Door handle on a '77 Argosy Minuet

[nape77]

looking to find a new door handle and lock for a 77 argosy minuet. i know inland rv has them but i dont want to pay that price. if anyone has change one cheaper could you please help me out?

[perryg114]

We need a photo.

Perry

[Arrowstream]

This won't work for a lot of people, but I replaced my broken KT door lock with a standard keyed entry lock. I might paint the patch to match when it warms up.

The cost was about $25 for materials.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Arrowstream

This won't work for a lot of people, but I replaced my broken KT door lock with a standard keyed entry lock. I might paint the patch to match when it warms up.

The cost was about $25 for materials.

Looks great.

However, if you were in California and that lock ever failed allowing the door to fly open, that injured someone in any way, you would be very liable since that is not an approved RV type lock.

An individual can modify anything they wish, in any way they wish, but look out if it causes an injury, at least in California.

Andy

[perryg114]

Too bad AS did not do this in the first place instead of the cheap Aluminum Zinc junk.

Perry

[damonbeals]

I was able to repair the door handle on the Argosy, Out of Doors Mart has many of part available so you don't have to replace the entire assembly.

1970 to77 Airstream Lock : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

I did have to do some major work to get there key working, and I actually used parts from both the new and old keys, to get it working. We also replaced the Strike Pocket which makes the door close much tighter now, amazing how worn the pocket was.

Damon Beals

[perryg114]

How about a dead bolt Andy that is much less likely to fail than a door knob or the crappy RV latches.

Perry

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Looks great.

However, if you were in California and that lock ever failed allowing the door to fly open, that injured someone in any way, you would be very liable since that is not an approved RV type lock.

An individual can modify anything they wish, in any way they wish, but look out if it causes an injury, at least in California.

Andy

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by perryg114

How about a dead bolt Andy that is much less likely to fail than a door knob or the crappy RV latches.

Perry

Perry.

Anything for added security against flying open, would be a plus. That door with a household lock on it was not made to withstand traveling vibrations, like we all know it will receive.

Fixing many mechanical things with household parts, is just asking for troubles.

Andy

[overlander64]

Greetings Arrowstream!

Originally Posted by Arrowstream

This won't work for a lot of people, but I replaced my broken KT door lock with a standard keyed entry lock. I might paint the patch to match when it warms up.

The cost was about $25 for materials.

Earlier Vintage Airstream coaches during at least part of the 1960s had similar door latches from the factory. Something to consider with such a lockset is that should the door come unlached while underway, that handle is quite likely to pierce a hole in the side of your coach - - I have firsthand experience with this exact type of incident as that is exactly what happened on my '64 Overlander when I was headed home from having the Ruths polish and Plasticoat the coach . . . the strong, gusty sidewinds caught the door and blew it into the side of the coach -- the door handle punctured the side of the coach and the deadbolt (also a factory feature) created a crescent shaped dent. It turned out that the original 1964 locks had corroded so extensively (internally) that the vibration of the rough road surface caused them to fail almost simultaneously -- backtracked about 20 miles and the Ruths graciously repaired the damage and assisted in securing the door for my trip home. Once home, I sourced new heavy-duty stainless RV locksets through my Airstream dealer and had them installed - - I now also travel with a wooden security brace between the grab-handle and door in addition to locking both the handset and deadbolt.

You can see the patch where the knobset punctured the side of my coach to the left and slightly below the refrigerator access panel. There is also a rubber bumper installed to keep the knobset from abrading the aluminum when the door is open. Over the years, the crescent shaped dent made by the deadbolt has nearly disappeared . . . I am guessing the heating and cooling cycles of the aluminum may have been a friend in this instance.



I have been giving consideration to just what I will do when the OEM lock on my Minuet needs to be replaced/repaired/refurbished. My thoughts had been toward a setup similar to what I have on the Overlander if the parts for the OEM lock have become unavailable or prohibitively expensive. Either way, the wooden security wedge (discussed in several Forums threads) is a worthwhile addition for a little additional traveling safety.

Kevin

[Arrowstream]

I think that I saw a warning label on the lockset that said it may cause cancer in kalifornia. As for flying open, the previous owner installed a hasp so that he could lock it with a master lock (not in picture) - and I made a wedge.

I knew that my door would stay closed in transit so I hadn't considered the weakness of the lock to movement and vibration. I was looking for an inexpensive entry/exit lockset.

[TG Twinkie]

You can get "Commercial Duty" lock sets at the big box stores. They are even more robust than the so called RV lock sets.
Someone needs to take action in the RV standards world and make it illegal to install a door in any RV that is hinged to fly open going down the road. AS's have had this problem for decades. I just don't understand why the company has not resolved it.
I have a KT lock set on my Argosy. It still functions, but the hole for the lock cylinder is so worn that it makes it difficult to lock and unlock the door even with a new lock cylinder and keys. I installed a dead bolt assembly in the body of the trailer in order to lock the door in a reliable manor. I also have "over center clamps" that hold the door closed when traveling. These clamps are more reliable than the wooden block and also seal the door tight at the top and bottom. Which prevents any moisture from getting in during storage or travel.