT85 are fine, my choice would be ACF50 of the 2. WD40 indeed gets the thumbsdown, it just doesn't last and dissolves the grease in the lock.

 

[Wilde]

I'm a locksmith (hence the name King Key ) . You were well advised, ACF50 & GT85 are fine, my choice would be ACF50 of the 2. WD40 indeed gets the thumbsdown, it just doesn't last and dissolves the grease in the lock.

Here endeth the lesson. Good enough for me.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

 

[Trekker3]

ACF 50 is the last thing you should spray in a lock barrel, stick to GT85 and you won't go wrong, not sure why a locksmith would recommend that. Dry graphite is fine if the lock is dry but if a fluid base spray has been used previously then it will turn it into a horrible mess.

 

[UpgradeAl]

Don't forget, you guys, that a bike ignition barrel faces DOWNWARDS (unlike e.g. a padlock which you can "empty"), so what you put in there will stay in there....... So solvent has to be better than grease, and the lighter the oil, the better.

 

[King Key]

Don't forget, you guys, that a bike ignition barrel faces DOWNWARDS (unlike e.g. a padlock which you can "empty"), so what you put in there will stay in there....... So solvent has to be better than grease, and the lighter the oil, the better.

Sadly not, the shutter closes at the top of the barrel so you don't get much dirt going in, if it does get any debris in there, stick the tube that comes with the GT85 can into the lock and blast all the crap out. It makes a mess as all the crap comes flying out. WD40 as a lubricant just doesn't last, I suggest you use one of the other products.

On this subject I was called out to a local airport a couple of years ago. They were very anxious that I hurried as a light aircraft couldn't fill up it's fuel tanks and get off where ever it was heading. The plane had a fuel cap much like a motorcycle style with one on the top of the wings and both keyholes were full with sand, hence why they couldn't get the keys in. Neither fuel caps had shutters in the top that close when the key is with drawn.
They asked what they could do to stop this from happening again, so I suggested as a short term fix to put some gaffer tape or similar across them once they're full.

 

[GerJ]

Isn't the lock factory-lubricated with graphite? My key shows deposits of the stuff. And if so, wouldn't it be best to blow out any debris with compressed air and then to lube with graphite again?

 

[Engineer]

I'm a locksmith (hence the name King Key ) . You were well advised, ACF50 & GT85 are fine, my choice would be ACF50 of the 2. WD40 indeed gets the thumbsdown, it just doesn't last and dissolves the grease in the lock.

Is 3 in 1 oil any good?

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Sadly not, the shutter closes at the top of the barrel so you don't get much dirt going in, if it does get any debris in there, stick the tube that comes with the GT85 can into the lock and blast all the crap out. It makes a mess as all the crap comes flying out. WD40 as a lubricant just doesn't last, I suggest you use one of the other products.

On this subject I was called out to a local airport a couple of years ago. They were very anxious that I hurried as a light aircraft couldn't fill up it's fuel tanks and get off where ever it was heading. The plane had a fuel cap much like a motorcycle style with one on the top of the wings and both keyholes were full with sand, hence why they couldn't get the keys in. Neither fuel caps had shutters in the top that close when the key is with drawn.
They asked what they could do to stop this from happening again, so I suggested as a short term fix to put some gaffer tape or similar across them once they're full.

I'm very disappointed David ..... your lock stories normally end with you breaking a window or two

 

[Tallguy]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I tried ACF50 which made no difference.
Went to my local locksmith who immediately said GT85. Bought a can which worked as soon as I gave it a squirt, so that's my solution to this problem.
Cheers all.

 

[Packer]

Confusing so far, GT85 WD40 and ACF50 all recommended and not recommended.

Perhaps some electrical contact solvent cleaner followed by graphite lock lube?

Do you mean the fine dry powdered graphite in the small square squirty bottles, or the 3-in-1 aerosol graphite lick lube?

Clean the lock with methylated spirit or white spirit if it has had any kind of oil in it. Use an airline or a can of compressed air (computer shops stock them for cleaning keyboards etc.) to blow out any residue. Lubricate with dry graphite powder. As above you can get small squeezy bottles of it from locksmiths. They sell it because it's the correct product to lubricate locks. Funny that isn't it. This method means there is no oil to dry out and make the lock sticky in operation much like yours sounds to be.

You can use WD40 but you have to do it regularly as the residual oil dries out and or accumulates dust and dirt that stick to it, the dry lube works far better.

 

[King Key]

Sorry but no self respecting manufacturer or locksmith uses graphite powder nowadays (sure they sell it in various places as they do snake oil). It's disgusting stuff that gets all over your hands and makes a right bloody mess. I've had customers complain that they can't get there key into a cylinder only to find it half packed with graphite powder causing the actual problem.

I'm very disappointed David ..... your lock stories normally end with you breaking a window or two

Terribly sorry, I'll try harder next time.

 

[autogs]

Sorry but no self respecting manufacturer or locksmith uses graphite powder nowadays (sure they sell it in various places as they do snake oil). It's disgusting stuff that gets all over your hands and makes a right bloody mess. I've had customers complain that they can't get there key into a cylinder only to find it half packed with graphite powder causing the actual problem.


Terribly sorry, I'll try harder next time.

so sticking a key in your pocket thats just been lubed with acf 50 is less messy