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Meyer Hard Top - Help Door Lock Question

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by Timber Cruiser, Jan 21, 2021.

  1. Jan 21, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    Nov 5, 2018
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    I have a Meyer top that I just installed on my CJ. It didn't come with a key, but I read on another post that you can use the number on the lock to get a replacement key. I went a head and did that. The key I ordered came in yesterday, but I'm having a problem. The key fits and turns all three locks. The tailgate has no issues, but on the doors, I can't get it to lock. I even tried locking a door from the inside to see if the key would unlock it. That didn't work either. Am I doing something wrong, or is there a trick to these locks? The key just turns 180 degrees with no effect. The key is doing the exact same thing on both doors. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

    Outside door handle assembly

    Inside door handle assembly
     
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  2. Jan 21, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    it might be the lock itself?
     
  3. Jan 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    The lock cylinder in the handle pops a little pot-metal knub into a slot in the base when locked. You can see it on one of the old handles from my Kelly top:

    Unlocked:
    [​IMG]

    locked:
    [​IMG]

    Most likely the pot metal knub has been broken off on your lock. The lock pictured above has no way to remove the cylinder for repair, but yours might. It's unfortunate Meyer riveted the inner latches on. It looks like you'll have to drill the rivets to work on it. They are bolted on my Kelly top. There should be some nuts behind the inner latches to remove the handles.

    *If* you can get the lock cylinder out of your handle, you'll need to find some vintage replacement parts from the same brand handle to fix it.

    On mine, I bought 3 key-matched garage door locks and then used a angle grinder and file to modify the handles to work with the old bases (the new bases had the wrong screw spacing). I had to modify stops so they could rotate the right direction, widen the slots in the bases for bigger knubs, and do some grinding to get the offsets correct. It was an afternoon worth of work but turned out nice. Now I have 3 key-matched locks that all work. Relevant post on my thread here: Old Red Maintenace Thread
     
  4. Jan 21, 2021
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    I have such doors but same problem, no keys but I don't need too lock the doors... Maybe one day...
     
  5. Jan 21, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    Thanks for the great response! It confirms what I was afraid might be happening. I will have to tear into it this weekend. I'll post what I find.
     
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  6. Jan 21, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    I don't really need to lock mine either. I'm just OCD and this will eat at me until I solve it.
     
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  7. Jan 21, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Hah! That's exactly why I fixed mine. I'm keeping the patina on the Jeep, but I'm pretty OCD that everything on it works as it should.
     
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  8. Jan 21, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    LOL. The struggle is real.
     
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  9. Jan 21, 2021
    TuxParkIV

    TuxParkIV Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Lanexa VA
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    Any info on where these numbers are? And how did you get cylinder out? Just picked up a Meyers myself.
     
  10. Jan 21, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    The little flip/lever on the inside can't be locked or unlocked with the key. It's only designed to be manipulated by hand. Just to clarify the door handle side doesn't lock the inside latch, it only locks the inside of the handle itself so it can't be turned. You can also buy those types of handles at places that sell truck service bodies.
     
  11. Jan 21, 2021
    TuxParkIV

    TuxParkIV Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Lanexa VA
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    How do those handles come out? Just got my Meyers haven't studied the locks yet.
     
  12. Jan 21, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    They're held on by small screws and the square bar just slides through the inside latch. Just looked at the picture posted, mine are different and have screws. Maybe the Meyers have studs?
     
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  13. Jan 22, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    They are on the face of the lock. Mine was pretty dirty and I had to clean it off to find it.

     
  14. Jan 22, 2021
    Timber Cruiser

    Timber Cruiser Member

    Oregon
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    Ok. I was wondering how that worked. So basically there are two independent locks on each door.
     
  15. Jan 22, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Yep. My Kelly top originally had a Key lock on the driver's door with no internal lock (just a latch) while the passenger side had no key on the external handle, but locking inside latch. I guess they assumed you'd never want to enter the passenger side first when it was all locked up.
     
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  16. Jan 22, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    about the only time I lock the jeep . is if there's something inside . I WANT to keep
    as to door locks . usually key lock drivers door . and manual lock passenger door from inside
    but there has been times when . I also would key lock passenger door . so you can open door from outside :D
     
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  17. Jan 22, 2021
    TuxParkIV

    TuxParkIV Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Lanexa VA
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    Got the numbers off my rear hatch and ordered them today. Can not read the ones for the door. Hope they are the same. Thanks for posting that picture.
     
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  18. Jan 22, 2021
    Mr Vaughan

    Mr Vaughan

    i have issues with being able to force the inside lock on my kelly just by applying pressure. normal? (1961 Top)
     
  19. Jan 23, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Probably from being dirty, old, maybe slight corrosion? Most likely needs penetrating type of lubrication.
     
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