Tonneau lock replacement

600remguy · 04-02-2010, 03:24 PM

Can anyone tell me how to remove the tonneau cover locks? My front one won't pull the cables enuff to open the latches. Maybe they are not serviceable? I don't know.

**ncranchero** · 04-02-2010, 06:19 PM

The cable assy just prys off of the lock itself. That's all you need to replace. You do not have to remove the lock to do that.

600remguy · 04-26-2010, 07:10 PM

Thanx ncranchero. Finally got around to investigating why my front cover lock doesn't work. Little actuating tab inside is broken. But real reason I posted is to say that prying the cable unit off the lock is a one time thing. It bends and breaks the tabs that hold them together.

**ncranchero** · 04-27-2010, 03:26 AM

That's good to know! I removed some of them once but didn't put them back. Not real good!!!

GAZH13 · 05-13-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 600remguy

Thanx ncranchero. Finally got around to investigating why my front cover lock doesn't work. Little actuating tab inside is broken. But real reason I posted is to say that prying the cable unit off the lock is a one time thing. It bends and breaks the tabs that hold them together.

So if I remove the cable assy. from the lock, do the tabs on the lock or the cable assy break? Has anyone got the lock and cable assy apart without damaging them.
I bought a used cover for $100 and dont have the keys. Going to take it to the locksmith and see if I can get it keyed. Hopefully I can get that done but it looks like the safety pull might have been yanked so I dont know if the cable assy still works. All the latching mechanisms work, just dont know if the key will turn them.
I was wondering about the lock because if I can get it keyed and the cable assy wont work, I will have to get a new assy. If there is no way to seperate the lock and the cable assy with out damaging them, then I will have to end up buying a new lock also ? Then if I want one key for the cover, I will have to buy 2 new locks and 2 cable assy's. Going to get expensive. Still have to buy the four strikers.

600remguy · 05-14-2010, 03:18 AM

Wish I had better news. Front cable assembly-$80 Canadian. My cables looked brand new and I believe they were, but some over zealous person forced the key around and broke a wee little plastic tab that turns the piece that the cable ends attach to inside the locking part, for lack of a better term. The tabs I speak of are actually fingers that spring outwards, or really, inwards, to hold the two assemblies together, sorta like the way cheap aftermarket gauges are sometimes held against the surface they are mounted to from behind. There are two fingers, 180 degrees apart and I could see no way to disengage the fingers as they engage towards the centre of the lock barrel. You MIGHT get lucky and just bend the fingers and be able to straighten them out to work again, but I'm definitely not going to try and see if it works. IF you can see the tumblers, you can clamp vice grips on that metal tab jutting out the bottom and turn it when they are lined up properly-then you'll know if cables work. Only about a 150-160 degree turn though. If latches don't pop, your wee little tab is broken like mine was. If the 'smith can see the tumblers, he may be able to key the lock. Try him out-I've seen some do neat things.

GAZH13 · 05-14-2010, 04:20 PM

Went to a locksmith and he made me a key for 15 dollars. I dropped it off for about 2 hours and came back and it was done. He got one of the cable assy's apart from the lock. Dont know how he did it but it was together when I bought it home and it just came apart as I was oiling it. He must of took it apart so he could read the tumbler numbers. Just stuck it back together with a little twist. Hopefully it wont fall off going down the road or something but its seems like its on there pretty good.Might have to secure it with something but it seems to be working fine.Had to oil the cables and lock real good but got everything working.

dferron · 07-26-2012, 12:00 AM

I have the same lock on my Tonneau. I was able to take it apart. My problem is, is that I don't know the mfg of my Tonneau and therefore unable to find a replacement. Locksmiths around here will not even consider making a new key. I need a new lock as the previous owner broke the top cover and lost the slip rings that hold the lock in place.

All this to say ... do you know the mfg of your Tonneau?

GAZH13 · 07-28-2012, 08:18 PM

If your top is like the one in the pics, it came from Ford. You should be able to get your replacement parts from the Ford dealership. A Ford dealership out of Florida emailed me an illustrated parts list, so I could order what I needed. You can email them at sales@fastpartsnetwork.com They helped me when my local dealership couldnt. Your local dealership might be able to help.

dferron · 07-30-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAZH13

If your top is like the one in the pics, it came from Ford. You should be able to get your replacement parts from the Ford dealership. A Ford dealership out of Florida emailed me an illustrated parts list, so I could order what I needed. You can email them at sales@fastpartsnetwork.com They helped me when my local dealership couldnt. Your local dealership might be able to help.

I contacted them and was told that there wasn't a parts list available, and they did not know who mfg'd the cover either.

If you still have that parts list, could you PDF it to me? I would be forever grateful

GAZH13 · 08-04-2012, 06:37 AM

I dont have the parts list anymore, Sorry. When I contacted Fast Parts Network, I was emailed the parts list the next day. I did see a partial diagram of the cover on their website but it wasnt as detailed as the one they sent me. Its under the Parts Catalog. If it turns up or I find out anything I will post it.

