Defender locks

Hello,
About to replace my locks for the 5th time after key snapper yet again. Anyone know if there's a set of replacement lock barrels that are NOT made of butter? Standard locks are pony and can be opened with a 2 pence piece. Why are these vehicles built using such complete sh*t for parts?? For the toughest 4x4, they are built like kinder surprise toys. Sorry, rant over, it's just after 10 years of owning my current defender, I feel all I do is replace or restore every sodding week. Grrrrrrr

saxon101 said:

I feel all I do is replace or restore every sodding week.

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Alas, that is 'Fender ownership in a sentence. I replaced all my locks with barrels from Dingocroft and they have been fine, I do routinely blast WD down't em though. Was in Austria earlier this month, ver nice.

I removed the barrels, blanked them of and fitted central locking. £30 from Hawk, not gone wrong once in 18 months.

Thanks, where were you? It's nice enough place to live. Been nearly 10 years now

bankz5152 said:

I removed the barrels, blanked them of and fitted central locking. £30 from Hawk, not gone wrong once in 18 months.

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Nice, easy to fit?

doriz said:

Alas, that is 'Fender ownership in a sentence. I replaced all my locks with barrels from Dingocroft and they have been fine, I do routinely blast WD down't em though. Was in Austria earlier this month, ver nice.

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Thanks, where were you? It's nice enough place to live. Been nearly 10 years now

saxon101 said:

Thanks, where were you? It's nice enough place to live. Been nearly 10 years now

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Vienna.

saxon101 said:

Nice, easy to fit?

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Yes, took few hours to get it really neat and tidy but yeah easy. Check my 90 build thread in the Members Vehicles section, did a small write up in there. Should give you an idea

Personally I have never had a problem with the standard locks, they may not be the most secure but I have never had one seize up on me or a key snap. I have found that giving them a squirt of WD40 from time to time makes them reliable.

Have you considered aftermarket locks / handles?
I have now got Optimill billet handles c/w security locks. Haven't had them long enough to comment on the long-term reliability but as with everything Optimill, they seem to be very well made and more than up to the job.

saxon101 said:

Hello,
About to replace my locks for the 5th time after key snapper yet again. Anyone know if there's a set of replacement lock barrels that are NOT made of butter? Standard locks are pony and can be opened with a 2 pence piece. Why are these vehicles built using such complete sh*t for parts?? For the toughest 4x4, they are built like kinder surprise toys. Sorry, rant over, it's just after 10 years of owning my current defender, I feel all I do is replace or restore every sodding week. Grrrrrrr

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I'm not much help on this but I feel your pain bud

bankz5152 said:

I removed the barrels, blanked them of and fitted central locking. £30 from Hawk, not gone wrong once in 18 months.

Click to expand...

Have you found the Hawk stuff ok? The alarm flattens my battery over a couple of weeks. If I don't alarm it it doesn't go flat ever

The central locking kit has been perfect, not one issue with it.