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Date:         Mon, 17 Jul 1995 13:25:32 -0700
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         wabbott@townshend.Corp.Megatest.COM (William Abbott)
Subject:      Vanagon door locks

Taking lock cylinders out is easy, but remember to put the key in the cylinder before you do! Besides lining up all the little metal pieces so that you *can* it, the key actually traps them because it goes through the middle of them. On door handles, look for a Philips head screw that holds the lock cylinder to a little lever and the spring that rotates the lever (and thus cylinder) back to the neutral position.

Naturally, take them apart and put them together one at a time, so you can refer to one that's put together when you are reassembling.

I personally prefer light oil or WD40 for cleaning locks as opposed to killer parts cleaners, since I *don't* intend to disassemble and clean off all the cleaner- you want a cleaner that'll either evaporate or not be a problem if some is left in there. Brake cleaner is an alternative. I pump oil all through the cylinder/wafers/key assembly and then, holding it in a clean towel or rag, and restraining the wafers with my fingers, slide the key in and out of the keyway. A little oil down the keyway will flush out the most amazing crud... the predictable mix of dust and old grease that's been baked for years.

If your lock goes "spoing" and parts fly all over the place, I'm sorry. It hasn't happened to me so far. I'd take the remains and the other lock(s) to the lock-smith. They can make it all better.

When the cylinder is clean, I put some high-temp wheel bearing grease on it from the outside, cycle the key a few more times. Then I clean the bore it came out of, the spring and the little arm that unlocks the door latch, replace the little o-ring seal and put it all back together. Then dry the key with cloth, towel or rag, in sert and operate the lock, remove, dry, and repeat until the key comes out agreeably dry.

Its cool the way they're put together- a fun clean and re-assemble project that will leave you feeling good about yourself and your old car.

Bill


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