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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: From_Jonah on August 08, 2013, 01:28:06 PM

Title: Locked tailgate
Post by: From_Jonah on August 08, 2013, 01:28:06 PM: This weekend I'll hopefully be going to get the new tailgate for my car. The problem is, it's at a junk yard and its locked and has no key. Would I be able to drill out the lock cylinder and get it to unlock and just move my current latch into the new tailgate?
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: turbopinto72 on August 08, 2013, 02:15:04 PM: I imagine that if you drilled a big enough hole and stuck a screwdriver in in and turned it with vise grips it will unlock, then use your old lock and key to replace it.
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 08, 2013, 09:28:16 PM: A good cordless drill starting small then stepping up until about 3/8" should be enough to remove the tumblers & once they are out it will turn with a big screwdriver. I've done this on several. Go slow & you will eventually get it.
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: TIGGER on August 09, 2013, 12:02:35 AM: Maybe try and loosen the hinges from the top and that might give you enough room to get under the hatch to release the latch. Be careful though as those hinges are under a load.
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: sedandelivery on August 09, 2013, 06:59:07 AM: Just for the heck of it take some ford keys with you and put them into the lock and jiggle them around, it may work. The lock used in the tailgate is much more forgiving than the one in the ignition. I have done the tailgate thing with sucess a few times.
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: From_Jonah on August 09, 2013, 08:14:37 AM: Okay awesome. Hopefully I can get it undone pretty easy. The hard part will be getting to it and getting the tailgate off the yard. The part of the junkyard where the car is is right by the guys pig pens and its like a huge swamp.

Are the latches pretty easy to change out?
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: HOSS429 on August 09, 2013, 09:06:13 AM: Quote from: sedandelivery on August 09, 2013, 06:59:07 AM
Just for the heck of it take some ford keys with you and put them into the lock and jiggle them around, it may work. The lock used in the tailgate is much more forgiving than the one in the ignition. I have done the tailgate thing with sucess a few times.
excellant thought !!! i had a key once that fit 3 dif fords i owned .....
Title: Re: Locked tailgate
Post by: flash041 on August 09, 2013, 11:33:24 PM: Another option is to crawl in the back and use an open end wrench and unbolt the lock catch from the body. I did this once when my lick froze from rust. No drilling required.