A little trick that works for me when fitting nightlatches.

[pcbear]

When the follower bar has to be cut around 7mm from the backplate, this can cause loads of grief sometimes trying to get it into the slot in the lock case, if you snip a very slight corner off each side of the follower bar , cut the end off a coping saw blade ( to get rid of the lugs that hold it in the frame of the saw) you can slide the blade in and lead the bar into the lockcase with ease.

[horsefeathers]

Nice tip re cutting the corners off the bar. I use a Peterson knife to guide bar in sometimes.
regards

[SteveW]

Yale provide a little gizmo for this (at least with the Yale 81). Its simply a piece of thin plastic with a slot in the end for the follower. Makes things very easy

[raimundo]

heres a tip on figuring out where any strikeplate-deadbolt mismatches are, put lipstic on the bolt face and then close the door and move to bolt to transfer some of the warpaint onto the edges of the strike plate. and if ya cant handle it, just don't flame me

[Bump]

Tried the Lipstick thing! Got it all over the place, my toolbox smelt like a fairies boudoir for weeks afterwards. Had to wait to puncture a whole can of WD40 before it whiffed of engineer again.

[horsefeathers]

Yale provide a little gizmo for this (at least with the Yale 81). Its simply a piece of thin plastic with a slot in the end for the follower. Makes things very easy

....which can be easily knocked up from a piece of old mica no doubt!

regards

[SteveW]

Mica would be just the ticket ! A thicker piece would be best me thinks.

Its one of those little jobs that i think everyone has their own way of dealing with. A small screwdriver, a bit of bent wire, a bit of mice etc...

Any more suggestions ?

[cjames73]

A small screwdriver, a bit of bent wire, a bit of mice etc...

Any more suggestions ?

you use bits of small rodents? thats mean

i use a piece of thin plastic.
cutting the corners off the bar is a good idea, thanks.

[SteveW]

Its true well trained rodents can be an invaluable locksmiths tool...

I have a couple of well trained rats that i can pop through the letter box to go and find the spare keys. I also have a couple of performing Chinchilla's (they do impressions, magic tricks etc.)... they amuse the customers when it takes a while to pick the lock.

Of course this may not be true.... i may just have awful spelling...

[cjames73]

I have a couple of well trained rats that i can pop through the letter box to go and find the spare keys.

now theres a thought
maybe this should be in the advanced forum

[SteveW]

Ive had to cut air holes in my Letterbox kit !

[cjames73]

i can see it now,:lol:

[Shrub]

I use a pair of tweezers,

[jason]

Hmmm I use the force...

[Mutzy]

:lol:

I use a pair of tweezers,

To train rodents?

By mica, you're referring to the plastic used for shimming nightlatches open?