Door Key

[Harry]

1966 230SL

Hello again,

Since I have owned this car, the driver's side door could not be locked or unlocked with the key.  I have disassembled the assembly and removed the core piece that the key inserts into but I am not able to get that subassembly (with the tumblers) removed.  There appears to be a keeper of sorts that looks as though it should pull out, releasing the tumbler assembly to slide out.  This keeper is apparent in the attached photo, just above the "lip" in the body.  (The keeper is shown facing the right.)

Has anyone done this disassembly that could lend some advice/experience?

Thanks very much,
Harry

[mnahon]

Hi Harry,

Normally, you should insert your key and then slide the lock out of the barrel. Without the key, the lock won't slide out.

Since you say your key doesn't work (I assume it at least goes into the keyhole?), this may still not work.

Meyer

[Pawel66]

Have you tried to push this "keeper" in?

[Harry]

mnahon and pawel66 - thanks for the advice.  I am fortunate to have a locksmith here in Knoxville with a lot of expertise in old locks, so I took this to them.  They were able to use a super thin file and remove the keeper, then the barrel but oddly, they couldn't get the key that fits the other door to fit this door lock.  I removed the passenger side door lock and compared the two and they are not the same.  This leads me to believe that perhaps this handle/lock has been replaced at some point.  Then when I reassembled the drivers side lock/handle, it no longer worked.  I guess I'll just live with it.

Thank you again,
Harry

BTW - I am about to post an issue with the ignition assembly that just appeared today.  Please have a look at that as well.  (When it rains, it pours!)

[Pawel66]

It is not surprising if you think about how many times the driver's door lock is used vs. how many times passenger door lock is used. Years ago, when these cars were just old, not yet classics, some owners did not care to replace the lock and have the same key but just replaced any lock - faster and cheaper. On Pagoda, Ponton and 190SL I had driver's door lock messed around and passenger door lock original.

You can bring back the driver's lock to datacard specs, particularly if you have the same cylinder/key profile.