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MG MGB Technical - Changing Locks

A few years ago I was told that while I could buy a matched set, it was not possibe to order individual locks for my MGB by key number. So if you need one lock you either buy a set or have an additional key.

I am in the process of converting my 1974 chrome bumper roadster from LHD US spec to RHD UK ish spec. In doing so I am using a RHD steel dash of the V8/early RB style, ie fat column.

The used dash I bought had a lock in the glove box door but no key. There does not seem to be a key number on the tock that I can see. When I take the barrel out of the lock there are a number of brass plates that stick out the bottom.

Is it these brass plates that vary from one key number to another?

Are they easy to remove without damage? I am thinking of removing them so I can compare them with my door locks and perhaps swap their positions about or modify them to match the door locks.

I think I have a couple of spare locks with no keys so I am thinking of pulling them apart as well to mix and match.

David
David Witham

David, If you take the barrel out of the lock and expose the brass plates insert your normal key and you will see how the plates stick out the sides of the barrel. Geltly file these flush with the barrel and you have then adapted the lock to fit your normal key. Good luck.
Iain MacKintosh

Iain, that sounds alot easier than I had expected. Fush is clearly the unlock position. I assume the plates are spring loaded and inserting the key pulls them into the barrel.
David Witham

Ian's method works, but:
Any good locksmith will have great quantities of the little plates - "tumblers" - and can make the locks match.
FRM
FR Millmore

FRM, I'm not aware of any locksmiths in this country having "great quantities " of the little plates in stock. The first time I had this done by a locksmith he simply filed the plates as described and I followed on myself from there. Yes david you are right in that inserting the key draws the spring loaded plates back into the barrel.
Iain MacKintosh

Filing too much off the plates can cause them to fold and jam the lock. If minimal filing is involved it shouldn't be too bad, but if you have to file allot off it's not so good. Those little plates are removable and come in a small number standard sizes that are located differently. You need a lock smith that has English car lock bits.
In other words, what Mr. Millmore said
Peter

And if you file off too much, the tumbler is too short and jams in the lock whilst the key is out.
Friend of mine is a locksmith and has millions of tumblers for all kinds of locks back more than a hundred years - you should have been there the day he left a cabinet open in his mobile service unit and all the drawers fell out in a turn!
FRM
FR Millmore

Well I had a go and filed the plates. So I now have a functioning glove box lock.

I take the point that it would be a better solution to change the plates. On this occation I wanted to get the job done. When I come to adapt the boot lock to match the doors I will take more time over it and see if I can get the plates changed.

Thanks everyone
David
David Witham

This thread was discussed between 01/06/2009 and 03/06/2009

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