Grease for car door lock barrel?

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Hi guys,

I have completely disassembled my door lock barrels.

What would be the best grease to put there when reassembling?

I assume something weather resistant like white lithium grease perhaps?
 
I've tried grease before and it either dries up into a chalky mess, or it holds small metallic chips from the keys, tumblers and the lock becomes hinky. I've cleaned them out with wd-40 as it cleans and eventually evaporates. After they are clean , I like super lube dry film lubricant, its in a spray can with a red zip tube.

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-1...s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20


[Linked Image]
 
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Graphite powder?

The lock has some grease in it. It is a bit flakey though from the years it seems.
 
You could use a little grease, lith would be fine, only on the outer barrel part, but use graphite powder in the key hole.

Grease attracts too much dirt and moister for key lube. Key, always dry, graphite.
 
Originally Posted by spasm3
I've tried grease before and it either dries up into a chalky mess, or it holds small metallic chips from the keys, tumblers and the lock becomes hinky. I've cleaned them out with wd-40 as it cleans and eventually evaporates. After they are clean , I like super lube dry film lubricant, its in a spray can with a red zip tube.

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-1...s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20


[Linked Image]


I second this.
 
As the barrel is completely apart I will be cleaning/lubricating each individual part separately before assembly.

So the main parts would be the spinning barrel inside the casing, the sliding pins and where the key is inserted.

I would rather use use lithium grease on everywhere but where the key goes in personally.

Can graphite powder and lithium grease be mixed?
 
I have been using this on everything around the house and in the car. Its so good some doors in the house swing open and I can't keep them partially closed anymore lol. Lasts for months and months. Great to prevent car door rubber seals and locks from sticking in cold icy winter climates. I recently used this on a brake job to easily push back caliper pistons.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Silicone-Lubricant-Aerosol-Can-11-Oz-WD-40-SPECIALIST-300012/21838836

Its not grandpas WD40. This is WD40 silicone lube.
 
Don't get too crazy with the graphite lube. I've read reports where repeated use results in a mass of graphite caked in the mechanism. I suggest cleaning the tumbler with a solvent (WD-40, alcohol) before relubing.
 
Originally Posted by Kestas
Don't get too crazy with the graphite lube. I've read reports where repeated use results in a mass of graphite caked in the mechanism. I suggest cleaning the tumbler with a solvent (WD-40, alcohol) before relubing.

That would be me, just kidding
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I usually use silicone spray or a motorcycle dry chain lube(DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver), both works great.
 
Originally Posted by Kestas
Don't get too crazy with the graphite lube. I've read reports where repeated use results in a mass of graphite caked in the mechanism. I suggest cleaning the tumbler with a solvent (WD-40, alcohol) before relubing.

Graphite lube cost me $50 for a locksmith to come to my car at the Greensboro Coliseum after a Fleetwood Mac concert in the mid 80's to unlock my 72 VW bug. He then graciously explained to me I was an idiot to use graphite lube in doorlocks. It was after midnight. It was a real buzz killer. Especially since I was trying to impress this cool girl I was with. I had already embarrassed her when they searched her hand bag going in to the concert and found some things they confiscated.

So...graphite is like a poison to me. Just the thought of it makes my mind stutter.

For those that want to know, he merely sprayed WD-40 for 5 seconds into the keyhole and opened the door with my key.
 
Originally Posted by Gebo
Graphite lube cost me $50 for a locksmith to come to my car at the Greensboro Coliseum after a Fleetwood Mac concert in the mid 80's to unlock my 72 VW bug. He then graciously explained to me I was an idiot to use graphite lube in door locks. It was after midnight. It was a real buzz killer. Especially since I was trying to impress this cool girl I was with. I had already embarrassed her when they searched her hand bag going in to the concert and found some things they confiscated.

So...graphite is like a poison to me. Just the thought of it makes my mind stutter.

For those that want to know, he merely sprayed WD-40 for 5 seconds into the keyhole and opened the door with my key.

lol.gif
 
There doesn't seem to be much consensus about lock lubes, but it does seem to keep coming back to either a teflon dry lube or a graphite dry lube (used sparingly). There ARE numerous accounts of locks buggered up with graphite.

While the following link is on tumbler type locks, this guy also prefers a teflon dry lube as his best pick (skip to the last 5 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZaPWGo8TbE

His top choice: https://www.walmart.com/ip/DuPont-N...b_vb94AIVBNvACh1VzAv_EAQYAiABEgJs2fD_BwE ...He claims it has an alcohol carrier that completely evaporates, leaving a thin film of teflon.
 
I've been using a LITTLE BIT of fluid film in the locks for my 2011 F150 for the past few years. Seems to work well, they haven't iced up or frozen since i started this (not even teh tailgate which was very bad at freezing before). Ford could take some of this advice on their newer F150's though
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I have a quart of Slick 50 on my shelf that would be good or this application. Like Tri-Flow, it has teflon particles in an oil base, but isn't as horribly expensive as Tri-Flow.
 
Originally Posted by Kestas
Don't get too crazy with the graphite lube. I've read reports where repeated use results in a mass of graphite caked in the mechanism. I suggest cleaning the tumbler with a solvent (WD-40, alcohol) before relubing.

I've been using Lock-Ease all this time with no issues. I'll start using WD-40 dry lube instead.

Which reminds me, I need to relube and work a key into all my locks.
 
Originally Posted by spasm3
I like super lube dry film lubricant, its in a spray can with a red zip tube.

GM is a fan of their grease for lubing ignition cylinders I will add.
 
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About 25 years ago I took a door lock to a locksmith because it was so corroded the key wouldn't turn in it. The locksmith disassembled it, cleaned it up, then packed it with grease and it's been trouble free ever since. He said the heavy grease will keep out the water.
 
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