Sticky door handle and lock barrel - how to make less sticky

[snoopios]

Hi guys (and girls?),

My driver side door handle and lock barrel are really stiff to try and pull open and turn with the key. Does anyone know if squirting some WD-40, some kind of lube and / or white grease into the mechanism and into the barrel be a way to loosen things up?

Thanks in advance

 

[JoeLanger]

For locks in general you're supposed to use graphite powder instead of WD. WD will wash out the lube in the mechanism.

Although I got no FD specific advice!

 

[Efini-dan]

Wd40 will work, but I used acf50, its good stuff but expensive. Just pop the interior cover off the back of the handle and spray the joints and you should be good for a while.

 

[snoopios]

For locks in general you're supposed to use graphite powder instead of WD. WD will wash out the lube in the mechanism.

Although I got no FD specific advice!

Interesting, never heard of graphite powder. Then I did some quick research and it seems like that is the way to go because all wet lubes tend to do is attract dirt.

I'll get some and give it a go.

Apparently the alternative could be WD-40 Dry PTFE.

Thanks

 

[snoopios]

Wd40 will work, but I used acf50, its good stuff but expensive. Just pop the interior cover off the back of the handle and spray the joints and you should be good for a while.

Thanks.

If the dry lube doesn't do the trick, I might have to go down that route and keep topping it up.

 

[Nas80]

I used lithium grease it seemed to have been ok so far.

 

[jack.am]

They also get stiff because the mechanism is utterly retarded and the little levers inside bend over time, resulting in too much clearance and they then jam themselves. I 'fixed' mine by opening them up and safety wiring the metal lever that actuates the rod to the plastic handle. You can also drill and tap the lever and then put a little pin in there to stop the mechanism from moving past its range, there's a thread on RX7Club about it, I can't find it right now though.