04-02-2010, 03:24 PM	#1
600remguy Wannabe Elite Explorer SW Ontario '04 SportTrac XLT 4Paw Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Tonneau lock replacement Can anyone tell me how to remove the tonneau cover locks? My front one won't pull the cables enuff to open the latches. Maybe they are not serviceable? I don't know.

04-02-2010, 06:19 PM	#2
ncranchero Sport Trac Moderator Denver,NC Truckin' on Pat & Charlie Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,563 Vehicle Specs	The cable assy just prys off of the lock itself. That's all you need to replace. You do not have to remove the lock to do that. __________________ Steve, 2010 Transit CONNECT 145K miles, 2002 Sport Trac 4x4 SOLD 2000 Taurus SES 3.0L 24 Valve DOHC Duratec 87K miles 1994 F150 4x4 4.9L/5-speed 160K miles, 1995 Ranger 2.3L/5-sp/3.73 75K miles "Plain Jane" How to post photos Last edited by ncranchero; 04-02-2010 at 06:43 PM.

04-27-2010, 03:26 AM	#4
ncranchero Sport Trac Moderator Denver,NC Truckin' on Pat & Charlie Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,563 Vehicle Specs	That's good to know! I removed some of them once but didn't put them back. Not real good!!! __________________ Steve, 2010 Transit CONNECT 145K miles, 2002 Sport Trac 4x4 SOLD 2000 Taurus SES 3.0L 24 Valve DOHC Duratec 87K miles 1994 F150 4x4 4.9L/5-speed 160K miles, 1995 Ranger 2.3L/5-sp/3.73 75K miles "Plain Jane" How to post photos

04-26-2010, 07:10 PM	#3
600remguy Wannabe Elite Explorer SW Ontario '04 SportTrac XLT 4Paw Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanx ncranchero. Finally got around to investigating why my front cover lock doesn't work. Little actuating tab inside is broken. But real reason I posted is to say that prying the cable unit off the lock is a one time thing. It bends and breaks the tabs that hold them together.

05-14-2010, 03:18 AM	#6
600remguy Wannabe Elite Explorer SW Ontario '04 SportTrac XLT 4Paw Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 137 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Wish I had better news. Front cable assembly-$80 Canadian. My cables looked brand new and I believe they were, but some over zealous person forced the key around and broke a wee little plastic tab that turns the piece that the cable ends attach to inside the locking part, for lack of a better term. The tabs I speak of are actually fingers that spring outwards, or really, inwards, to hold the two assemblies together, sorta like the way cheap aftermarket gauges are sometimes held against the surface they are mounted to from behind. There are two fingers, 180 degrees apart and I could see no way to disengage the fingers as they engage towards the centre of the lock barrel. You MIGHT get lucky and just bend the fingers and be able to straighten them out to work again, but I'm definitely not going to try and see if it works. IF you can see the tumblers, you can clamp vice grips on that metal tab jutting out the bottom and turn it when they are lined up properly-then you'll know if cables work. Only about a 150-160 degree turn though. If latches don't pop, your wee little tab is broken like mine was. If the 'smith can see the tumblers, he may be able to key the lock. Try him out-I've seen some do neat things.

05-14-2010, 04:20 PM	#7
GAZH13 Wannabe Elite Explorer Grand Bay, Alabama 2001 Sport Trac Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 40 Vehicle Specs	Went to a locksmith and he made me a key for 15 dollars. I dropped it off for about 2 hours and came back and it was done. He got one of the cable assy's apart from the lock. Dont know how he did it but it was together when I bought it home and it just came apart as I was oiling it. He must of took it apart so he could read the tumbler numbers. Just stuck it back together with a little twist. Hopefully it wont fall off going down the road or something but its seems like its on there pretty good.Might have to secure it with something but it seems to be working fine.Had to oil the cables and lock real good but got everything working.

07-26-2012, 12:00 AM	#8
dferron Wannabe Elite Explorer 1994 Ford Ranger XLT Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs	I have the same lock on my Tonneau. I was able to take it apart. My problem is, is that I don't know the mfg of my Tonneau and therefore unable to find a replacement. Locksmiths around here will not even consider making a new key. I need a new lock as the previous owner broke the top cover and lost the slip rings that hold the lock in place. All this to say ... do you know the mfg of your Tonneau?

07-28-2012, 08:18 PM	#9
GAZH13 Wannabe Elite Explorer Grand Bay, Alabama 2001 Sport Trac Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 40 Vehicle Specs	If your top is like the one in the pics, it came from Ford. You should be able to get your replacement parts from the Ford dealership. A Ford dealership out of Florida emailed me an illustrated parts list, so I could order what I needed. You can email them at sales@fastpartsnetwork.com They helped me when my local dealership couldnt. Your local dealership might be able to help.

08-04-2012, 06:37 AM	#11
GAZH13 Wannabe Elite Explorer Grand Bay, Alabama 2001 Sport Trac Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 40 Vehicle Specs	I dont have the parts list anymore, Sorry. When I contacted Fast Parts Network, I was emailed the parts list the next day. I did see a partial diagram of the cover on their website but it wasnt as detailed as the one they sent me. Its under the Parts Catalog. If it turns up or I find out anything I will post it.