|
03-02-2015, 01:13 AM
|
#1
|
3 Rivet Member
1972 29' Ambassador
Cupertino
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 116
|
All access panel locks damaged... can I drill them to open them?
So on the '72 Ambassador I recently picked up, every single one of the exterior panel locks were severely damaged by the previous owners. It spent the last few years being a camp trailer for Burning Man attendees who, from the look of things, used various screwdrivers to pry the locks open when they needed access (I'm just glad the entry door wasn't locked).
Amusingly, while I've been working on cleaning all the dust and debris from the interior, I came across what appears to be the keys, but even the best of the locks doesn't respond to them. I managed to get the battery tray door lock to pop open, but haven't had any luck with the rest. The panels are in good shape, so I'd like to avoid prying on them to get access.
Any recommendations on the best way to get the locks to open up? If they weren't so utterly destroyed I'd get one of my tow truck buddies to give a try at picking them, but I think I'm going to have to resort to more direct measures.
If need be, I can get some photos of the various locks to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with.
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 05:08 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Ebro
, Fla Panhandle
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,212
|
Have you tried a screwdriver, seems to be the go to tool for the job?
Some of my latches turn a bar that pivots onto a part of the rim of the compartment, wondering if a slim Jim would be able to push the bar around to unlatch?
Good luck with that and the dust removal.
Cheers Richard
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 07:28 AM
|
#3
|
Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
|
I drilled out the locks on the twin battery boxes on my Classic when I lost the only key. I started with a fairly small bit and used larger bits until the lock cylinder came loose. I was able to get the doors open with no problem. I replaced the original locks with similar locks from a local RV dealer.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 07:55 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1976 31' Sovereign
Missouri City
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,233
|
Once you get them open Vintage Trailer Supply has replacement locks that should match.
Baggage Door Pop Lock
__________________
Don Hardman
1976 31' Sovereign
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 08:09 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,314
|
Many of these doors can be accessed on the back-side from inside the trailer. These may include the refrigerator access door, the freshwater fill door, the battery box, and the rear compartment. You may have do do some disassembly to get at them, ie., pulling the refrgerator out in order to see the access panel. Once you have access to the inside of the latch, you remove the nut that holds the lock cylinder to the "striker," and the door opens up.
good luck!
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 08:54 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
|
For new locks that not everyone will have matching keys too check out these folks.
CH751, CAM LOCKS, CAMLOCKS
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 09:39 AM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
1964 22' Safari
modesto
, California
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,094
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
|
Mine work fine.
However, thanks to AWCHIEF, now I have lock envy.
For $12.05 each. I think I will upgrade.
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 10:10 AM
|
#9
|
Regular Guy
1978 31' Sovereign
Hot Springs
, Arkansas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 603
|
The vintage AS locks are super easy to pick. Use a very small allen wrench as a tensioner and a paper clip with the tip bent up to use as a rake. I got into mine in less than 10 seconds. The exception will be if the pins in the cylinder are boogered up. If the locks are done for, I would drill them out. Call your local locksmith and they might be able to help you out and offer a trick or two . Good luck.
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 11:45 AM
|
#10
|
4 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
Penokee
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 339
|
Don't feel too bad,,, my PO sawed a 25" hole in the bedroom wall to get to the power inverter.. All my locks were jammed and all it took was some brake cleaner and WD40 and a lot of key jiggling to start working again.. After I got them open I flushed them out again and used dry lube..
Sodbust
__________________
2012 Ram 1500 Tradesman Hemi, 4x4, 6 speed
20mpg empty, 14 mpg with 27' Overlander.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
|
|
|
03-02-2015, 11:47 AM
|
#11
|
3 Rivet Member
1972 29' Ambassador
Cupertino
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 116
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyCorpsman
The vintage AS locks are super easy to pick. Use a very small allen wrench as a tensioner and a paper clip with the tip bent up to use as a rake. I got into mine in less than 10 seconds. The exception will be if the pins in the cylinder are boogered up. If the locks are done for, I would drill them out. Call your local locksmith and they might be able to help you out and offer a trick or two . Good luck.
|
They're all pretty much toast at this point for trying to pick them. One of them's already been rounded off on the inside almost a 1/4".
Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
|
Thanks AWCHIEF, those look like the kind of lock / key I would like to use.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pahaska
I drilled out the locks on the twin battery boxes on my Classic when I lost the only key. I started with a fairly small bit and used larger bits until the lock cylinder came loose. I was able to get the doors open with no problem. I replaced the original locks with similar locks from a local RV dealer.
|
Cool, thanks, I'll approach it that way.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 05:19 PM
|
#12
|
'78 Sovereign
1978 31' Sovereign
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 25
|
It's not necessary to buy replacement lock sets from an RV Dealer. My local Hardware store has them in sets of up to six each keyed alike. Home Depot does also and they aren't the industry standard CF 751. Home Depot has some that may be disassembled and rekeyed as most household entry lock sets. I used them on the battery doors last week and will pick up enough to do the remainder of my compartment doors tomorrow. Under $5 each.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 10:17 PM
|
#13
|
3 Rivet Member
1972 29' Ambassador
Cupertino
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 116
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankrightbrain
It's not necessary to buy replacement lock sets from an RV Dealer. My local Hardware store has them in sets of up to six each keyed alike. Home Depot does also and they aren't the industry standard CF 751. Home Depot has some that may be disassembled and rekeyed as most household entry lock sets. I used them on the battery doors last week and will pick up enough to do the remainder of my compartment doors tomorrow. Under $5 each.
|
Thanks for the heads up. I had a bit of a brainstorm today while working on the interior - the locks we use at work to close the panels on our company's products (semiconductor cleaning equipment) is somewhat similar in style and mounting hardware to the ones Airstream used. Going to bring one of my panels in to work to see if that works. If so, I've got a cheap method for replacing them.
|
|
|
05-19-2015, 03:42 PM
|
#14
|
3 Rivet Member
1972 29' Ambassador
Cupertino
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 116
|
Just an update on this. The locks from work would've required more messing around than I care to do right now, so I ended up order a set of the t-locks. Normally I'd be all for doing a more custom / DIY approach, but I've got too many other things going on (both on the trailer and otherwise) to add to the list right now. Functionality for a few bucks is fine by me in this case.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|