Originally Posted by
Timbo
There seems to be a lot of different opinions on the cleaning and lubrication topic.
All I can go by is from my personal experience.
I have taken a lot of old safe locks apart due to difficulties unlocking. The most common fault apart from a mechanical /wear problem that I have found is old grease. I have taken old Milner and Chatwood locks apart to find that the grease inside has hardened to form a very sticky paste, thus dragging on levers and bolt. I don't know if this was put in at the time of manufacture or added at a later date, but some of the grease that I have found inside locks has turned a horrible green colour and set really hard.
So I think whatever your view, everyone has their own opinions I guess.