QUOTE(Woodside914 @ May 20 2010, 10:31 AM)
Let me put it in reverse for a moment - This all started last weekend when I finally decided to do something about the real Sticky door locks....they were getting to the point where the key would not even turn, making it difficult to unlock the doors, and I didn't want to end up breaking the original key.
Although I have had my '71 since 1980, lately it's been in garage storage for the past 6-8 months, only driven maybe once a month.
Anyway, last weekend I removed both door panels to access the outer door handles. Upon removal of the door handles, I then removed the tumblers (with key inserted) and watched as the original seals fell out in dusty pieces...
I resolved the sticky tumbler problem by cleaning them real good with ChemTool, wiping down well, and then applying some bearing grease throughout, and worked it back & forth with the key - seemed to do the trick real well.
But, those dang Seals - no longer made, and seems like no where to be found unless you scour the junk yards for half-baked used examples. It is my understanding they are always needed in the lock assembly, or you'll foul up the tumbler operation with out it....
Now I gotta work on the glove box lock & the front trunk lock - both are frozen from no use since 1971! I hope those seals aren't trashed.
Have you guys even looked at your locks lately?
BTW - I'm a newbie here, just joined yesterday, so Hello & Cheers!
-Ken
A belated
I think that getting Mark at Mikey914 to make repro ones is the way to go.
So somebody needs to step forward & send him a sample intact as his pattern from which to make up new ones (I don't have my stuff apart at this point to do so).
... Anyone????
Aside from proper operation of the locks' tumblers, rubber seals are also usually put there to prevent moisture infiltration ..... so with 914's - need I say more?
IIRC - those seals are O-ring type with a specific thickness in cross-section to fill the seal space snugly, therefore I don't think that a flowable seal material of any type will fully resolve neither the fitment nor moisture barrier functions properly, but would rather only "fill the groove" on the tumbler.
Can someone plz get a seal to Mikey914 - several if they differ on the doors, front & rear trunks & glove box?