Classic Has anyone changed a RRC upper tailgate barrel?

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inthshed

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Plymouth
Hi, The restoration of my 1980 RRC 2 door is nearly complete.
I need to replace the barrel on my upper tailgate (unless anyone knows a way of sourcing a key for it!), but I can't see an obvious way of removing the old one from the handle. Any ideas? Cheers.
 
Hi, The restoration of my 1980 RRC 2 door is nearly complete.
I need to replace the barrel on my upper tailgate (unless anyone knows a way of sourcing a key for it!), but I can't see an obvious way of removing the old one from the handle. Any ideas? Cheers.
Remove the handle from the tailgate via the two bolts. Then you will see two Phillips screws that hold a cover plate to the handle, remove the screws and the lock barrel will come out. Keep the parts in the order that they come out. There is a slot in the handle so you can only fit it one way.
 
Likely a RRC of that age will have a separate smaller single sided key - mines an '86 & that's what it has.
Yes, that's what I'm assuming as well. I also have a '72 RRC (albeit with a shell from the 80's) which has exactly that.
 
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Remove the handle from the tailgate via the two bolts. Then you will see two Phillips screws that hold a cover plate to the handle, remove the screws and the lock barrel will come out. Keep the parts in the order that they come out. There is a slot in the handle so you can only fit it one way.

Ideal, thanks. I only re-fitted the handle a few weeks ago.....must have missed the cover plate, duh!
 
Yes, that's what I'm assuming as well. I also have a '72 RRC (albeit with a shell from the 80's) which has exactly that.
I have 3 RRC's from the 90's, so I didn't know about the smaller key. I do know that the ignition key from the 90 will open the 93's tailgate and a tailgate on a mate's car, as well. Do you have a tailgate key for the 72? It might work.
 
So, I removed the handle this morning, located the small cover plate and undid the two retaining screws. I then left it soaking in WD40. On the assumption that the cover plate was made of something reasonably substantial (like....oh, I dunno....steel maybe?) I have just tried to gently lever it up....only to watch a piece of it peel away. You can see the gap to the left of the top screw, and a bit that has bent upwards (just above the bottom screw). It might be made of very thin lead (but why?) or possibly cheesecake? Just before I ruin it completely, can anyone throw some light on what happens next?! Many thanks.
 

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Is there a circlip on the shaft base at the plate?
Maybe tapping on it using a punch or something to break any crud seal acting on it?
Hi. The shaft you can see is the plunger that is activated by the Chrome push button. This moves freely in and out and doesn't inhibit this 'gasket' in any way.
 
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