what cleaner/lubricant for locks and ignition

[rfuerst911sc]

Today I had some new keys made for the 911 + 914. The new keys work fine but because they are new with crisp edges they are a little snug when turning if that makes sense. In the past graphite was what was used but with modern technology is there a better way to go ? I haven't touched any of the locks in years so what is recommended ? I'm thinking a cleaner/lubricant ? I want to use this on every lock plus the ignition if it is recommended. Thanks

[Packy]

Graphite is great but if you don't want to use graphite I know wD-40 was originally made for electronics, like your ignition.

[tharbert]

WD40's primary ingredients are mineral spirits and mineral oil. Mineral oil attracts crud. You won't find any locksmiths maintaning locks with WD40.

I think a silicone with teflon lube spray would probably be fine although I would spray it on the key and insert, repeat several times.

Good old Graphite provides lubrication without attracting grit or grime. It also won't dry up or break down. And it's green.

[gtc]

I'd see if a locksmith can take it apart and clean it for you.
In my experience, graphite doesn't work especially well when someone has already sprayed an oil-based lube into the lock, so I would go along with the cleaner/lube idea.

[HarryD]

Many years ago I asked my locksmith what to use to keep my car locks in tip top condition. He told me to use Triflow Lubricant.

I asked about graphite and WD-40 and he told me that if I wanted to see him more often, use graphite as he likes to charge folks to cleanout the resulting crud. He pointed out that WD-40 is not a very good lubricant even though is has some lubricating properties.

Since that conversation I have been using Triflow lubricant to lubricate my locks with great sucess.

[spuggy]

+1 on silicon lube.

I had sticky locks. Shucks sold graphite for this purpose - seemed to help at first, but the lock tumblers got sticky over time, especially bad in the winter. More graphite at that point just didn't make any difference.

Flushed the graphite out with Triflow - just keep squirting it liberally into the keyhole until there's no more junk (graphite, old grease, mice) coming out, 10, 20 seconds or more - perfect. Repeat every 20,000 miles or so (it's been about 20,000 miles, they're still working great).

I went to get a spare 911 key cut, the locksmith (who keeps blanks in stock) recognized it immediately and volunteered that I should use silicon lube and to avoid graphite...

[LWJ]

Locksmith told me tri-flow as well. My ignition was all snarled up. Locksmith said to flood it with Tri-flow and then see what happened. It worked great!

Larry

[rfuerst911sc]

I'll try some Tri Flo thanks.

[RSTarga]

stop! the only thing to use is PTFE (teflon) dry lubricant. everything else will gum up. wd40 makes a product with this formulation. don't put anything else in your locks. even tho triflow has teflon it is not the same as the dry film teflon.

[BlueWing]

Teflon, I use WD40 to flush them out using rags to catch the overflow and keep wiping the key. Let it go a few days for the WD to dry up and follow up with Teflon. Graphite will eventually find its way into the springs and on the edges of the waffers eventually jamming up the works . I have a small fine wire wheel on my key machine to deburr/soften the edges maybe yours needs a touch more. On the sides at an angle so not to remove material from the flats