Morton Building Rekey

[yogibayer]

Has anyone ever rekeyed a Morton building with the alumasteel locking system? I have a job coming up to do one and the customer said she had another locksmith out and he took most of the door apart before she kicked him out. I'm looking at the video of the system and it isn't clear how much dis-assembly will be required, but certainly, some will be required. It appears to be a typical Schlage deadbolt - so once I get to the mounting screws it should be fairly straightforward.

Here is the youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=F3lfk0YhoWk

and here is the Morton page describing the system
http://www.mortonbuildings.com/CurrentlyFeatured-AlumaSteel.aspx

[Altashot]

From what I saw in the video, I think it uses a rim cylinder. As you said: once you get to the mounting screws it should be easy.

M.

[maintenanceguy]

...she had another locksmith out and he took most of the door apart before she kicked him out.

Be careful, make sure you're in a position to not loose any money if she throws you out too. Most people that are crazy one Monday are still crazy on Friday. Whenever a customer tells me about how bad the last guy was, I politely turn down the work. Life is so much easier if you can recognize the signs of a problem before you get yourself into one.

[yogibayer]

...she had another locksmith out and he took most of the door apart before she kicked him out.

Be careful, make sure you're in a position to not loose any money if she throws you out too. Most people that are crazy one Monday are still crazy on Friday. Whenever a customer tells me about how bad the last guy was, I politely turn down the work. Life is so much easier if you can recognize the signs of a problem before you get yourself into one.

I have been to a number of jobs where the customers have had problems before me. It is usually more lucrative, because I am able to communicate to the customer what needs to be done and why. She said she paid the last guy his service call fee so at least I know she understands the way business works.

[Squelchtone]

yogibayer, please fill in your profile so we know your geographical location (city, state, country). Many times there are resources available locally where we could point you to for parts, supplies, or another locksmith we know who knows that system, but alas, not sure where you are from.

Thanks
Squelchtone

[Raymond]

Just a suggestion. If that door is as time consuming to take apart as it looks like in the video, then you should try to upgrade her to a removeable core cylinder. She will be very pleased at the cost difference on the next rekey.

[femurat]

Great suggestion maintenanceguy, I was called to a job that was left unfinished and found out that the "problem" wasn't the guy who has been there before me, but the customer. After working more than expected I ended up with just half the money I asked, because the customer complained about the quality of what I did.
The job was "finished" (done again from scratch) by a third person after one year... and it sucks even more than it did in the first place. Some people just can't be satisfied.

Cheers

[yogibayer]

Well, I did go to the job, contrary to popular opinion. Before going I called the Morton Building representative and asked about the building in question and was informed that the building was too old to have the Alumasteel locks and just had a bunch of interior doors with regular locks. When I got there the barn manager showed me around the building and nearly every lock was an A-Line with SC keyway.

The door the customer said was taken apart by the previous locksmith was actually an A-Line that had been pried off the door from the outside. They didn't have a key for the door and needed to get into the room and to "bypass" the lock the "locksmith" pried the lock off the door, leaving quite a mess. I understand why she kicked him out - I'm sure you would have too.

The results of the job were:
- A service call fee
- 12 Rekeys
- 3 Rekeys without the key (I charge more for those - The place where I apprenticed doesn't do this and wondered how others handle the situation?)
- 1 A-Line lever to replace the broken one
- 2 F51 Entry Levers

Quite a profitable job.

[LockDocWa]

"taken apart by the previous locksmith was actually an A-Line that had been pried off the door from the outside."

All I can do is shake my head ruefully