Key lock operation '51

[chesterx]

Help. Just re-installed locking mechanism, key lock. My key cylinder rotates about 160 degrees to the right and locks the door just fine, however I can't get it to unlock. Ulmost seems like the key should rotate to the left????

Interior lever locks and unlocks door just fine??

[DonaldSmith]

There's slop built into the lock, so that the key can return to the vertical position after locking or unlocking the door. The cam is the thing on the back of the cylinder that transfers motion to the shaft. It's called a lazy cam because the cylinder plug has to rotate some before the shaft moves.

Take the lock out and play with rotating the shaft different ways before re-installnig the lock, so the plug can move the shaft equally in both directions.

[chesterx]

Thank You for the advice, I kind of came to the same conclusion but find no way to rotate the shaft. I have two of these locks (driver and passanger doors)that act the same way, except that the drivers door lock locks the door and the passanger side unlocks the door. This was a resto project nearing completion and I never knew what the correct sequence of locking and unlocking was to begin with. Using the inside handle to lock the drivers door first was tried but it unlocks the door when you close it. ?????

[Young Ed]

The cars have an idiot proof mechanism built in to keep you from locking the keys in. I believe what you need to do is remove the lock cylinder from the door and rotate the square shaft a 1/4 turn. Sounds like one needs to go one way and one the other.

[chesterx]

I'm starting to think that the key may be cut wrong, only allowing movement one way.

[chesterx]

Yes but the shaft is not square, it is cut on one corner which allows it to fit in the mechanism only one way.

[Young Ed]

Is this a 51 plymouth? I really don't recall dads 51-52s having the kind of locks you are describing.

[chesterx]

Thak You all for the great advice but it turns out that the key was my enemy. I had a new key made today and it works perfectly. The lock opens and locks as one would expect. Thanks again!

[BobT-47P15]

I wonder how many people actually have an original key for their old car??

Surely they are pretty worn by now. It is a problem around here finding a locksmith who can make a new key to fit an existing lock. One guy goofed up my trunk lock a while back.

[Norm's Coupe]

I wonder how many people actually have an original key for their old car??

Surely they are pretty worn by now. It is a problem around here finding a locksmith who can make a new key to fit an existing lock. One guy goofed up my trunk lock a while back.

Bob, I have two new original keys with the DPCD logo on them. Found them at a local locksmith shop back in 1995 right after buying my coupe. The original key was really worn down and had trouble locking and unlocking the doors. Took the guy about 15 or 20 minutes to dig through his old stock to find the key blanks.

[JerseyHarold]

Many original Mopar keys were made of aluminum that wore down rather quickly. Brass is much better.

[Norm's Coupe]

The original keys that came with my coupe were brass with the logo. Also the ones I had made at the locksmith shop are made out of brass keys. Since then I did buy an extra pair of uncut aluminum keys on ebay some years ago. Still have those and are uncut.