KT lock question

[Bonitafarms]

My '72 has a hard to operate door latch. I can work it with a little difficulty, but my wife who has little patience is going to break it.
When the door is open, the bolt can be pushed back a little, and I believe this is the problem.The bolt does not fully retract.
I removed the lock and observed the inside handle operator was bent forward where it hits a split pin on the bolt shaft, I straightened it and replaced the roll pin and believe that it will now work ok from the inside.
The outside seems to work on a pawl that hits a split pin on the bolt shaft and the pawl has a groove in it where it meets the pin
This seems to allow about .125" less travel on the bolt.
Should I fill the groove ( weld it )< difficult > or can I just grind .125 off the end of the bolt <easy>?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Bonitafarms

My '72 has a hard to operate door latch. I can work it with a little difficulty, but my wife who has little patience is going to break it.
When the door is open, the bolt can be pushed back a little, and I believe this is the problem.The bolt does not fully retract.
I removed the lock and observed the inside handle operator was bent forward where it hits a split pin on the bolt shaft, I straightened it and replaced the roll pin and believe that it will now work ok from the inside.
The outside seems to work on a pawl that hits a split pin on the bolt shaft and the pawl has a groove in it where it meets the pin
This seems to allow about .125" less travel on the bolt.
Should I fill the groove ( weld it )< difficult > or can I just grind .125 off the end of the bolt <easy>?

Do not shorten the striker bolt, as it will allow the door to fly open far easier than it is now.

Have someone overhaul the KT lock, that knows how and that has the proper parts.

That's far cheaper than replacing a damaged door and a caved in side sheet.

Since your original lock only lasted 38 years or so, a proper rebuild will give you that much time again.

Andy

[AL’ UM- MONEY]

Andy, My 1976 has similar problems. Is an Airstream dealer setup for these rebuild and still get parts. Is there any outside companies that do this type work. Any idea the cost of a replacement as opposed to rebuild. Mine generally opens but the lock loosen and drops down and impossible to unlock.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by GAT

Andy, My 1976 has similar problems. Is an Airstream dealer setup for these rebuild and still get parts. Is there any outside companies that do this type work. Any idea the cost of a replacement as opposed to rebuild. Mine generally opens but the lock loosen and drops down and impossible to unlock.

Not all dealers even know what a KT lock is.

Then you have dealers that only sell parts.

Then, you have dealers that sell parts "and" overhaul those parts that can be overhauled.

A new KT lock is way over $500.00.

Repair parts are not cheap, either.

Or, you can modify the door and install a different type of lock, for less money.

Or, you could send your lock into a dealer that you know overhauls them, and ask for an estimate.

Andy

[TG Twinkie]

Bonita Farms and Gat. Can you post pics of your locks. I have had success in repairing the lock on my '74. I'll be glad to help if I can. My lock looks like this.




Out of Doors Mart has parts for this lock. www.odmrv.com
Bonitafarms; Go to parts; locks and keys; Search for part SKU3043 or 380348

[Bonitafarms]

Mine is the same, found the part at Out of Doors mart with the new part #& ordered it, many thanks !!
Rick

[baileyd126]

is there anything to be done if the bolt doesn't seem to fit into the "Strike Pocket" (Im guessing this is what this part is called)

the lock and door handle on my Argosy seem to be just fine. It almost seems like the bolt isn't long enough.

[baileyd126]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Not all dealers even know what a KT lock is.

Then you have dealers that only sell parts.

Then, you have dealers that sell parts "and" overhaul those parts that can be overhauled.

A new KT lock is way over $500.00.

Repair parts are not cheap, either.

Or, you can modify the door and install a different type of lock, for less money.

Or, you could send your lock into a dealer that you know overhauls them, and ask for an estimate.

Andy

New to the Forum but this is who I'm assuming would know my question!

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the Forums!

This is a rather old thread, and I haven't seen any activity from Andy with Inland RV in quite a while, so I think he might have bought a white box trailer and moved to a beach where he doesn't have to think about Airstreams any more.

I would suggest you start a brand new thread. It isn't clear whether the problem you are having is with your lock, the door, the door jamb, etc. Post a bunch of pictures of what you are talking about, and any history of your trailer that may be relevant, and you will likely get plenty of responses from current users.

good luck!

[rmkrum]

Andy retired, sold Inland RV to one of his former employees. He’s not been around here for a year or so.

Inland RV is still in business and I for one have bought stuff from them since Andy left with no problems. They are located just a couple miles away from my home.

[J. Morgan]

Your problem is almost certainly the way the door fits in the frame.

If the leveling jacks are down and uneven, that can twist the trailer enough to affect door fit.

Another problem might be a very worn door hinge.

I had to repair my hinge by drilling the bosses out and making bushings out of copper tubing.