Deadbolt repair

[Davidwantz]

We seem to slam the door shut with the deadbolt sticking out slightly. That requires an extra shove against the door when we close it to get the bolt to slide home. And it can't be bolted from the inside when the housing is bent.

Here is how we fixed it.
1. Remove the screws and interior hardware and pull the outside lock mechanism out, as you would a home door lock mechanism.
2. Drill-out the pop rivets holding the deadbolt to the door-edge. Pry the rivet flanges off. #1
3. Pull out the bolt and sleeve. You will see where the cover is bent outward and the tabs pulled from the force of having slammed the door with it sticking out. #2 shows the rivets already drilled out.
4. Straighten the bolt sleeve cover and tap the ears down to keep it fixed in place. It's good to apply a little white lithium grease to the bolt now. #4
5. I welded the top and sides so it would be a bit more durable. Belt and suspenders.
6. Slide the bolt into the door and re-rivet it.
7. Reattach the lock mechanism.

Not hard to do. About an hour total.

[Edistobob]

Just messed mine up a couple of days ago. Thanks for the photos. I noticed that the rivets have rather large heads. Did you use any special rivets when you put it back together?

[Davidwantz]

Edistobob, I used the AS pop-rivets I bought in Jackson Center. You can get them on line at https://store.airstream.com/product/...-50-ad68abslf/

It might be part number 330034 or 330038. Can't quite tell from the website image.

May be able to get them as well at Grainger or Fastenal near you.

Good luck,

David

[Edistobob]

Thanks, I appreciate the information.

[Mollysdad]

BTW, my deadbolt seemed loose, so I tightened the screws on the inside of the door. I found I couldn't move the lock!
I had to loosen the screws until it found a happy compromise.

[jcanavera]

I noticed that I have a small amount of play in my deadbolt lock on my classic. The bolt itself moves horizontally slightly in the unlocked position. If it is sitting in its slot with the face towards the outside of the door, the bolt will not slip into the slot in the frame without contacting the frame. If i push on the bolt towards the inside of the door and then close the door, the bolt will successfully engage through the slot in the door frame.

So obviously I have some slop in the bolt. There is the inside knob and cover with two screws in it. Can I remove that and then tighten up the lock itself or is there something behind those two screws that might cause me even more issues? I'm assuming that the lock in my '04 Classic isn't defective. Maybe just needing a little tightening....somewhere?

Jack

[jcanavera]

Here's a couple of pictures showing the dead bolt. One shows the position of the bolt when I have problems locking the door. The second picture is when I push the bolt so it is flat against the channel which allows the door to lock easily.

Jack

[MotoMannequin]

We have the same issue - it's getting more an more difficult to engage the bolt, and impossible from inside. I just noticed there is significant horizontal play in the bolt and it needs to be gently, manually centered to engage the lock. I'll tear into it hoping it is this simple of a fix. Thanks for the pics.

[MotoMannequin]

Well let me just say I did this fix today and it's a beautiful thing. We bought this 2010 trailer used in 2018 and the deadbolt has never been right: had to lean and wiggle the door to finesse it locked from the outside, always 100% impossible to engage from the inside. Since October it's been more and more difficult to lock from the outside, and last weekend I noticed the side-to-side slop in the bolt. I disassembled it and the damage was exactly as pictured by David. Repaired the sleeve and lubed it up, now effortless locking from the inside and outside.


Edited to add: the rivets for the deadbolt were luckily the same as used on the belly pan. 3/16" aluminum large head. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Davidwantz]

Congratulations! Glad the photos helped. Dave

[Bauxter]

Does anyone know if the OODM deadbolt will fit a 1974 Sovereign? I would want the lock in the body, and the bolt would slide into the door, reverse of putting the lock mechanism in the door, as seen in newer models



Mike