50yr old lever lock - keep or disassemble?

[Gantry]

I got this old railroad lock on Ebay along with a 6 lever pancake lock (which was the lock I really wanted). It looks to be in good shape but of course didn't come with a key. It was open when I got it so that makes life a little easier as I can see down into the lock. It looks to be a 2 lever with the 3rd being the shackle catch. I made a probe and from what I can tell it looks like one of the levers has a broken spring. The shackle catch does have a nice spring too it. Not sure if the "guts" of this is related to a mortise style lever lock but I can retract the shackle catch with the probe there for it seems the levers aren't working or are frozen in the unlocked position. I guess I could there fore make a key that just catches to shackle lever (you tell me if you think I can). I've looked for a cheep barrel key to try but there ether too expensive or the barrel opening is too small (looks like I'd need a 1/4" opening) for the barrel. So... Do I leave it as-is, do I keep searching for a key, or grind off the rivets (ruining the lock) and see whats really in side and share (the big find) with everyone?
Here are some pictures to help you out...
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The next pictures show down inside the lock with the non-working lever to the far left in first pic. & bottom in the 2nd.:
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[RedE]

I got this old railroad lock on Ebay along with a 6 lever pancake lock (which was the lock I really wanted). It looks to be in good shape but of course didn't come with a key. It was open when I got it so that makes life a little easier as I can see down into the lock. It looks to be a 2 lever with the 3rd being the shackle catch. I made a probe and from what I can tell it looks like one of the levers has a broken spring. The shackle catch does have a nice spring too it. Not sure if the "guts" of this is related to a mortise style lever lock but I can retract the shackle catch with the probe there for it seems the levers aren't working or are frozen in the unlocked position. I guess I could there fore make a key that just catches to shackle lever (you tell me if you think I can). I've looked for a cheep barrel key to try but there ether too expensive or the barrel opening is too small (looks like I'd need a 1/4" opening) for the barrel. So... Do I leave it as-is, do I keep searching for a key, or grind off the rivets (ruining the lock) and see whats really in side and share (the big find) with everyone?
Here are some pictures to help you out...
, ,

The next pictures show down inside the lock with the non-working lever to the far left in first pic. & bottom in the 2nd.:
,

Keep looking for a key for sure! I'm kinda a rail buff myself, so I can tell you a little bit about those locks. First off, most railroad padlocks you'd see back then were made by Adlake. Secondly, railroads key their padlocks alike so that a train crew can use their key set anywhere their travels may take them. And since your padlock is stamped D&H Co, that would indicate that it used to be owned by the Delaware and Hudson, which is now a part of the Canadian Pacific Railway. A Google search for "Delaware and Hudson Adlake key" just turned up multiple sources offering such keys for sale. I've also seen these old barrel keys on eBay too, so that might be a place to look.

Hope this gives you a place to start. Sinifar, who is a longtime member on here, is in to train stuff as well so maybe he can chime in on the subject...

[TORCH [of KCK]]

Personally, if it were mine...
I'd display it hanging from the open shackle.
So as not to devalue it, until time that I have a proper bbl key blank to impression.

BUT, if you are certain that it's defective, and rather have it functioning over it's current value. Might I suggest that you make sure that you have the correct rivets & tools 1st. As well as, a lock you can practice on, say a master 77, or whatever....

Just something to think about.

[Gantry]

Thank you for your feedback, if any others have anything to add please do so... A quick update- I have play with the lock some more with the "wrench" I made and have been able to unlock the shackle lever (sorry having a hard time explaining, still fairly new too this). I guess what I'm TRYING to say is I've locked the shackle back into the lock and "picked" it open again. Even "picking" isn't the right word. As I said before there appears to be only 3 levers - 2 reg. levers and then the "shackle" catch. By using the wrench on the top most lever (to the front of the lock) which is the shackle catch I can unlock it (the levers never came into play). Not sure why? Any ideas? And please feel free to help me with my terminology (other wise I'll keep using the same terms and drive you all crazy!). Gantry

[GWiens2001]

My guess would be that either the two levers are frozen in place, or that the fence/post is broken off.

Gordon