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Reply to "tumbler for doors 4907 - what Fiat part?"

I do not recommend WD-40 for use in a lock. It is a petroleum product, does not fully evaporate and remains sticky, thus only serving to collect dust and dirt.

Graphite powder is readily available to lubricate a lock. There are some liquid lock lubricants specifically designed for locks, such as Houdini, which I purchase from online sellers. Those are the only products I suggest to use.

The mechanism that helps the lock cylinder pop back out is buried very deep in the ignition housing and has no clear path for the delivery of lubricant. It is located at a dead-end hole that does a great job of collecting the dirt and grime over the years.

The mechanism is a spring loaded ball bearing and a chisel pointed piece that is pushed between the ball bearing and a fixed point. When the key is removed the spring loaded ball bearing is supposed to help push the chisel point, which is connected to the lock cylinder, out.

Also located behind the lock cylinder is another spring loaded ball bearing that guides the lock cylinder in its rotational movement.

With both of them covered in 40 years of dirt and grime, the lock cylinder no longer wants to pop back out.

The only way to seriously clean them is to remove the lock cylinder from the housing, which I can help guide you to do. But the first step would be removing the lock assembly from the steering column.

At this point that is what I suggest. Once the lock housing is removed you should however soak it in lacquer thinner overnight and then use compressed air to try and blow out the loosened dirt. But because everything is buried inside the assembly most of the dirt will not escape but it may be removed from the ball bearings.

If you study the photograph you will see the ball bearing and the chisel pointed piece that pushes against it.

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