Just wondering what might have happened. After a storm one night a week ago or so, when the rain was getting to the door, we noticed our keys would not go all the way into the lock. I worked them in and out a couple of times to try and see if I could loosen things up, my key is getting better back to normal, but my wife's key will not go all the way in. I have looked around the internet and a lot say that the tumblers might have some rust or gunk got in the lock. If that is correct why is my key working and hers isn't. I put them next to each other and they are the same key.

Do I need to just use wd40 or take the lock apart or get a new one? Has anyone experienced this?

Do not use WD-40, although it will displace moisture, it also attracts dust and dirt and turns it into a congealed mess.

Start by flushing the lock with brake cleaner, short bursts is all it should take.

Then try inserting the keys in and out then flush with more brake cleaner.

Once the key is working and operating the lock again, spray either a dry graphite, or other dry lubricant. Home Depot sells a Blaster "The Dry Lubricant" that works very well on numerous projects.

I maintain well over 1000 locks in the facilities I manage, and once I got my staff to quit using WD-40 as a fix all, and started sprating the dry lube to amintain the locks, our lock/key issues have vanished!

Yah on the Internet a couple of people said Houdini for a spray as well. I will start with what you said.


Thanks

Squirt graphite in there. A dry lube that won't gum up. Work the key in and out. Done

And the reason your key may work, and her's not: Your ridges may be more or less worn than her's... Pretty common for one key to work a lock better than another. Tumblers in a lock are hardened... The keys aren't. So the keys wear at different rates.

I have always used wd-40 & never had a problem. Our lock here on the front door at the office started doing like you said, I told my boss, just squirt some wd-40 in there, he said oh, no you aren't supposed to do that, you have to use Graphite or it will mess up the lock, so he called a lock & door company, they came out, the guy looked at it & squirted some wd-40 in it & stuck the key in & out and said you're fixed, that'll be $70. My boss was pizzed.

I too would be mad if someone sprayed that crap in my lock. Just because some jack-wagon wanna be locksmith uses it, does not mean that WD-40 is the proper fix.
Do as you will, but I use WD-40 for one thing and one thing only, it removes crayon marks from painted walls real well.

It's been at least two, maybe 3 years & that $70 squirt of WD-40 hasn't ruined the lock yet. I guess it could fall apart at anytime though.

Just sayin.

To each his own!