Rekeying Wafer Lock?

[56KBs]

Hey guys, had a little search before hand and couldn't find any guide of type for this, seen Illusions guide on what everything looks like and seems simple enough.

I'm wondering how hard/easy it is to rekey a wafer lock, on my car I've got a different fuel filler cap, so I need one key for the car, one for the fuel cap, which is annoying me a tad so I was looking to purchase another filler cap, rekey the lock and put it in my current filler cap (So I don't break my current one and not have a spare)

Got a generic picture from a guide how to get the lock out of the cap so you guys can see what is going on -



My question is, how do I go about rekeying this lock, do I want to file the inside of the wafer, the tops or could I file where the spring goes to? Would it even be possible to rekey using the same wafers or would I have to get some new wafers for it (Or combine two sets and hope I have the right ones for my key)

Thanks in advance for any help or advice (Hoping this actually is a wafer lock so I don't look like a total noob now )

[Aldenrenfrid]

Well, typically one doing re-keying work on wafer locks would have a set of replacement wafers to use, but I'm probably getting ahead of myself.
First things first. Can you put your car key in the fuel lock? (IE, is it the same keyway.)
Most gas cap locks I've seen are not compatible with the car key, but if yours is, then you're in luck, it can be re-keyed to your car key.
The proper way to do this is to either get a wafer re-keying set, so you can replace the wafers with ones that fit your car key, or take it to a locksmith who has one for him to do. (the latter would likely be the cheapest plan about $10-15)
I'd advise against filing the wafers down to fit as that would make the lock less secure, by putting a much greater variance in the tolerance of the lock, and possibly allowing other keys to turn it.
Another possibility I've done before, also decreases the security of the lock, but if you're just concerned about a minor hindrance to unauthorized opening it may work. Put your car key in the lock and see if that places any of the wafers flush with the plug, (The proper open location) if so, take the wafers that are at the locked elevation out, and try switching them around to different locations on your key. Basically you're re-keying the lock with the same wafers it had, just in a different order. The problem here is it's unlikely more than one or two wafers would fit properly on your key. So in effect it'd be a 2 wafer lock, which is absurdly easy to pick.
Really the best/most secure option is to either get a wafer set to do it properly, or get a locksmith to do it.

If on the other hand your car key does not fit in the fuel lock keyway, you're out of luck

[globallockytoo]

The pic you have there is from a motorbike, not a car fuel cap. the picture shows the plug withdrawn from the cap. On this bike (most likely a Suzuki GSXR) the gas cap lock is used to make a key for the entire bike. It still requires progressioning of the extra 2 wafers in the ignition lock.

Depending on your car, potentially you could modify the fuel cap plug to take your existing car key (with a bit of work) and then file the wafers, but dont file the top of the wafers, you need to file the inside of the wafers.

[56KBs]

On the original fuel cap I had my car key fit the fuel cap lock, but when I came around to opening it it had seized, given it is an old car I wasn't surprised, so we ripped off the old and replaced it with a second hand one with its own key. So essentially it's best to take to a locksmith who should have the tools for the job and it will be more secure.

The fuel cap is actually from an old Rover/MG car, it is essentially exactly the same as mine, just a different front to it, so I assumed by lock would be the same style.

I'll head down to my local locksmith and ask how much it'd cost for them to do it for me.

[2octops]

Soooooooooooo......what kinda car is it? Year, make and model please.

[56KBs]

Car is a 94 Rover Metro 1.1s 3 door