Avocet 4 hook 4 roller mechanisms

[aaalocksmiths]

i have today come across this mechanism that has failed. the key gets jammed at 11-o-clock or 1-o-clock, depending on which side the door is hung.

the only way to open it is to snap the cylinder and operate the mechanism with pick or whatever the individual uses.

there is a fault on this mechanism, i changed 2, 18 months ago assuming that the mechanism had failed. on both of these mechanisms exactly the same thing happened within 10 days of fitting. so i changed one of them, assuming i had a faulty mechanism sent through. a few days later the other one i'd fitted did the same, popped a new cylinder on it once i'd opened it.

at home i took the faceplate screws off and operated the mechanism until it happened again.

the arm with a right angled hook on it was drifting over and jamming the cam on the cylinder. the right angled hook can be snapped off and the rest of the arm replaced, it is needed to keep everything in place. hey presto a mechanism as new.

i contacted avocet and sent them a load of photo's and detailed description of what i had found wrong. not interested in the slightest.

it takes about 15-20 minutes to make this modification and i have not been called back to any of them i have fitted or modified, i have done about 6 or 7 of this model now and had no problems.

if i can find the photo's and anyone would like to see them i'll post them so you can see what i mean.

Has anyone else come across this situation? or is it just me

cheers

[aaalocksmiths]

i have found the pictures of the mechanism, i only have the ones with the reight angle removed though, it is on the lever plate. you'll get the idea

can someone tell me how to put the picture on the forum please
cheers

[WhiteHat]

here's a guide on how to post images.
viewtopic.php?t=1633

enjoy!

[aaalocksmiths]

For those interested the picture of the mechanism with mod done can be found at

http://www.aaalocksmiths.co.uk/Euro%20Cylinder.htm

many thanks to white hat, i am new to this forum lark and am pretty pc illiterate at the best of times.

i'm actually more of an auto lockie but won't turn normal lock work down if it comes in (who can afford to)????

[EvoRed]

I had a job tonight where the cam had jammed in an Avocet mechanism, key stuck at 11 o'clock. Had to snap the cylinder and replace it.

It was a subbing job and the customer wasn't too bothered as he was only renting, and moving in a couple of weeks, but I did advise them to inform the landlord of possible future problems with the mechanism...

I've had this happen twice in the last couple of months but, unfortunately, didn't take note of the mechanism brand on the others...

[aaalocksmiths]

Hi All
sorry about this but i appear to have lost the pictures of the avocet 4 hook 4 roller mechanism with the problem shown.

basically the right angled latch, that is used for lift to lock and engage the mechanism (but a slam shut) from the outside and turn the key only to open from the outside (that is about as best as i can desribe it). it is just up from the cylinder towards the faceplate. this needs to come off. the mechanism comes apart very easily and the plate it is attached to is under all the cams and so forth. take it all out (noting where what came from where) and snap the right angle off. it all goes back together and you will need to use a small screwdriver or a small steak knife to get the spring that is on the top cover into place. screw it back together and hey presto a brand new lock that will not jam the cam of the cylinder up.

i will keep looking for the pictures but i can't remember where i put them.

cheers

[AUTOLOX]

This problem occurs when the lock is not in the dead locked position so you do not have to snap the euro out. All you have to do is open the door(this is easy as it is not dead locked)
push the handles up so all the hooks etc. are in the locked position

1) take the handles off

2) take the screw out from the euro

3) turn the key back and forth wiggling the euro up and down

if this does not release the cam you can pull the dead lock out a bit with a pin (only needs moving a fraction ) and repeat number 3

when you have removed the euro without damage you will have to remove the lock and perform the fix described earlier.

the only time you may have problems opening the door is when there is no letter box(can't use letter box tool) but that's nothing an air wedge won't fix

before you fix the lock explain the problem to your customer

[pixel]

I've had this jam in the locked position before for the same reason and
if you look at the lockcase you'll see how it can be operated without
jiggling or snapping the cylinder.

I've also had that **cking little spring that sits above the bolt jam it aswell.

If you have to replace the 4 roller version then it will be with the 2 roller
2 mushroom version and they will work with the roller keeps.

Andy

[aaalocksmiths]

on all occasions i have had this happen the door has been locked (just lucky like that i guess). also i have been having issues with my computer over the past couple of weeks and the so called experts that i took it to to fix have lost nearly all the data stored on it :twisted , so i no longer have the picture of the mechanism. may find it when i plough through the cdroms i have.
needless to say my accountant is gonna be really pi**ed when i take him my books as i have also lost most of my invoices, most of them have paid up and the ones i'm missing are generally good payers so not all bad, just got to convince tha tax man i'm not on the fiddle............