lock cylinder failure

[RonD]

Ford put grease on the gear and actuator but a dry lube would work

 

[mikkelstuff]

A flat blade screw driver will not turn the pinion gear. However, a new lock cylinder inner subassembly or cylinder can be inserted (without the outer cylinder) and used to test the pinion/rack movement as the tab has the correct shape and relief.

 

[mikkelstuff]

What replacement lock cylinder should I buy?

I bought the Motorcraft SW6383 lock cylinder thinking that would be best. However, this comes as a completely disassembled kit. Would be ok but I found it impossible to reassemble.

The problem is the detent ball and spring which reside in the inner cylinder and must be inserted through the outer cylinder. First off the ball does not want to stay centered on the end of the spring. Then retainer has pointed ends which simply push the ball off the spring.

The lock cylinder shown in the YouTube showing is clearly not made this way. For the showing, the detent ball stays in the outer cylinder when the inner cylinder is removed. A much better design.

So I'm returning the Motorcraft unit to Amazon!

 

[mikkelstuff]

Varooooom, Varooooom - On the road again, I'm on the road again!

So I gave up and emailed a local locksmith. They wanted 300 bucks for a lock cylinder recoded for my key. Whoa.

So I went to my local Ford dealer thinking it could be no worse. It wasn't. Wasn't any better either. Still 300 buckaroos but at least it was fast.

I still do not understand how to assemble that Motorcraft lock cylinder but oh well. I'm on the road again. Whoo hooo!