Door Locks--What I'm I doing wrong??

[aboyer]

Ok, I have an issue that I can't figure out and maybe someone can shed some light on the subject. With the door locks on 67-72 trucks, how do you lock the doors. I have push down the lock before shutting method and trying to lock after the door is shut, with nothing working thus far.

I have even purchase a new door latch assembly thinking that something was wrong with my current lock. My truck is finally starting to get nice and I want to somewhat protect it. Locks keep honest people honest.

Anyways, can someone give me some input on this subject, because I haven't figured it out yet.

Adam

[rage'nrat638]

they can only be locked from the outside with the key..
you will never lock your keys in these trucks

[rage'nrat638]

o i might add the tail piece of the lock cly needs to be in side the wish bone type lock rod ass'y in side the door.

you might try pushing on the door while locking to, if your door jamb lock plate is set to tight.

hope this helps mark

[aboyer]

Ok, well, I am not able to move my locks up or down with my keys when the door is shut. I have cleaned the locks and everything. The metal shaft is in the middle point of the U shaped lock device.

Is there an issue with the locks itself?

[user name]

Push the inside lock button down and then hold in on the button on the outside door handle as you shut the door.

[aboyer]

How do I do this in winter when my windows are rolled up?? Or what is the purpose of the locks, if the windows are down while you lock the truck?

Is there something that I am missing with this?

Adam

[rage'nrat638]

and you tryed this with the door open so there would not be any pressure load on the door it self.
if so try moving the part inside the door with out the lock cyl installed to see if the ass'y is working.
also make sure the lock button rod is not bent or binding.
the door botton is loose in the hole an not binding?

mark

[roughedup72]

After you shut the door insert your key into the lock,push in on the door and turn the key. I have to push in pretty hard on mine because they are out of adjustment for the time being.If the weather stripping is new then your doors is not shutting good enough to just turn the key and the key will not turn at all.

As username was saying if you push your lock button down and then push in on the door handle button when you shut the door.you dont need to have the window down,This is the way some of the older foriegn cars used to work unfortunately this method wont work either.Good luck.you may need to adjust your striker and lock assembly.

[jimfulco]

The lock button should move up & down with the key. The locks can be quite stiff on old trucks, especially if they don't get used much. A good hose-down inside the door with WD-40, repeated daily for a few days, can be a help. Move the button up & down by hand while everything's wet. Shoot some inside the lock cylinder with the red tube, also, then work the key around in it some. Don't try to force it, just jiggle as far as it will go.

Once you get it freed up, get some brake cleaner or something and clean all the WD-40 out so it won't gum up next year, then lubricate the cylinder with graphite or a non-gumming spray like Break Free CLP.

[aboyer]

Ok, I finally was able to work on the door locks. As of right now, I am able to move the locks up and down with the door not latched.

When the door is closed, the locks are unable to move down to lock. I did put new weatherstripping on recently, but not sure if this is the issue. On the passenger door, with the door shut, I can lock and un-lock all day long.

Everything looks fine, so I can't figure out what I am doing wrong.
Help me out if you know what I need to look at??

Adam

[john]

Have you tried pushing in on the door fairly hard while locking? That usually works if it will lock unlatched but not while latched.

[pa_snowman]

ok some of this sounds like you are just guessing outthere. i have a 67 with the origional locks still installed. the way they work is like follows......if you push the button down and close the door it pops up, it doesn't matter if you hold the door release button on the outside in (like most othere) or not. once the door is shut you can either push down the lock button from the inside or use the key. if you try to open the door without unlocking it first it is almost impossible to unlock it unless you push the door back into the full closed/latched position. this is caused by the door latch particially releasing and putting all the pressure on the locking parts. hope this helps clear things up a little.

[rage'nrat638]

yup ...push in hard on the closed door while locking...or back the latch plate out. so you don't have to push in as hard or at all to lock it..
now that you have the lock working while the door is open, you know it's just some binding with it closed...good job..mark

[5150]

I also have this same problem with my truck. It's been like this for a year now, since it came back from the body shop. I was told a few months ago that the doors need a little adjusting. In the winter I'm going to take it to a body shop and have them adjust everything right.