Trunk Handle Lock 51 Cambridge

[rallyace]

I have a 51 Cambridge and no key for the trunk handle lock. I have the handle assembly on my bench, does anyone know how to remove the lockset from the handle so I can get it re-keyed?

[greg g]

Take the whole assy to the locksmith.  I did with Fraden several vehicles ago.  They dealt with in short fashion.  Don't know if they are still in business it was 20 plus years ago.  One of our old Volvos.

[Conn47D24]

There is usually a tiny little brass nub that is Spring loaded.

 Look inside the unit and find it on the shaft up against the housing.  press it in and push the lock out.   

you might need to WD 41st

[moparfun]

A locksmith can help. I would check if the ignition key or door key go into your trunk handle lock and have the locksmith key it the same.

[Go Fleiter]

Here You can find pics how to disassemble the lock:

 

https://p15-d24.com/topic/58464-trunk-handle-key-hole-cover-solution-found/#comment-629590

 

Greetings from Düsseldorf!

Go

[Sniper]

As mentioned, I just took the whole assembly to my local locksmith last year and they cut me a new key.  Too both door locks and the glove box lock as well.  Got two sets of keys made for all of them, $65.  When I bought the car I got three keys with it, only one worked, the ignition key.

[rallyace]

Took it to a locksmith today. The handle was chrome plated at some time in the past and whoever did the plating filled the lock release plug and plated the locking mechanism in place. It cannot be repaired.  For what it is worth, he said this was not the first time he has seen this on classic car parts.   Thanks for the help. Now to find a new handle with a key........

Edited September 23, 2022 by rallyace
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[motoMark]

11 minutes ago, rallyace said:

Took it to a locksmith today. The handle was chrome plated at some time in the past and whoever did the plating filled the lock release plug and plated the locking mechanism in place. It cannot be repaired.  For what it is worth, he said this was not the first time he has seen this on classic car parts.   Thanks for the help. Now to find a new handle with a key........

Are you sure it can't be repaired? I recently had to pull the lock cylinder out of my 51 Cambridge trunk handle, and the lock release hole was mostly filled in with the chrome plating. A pin would barely fit in the hole. But I slowly worked at it with the pin, and then a small paper clip to eventually remove enough plating from the hole so I can actually get to the locking pin. Wonder if you can do the same???

[Sniper]

My locksmith didn't need to take the cylinder out to make a new key for it.

[rallyace]

58 minutes ago, motoMark said:

Are you sure it can't be repaired? I recently had to pull the lock cylinder out of my 51 Cambridge trunk handle, and the lock release hole was mostly filled in with the chrome plating. A pin would barely fit in the hole. But I slowly worked at it with the pin, and then a small paper clip to eventually remove enough plating from the hole so I can actually get to the locking pin. Wonder if you can do the same???

The plater obviously did not know enough to have the lock disassembled before plating the handle and went ahead and ground, filled and polished all of the pitting in the pot metal and then did a good job of chrome plating. The release hole was filled and then chromed over and the pins inside the lock are all solidly in place with chrome plating on the inside of the lock. The square pin that does the locking was barely visible through the filler material and is firmly set in the chrome plating. I would be looking at a lot of grinding and filing to free up the square pin and to find and open the lock retaining pin. Once that was done the locksmith still had to get the pins freed up so he could pick the lock to remove it. Then it would be off to a plater to have the handle repaired and replated. Lots of work and even more $$$. I am looking for a fairly priced handle now. One Ebay vendor thinks they are right up there in value with the Crown Jewels.

[rallyace]

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

My locksmith didn't need to take the cylinder out to make a new key for it.

He tried to pick the lock and the pins are all firmly in place. He could not pick it so he could not even try to make a new key.

[Sniper]

2 minutes ago, rallyace said:

He tried to pick the lock and the pins are all firmly in place. He could not pick it so he could not even try to make a new key.

 

That makes sense.

[motoMark]

3 hours ago, rallyace said:

The plater obviously did not know enough to have the lock disassembled before plating the handle and went ahead and ground, filled and polished all of the pitting in the pot metal and then did a good job of chrome plating. The release hole was filled and then chromed over and the pins inside the lock are all solidly in place with chrome plating on the inside of the lock. The square pin that does the locking was barely visible through the filler material and is firmly set in the chrome plating. I would be looking at a lot of grinding and filing to free up the square pin and to find and open the lock retaining pin.

Ah, ok. Guess I was lucky to have the factory plating on mine.