lock repair/refurbish

[cbudvet]

Does anyone know of any place in the indianapolis area that can repair car locks? On both the door locks and rear hatch lock, the little metal flapper that keeps dirt out no longer stays in place. The flapper just flaps up and down depending on how you hold the lock. I have tried several places and can't find anyone that will take the lock apart and try to fix it. Most of the lock services are mobile and don't have the space. One place knew what I was talking about but didn't know if they still had the equipment. Thanks in advance.

carl

[Bruce Palmer]

I'd say it's time to dive into a bone yard and buy some locks that have that function working then take them to a locksmith and have them keyed to your keys. That part is no big deal.

[lbpdz]

If you have the small tools, and the patience, they are not super difficult to take apart and re-key if you have the working pins already. You just swap the pins out in the same order from one cylinder to the next.

I wouldnt attempt it on an ignition set, but doors and hatch are pretty easy. When I was doing rekeys on vw stuff, I used to hit the wrecking yards and disassemble locks all day just to get the keyways (little brass cards that slide up and down/fit the key to the tumbler). Most modern one I did was my 97 Altima trunk a few years back.. worked the same as the Z locks from 30 years ago..

[Arne]

I've done a couple of Z ignition locks, they are monumentally simple, if you have a supply unworn pins.

[Darrel]

There are still wafer kits out there. But he was wondering about the spring loaded dust shield. Warren aka customlock used to fix them, but not sure if he still does.

[cbudvet]

Thanks Darrel, I will try to track him down.

carl

[Unkle]

Darrel ! Finally someone who uses the correct terminology .

The dust shield is a separate assembly that sits underneath the facecap.

It may be available from the dealer , but an unassembled aftermarket

lock cylinder assembly will have it floating in the bag . So , have you

taken a lock apart ? Sometimes the spring that holds the little door closed

needs to be repositioned , the door ''flattened'' out , and re installed .

You will need replacement facecaps with the bendable ''tangs'' or tabs

to hold everything in place . A decent locksmith with a foreign auto kit

should have these facecaps . Maybe parts ( dust shields ) as well !

Edited January 26, 2010 by Unkle

[sblake01]

Darrel ! Finally someone who uses the correct terminology...

Not only 'dust shield' but also 'wafers' rather than pins.

[Darrel]

worked as a locksmith during high school, but after breaking a few picks I decided it wasn't for me. I still like to dabble in it every now and then.

I still have my pick set, at least the picks that I haven't broken. :-D

Edited January 26, 2010 by Darrel

[sblake01]

That's pretty much my story also. Tried to learn locksmithing right after high school. Did it for about 3 months or so but it wasn't for me either. I even got to revisit it after I retired from Ralph's Grocery in 2002. I worked a part time job at ACE hardware for a couple of years and one of my duties was cutting keys. Big difference between a key cutter and a locksmith....

[Unkle]

I'm still ''plugging'' away , some 25 years later...... but now I own a company!