C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

[Keith R.]

Been doing some self-checks on my '60 in preparation for a PV ( which eventually may happen some day...) and found that the glove box/seat separator lock cylinder turns more than the 90 degrees beyond the unlocked position. It doesn't spin 360 degrees but will turn 180 degrees from the locked position past the unlocked position so that it locks once more with the key teeth facing up. Can this be fixed?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Keith, Right, it shouldn't do that.

Is it original or reproduction? The repro housings are a bit different and use a ring washer to be compatible. Problem is it can interfere with the cylinder lock tab. This tab keeps the cylinder in place.

Maybe the lock tab on your cylinder may be stuck or the internal housing may be worn. Best to take it out and check operation on the bench.

Repro Left, Original Right, both photos.
P7170074.jpg

Notice slight housing and cylinder differences. I suspect the repros are for other models and needed that ring washer to work on Corvette.
P7170075.jpg

Push the lock tab(marked red) in with a small pick to remove the cylinder.
P7170076.jpg

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Thank you Rich. Most helpful as always! I think that my problem was that the bezel was cross-threaded into the case. As a result, the case wasn't snug against the compartment door allowing the lock cylinder to pass beyond that portion of the case interior designed to stop it at the 90 degree unlocked position. You can see the wear on the inside of the case at the four o'clock position. The indexing tabs are also worn off so if the bezel isn't tight, then the whole assembly could spin around in the door. I've ordered a reproduction case which is somewhat different as you mentioned, but I might also try rebuilding the worn area and the indexing tabs with some JB weld to see if that works in the meantime.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Keith, Good job. Yes I see it. I bet you could fix that with a little filing and buildup of the JB and get it working properly.

BTW, The factory had a special tool to install/remove the bezel. You could make one from a old bolt by grinding it to shape. Double nut the threaded end and you could use a wrench on that end to do it. Crude, but it works.

P5250071.jpg P5250073.jpg P5250074.jpg

After the bezel is snugged up the cylinder gets installed.

Rich

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Thanks Rich. Yes, some JB Weld at the 4 o'clock position did the trick. Just a dab then filed it with an ignition file to conform to the faces of the case. Inserting the cylinder in the case on the bench with the key allows it to be moved from the locked to unlocked position without going past it. The case is designed so that the lock tumbler is stopped by the case at the unlocked position. Due to the fine threads of the case and bezel, it is easy to get it cross-threaded when installed on the compartment door thereby not allowing the case to snug up at the back of the door. Consequently, the lock cylinder doesn't extend into the case housing as far as it should thereby allowing the lock tumbler to pass beyond the case stop. For others who are fiddling with this, bear this in mind and make sure that the bezel is correctly threaded or else you will face the same problem. I did fabricate the bezel tool based on your guidance - thanks! I think your other idea of using a rubber jar opener to keep a grip on the bezel while threading it into the case is a good one. Thanks for all your help Rich.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Glad you got it resolved. For that to wear out is odd. Someone must've been locking and unlocking that every few hours for years!

Rich

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Well, the latest is that I installed the cylinder in the repaired case and while it didn't go past the 90 degree point on the bench, it spun beyond that when installed in the seat separator. I then installed it in a new case and it did the same thing. In viewing new lock cylinders on-line, it appears that the tumbler tabs extend out from the top and bottom of the cylinder. In my old cylinder, they only extend from the top and I am wondering if that is the issue. Perhaps the lock cylinder itself is just plumb wore out...

[Gary B.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Keith,

if you insert an uncut key or an incorrect key into your original lock, one or more of the tumblers will extend out the bottom.

Gary

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Keith I'll look at mine in the morning and report back.

Rich

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Thanks Gary. I didn't realize that but in viewing new cylinders on line, I see the tumbler tabs extending out of both the top and bottom without a key inserted in the cylinder.

Keith,

if you insert an uncut key or an incorrect key into your original lock, one or more of the tumblers will extend out the bottom.

Gary

[Gary B.]

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

Thanks again Gary. That explains it clearly.

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[Keith R.]

Re: C1 seat separator/glove box lock cylinder turns more than 90 degrees

For those following this thread, I built up the case stop at the four o'clock position further with JB Weld even closer to the bottom of the bezel. I inserted the old lock cylinder into the old case with the build-up and it now the key does not rotate further than the 90 degree unlocked position. I still can't figure out why this was happening in the first place but it seems to be fixed for now. Note that the bezel does not fit fully into the threaded portion of the case so I was able to build up the JB Weld to the point that it almost touched the bottom of the bezel when fully inserted into the case.