'47 Merc trunk latch

[Slowinski]

Hey guys,

Quick, and may be stupid, question. The trunk handle is missing its lock cylinder and thus of course wont open with the turn of the handle. Is there a better way to get it open than to go through the backseat? I tried sticking a flathead in there to see if i could jimmy it open...but to no avail.

Anyone have a trick to getting this guy open? Or is going through the inside the only hope?

Thanks,
S

 

[Old Henry]

Going through the back seat is the only way. If the square shaft is still in the latch you may be able to open it from the inside.

But when we did it we had to disconnect the hinges from the trunk lid and remove the lid to open it. Two bolts on each hinge.

 

[Slowinski]

That's great, thanks! Car still has the back doors jammed and quite the amount of mouse droppings in her. Waiting for a warm day to pull it out to give it a good sweep. Doesn't roll with a darn, spun the back wheels when it was lifted and it seems to have a sticky spot. Rolls fine until, where I'm assuming the position it sat, then it gets hung up on something. But thats another diagnostic for another day...

 

[TomO]

If the lock cylinder is not in the handle, you may be able to use a screwdriver to move the slider that locks the handle.

Try backing off the brake shoes to get it rolling.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

As Tom says, try to move what the cylinder moves...remarkably, I have a handle with cylinder and key right here in my office, brought in for another discussion on these handles..
Popping out my cylinder and peering waaaay in with a flashlight, I see a vague shape at the back of the hole. At the top of that is a recessed area...pushing down in there (down meaning 90 degrees from axis of shaft) with a dental tool, something barely discernible moves and handle locks to shaft so it will function.
Easy, and that's the hard way!
Easiest is to find someone else with similar Ford or Merc and borrow the cylinder for 30 seconds.
You simply turn the key about 45 degrees from locked, push down a pin hidden in a little cavity right above cylinder, and pull on key to slide out cylinder. Pop it into your handle, open trunk, repeat process to return cylinder to its owner.