Key questions...

[Sixty2B]

Do the ignition, door and boot key barrels have the key number on?
'FS...' or whatever.
All three keys are different on my 1966 Morris Cooper.
Is this normal

Thanks in advance

[Peter Laidler]

Some do have the key number stamped into the outer alloy end of the barrel. Some have the number on the actual stainless cover end. Alas, some don't have it at all.

But so far as I am aware, the car came with TWO keys that fitted the the door, boot and ignition locks. Mind you, so said, the key, say, FS 888 also fitted every other 162 FS keyed car! Such was the security in those old dark days

As a matter of interest it is quite simple to change the barrel to suit. The problem is that while there are 5 brass tumblers per barrel, there are 6 variations of brass tumbler........... making several zillion variables.

Anyone....., please feel free to correct me

[TECH396]

I can't answer all the details, But, most (if not all) door and boot locks had the code stamped on the square shaft, and not the cylinder covers. The ign switches had the code stamped to the tumbler itself and only visible if you stripped the lock apart.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

It is possible to change the wafers around to "re-key" the tumblers as well.

If you have several old lock sets- you can take one key, and using extra wafer bits... use it to arrange the wafers in a tumbler case so that- with the key inserted- the majority of the wafer tops are fairly close to the top of the tumbler casing. Similiar to the picture posted above.

Be mindful of all the small springs, and be sure they're in place.

Using a fine file, file the wafers down gently flush to the tumbler casing with the key inserted.

A roundabout way to re-key lock sets and have one key fit all.

[Spider]

Here in Oz, up to when we got steering locks, it was one key did the lot.

Most 1/2 decent locksmiths can key all your existing locks to a common key for very small money, of it you have all the plates, you can do it yourself as Joel has suggested.

[Sixty2B]

Great information as usual.
Thanks everyone