Hi all,

Anyone have a good cure for a frozen key barrel? My tailgate key barrel won't turn to the left or right. I've soaked it in WD-40 so we'll see how it works in the morning. Is it pretty easy to swap out key barrels?

 

I was going to advise the WD-40 idea but you already did that. I did that to mine and it works every time now.

 

Water Displacement on the 40th try needs to be part of winter PM.

I always hit my door gaskets, up under the handles, striker and barrel with it... Door opens easy after that.

It shouldn't freeze after that until the WD40 wears off b/c you need moisture to freeze something and most of water is moisture


You might have bigger issues if you've doused it and it still won't turn... Or you didn't give it long enough.

 

Well, this was one of the gremlins that I knew about when I bought the rig. When I test drove it about a week or so ago before the snow came in, the barrel was "frozen" in 45 degree weather. I'll soak it again and see what happens. I'm thinking there might be some sort of mechanical blockage or something.

 

you could also try spray penetrating oil - it'll work a bit better than WD40 if the tumblers in the lock cylinder are sticky

 

Yep, still not working. Think I'll take it to a locksmith tomorrow.

 

Wish I could have helped earlier. I use the little Qualco pressurized Lock De-Icer cans sold everywhere around here. Insert the nozzle into the keyhole and press against the lock. Drives the water out of the lock and coats it with a protective lubricant. I wash my rust-free truck frequently to remove road salt, and even when temps are below zero degrees Fahrenheit all it takes is 1 shot and the locks are free and smooth. Weather stripping, hinges and windows are another story but I have a solution for those too. I keep a couple of these cans in a dry-erase marker holster under my truck.

Never use WD-40 or graphite for locks kid. You'll only gum up the lock.

Google it; you can pick it up for a buck. If nothing else when the lock smith extracts the barrel have him clean with de-greaser to remove the WD-40 and other contaminants.

 

That white lithium lube in a can worked wonders for mine.