RIM CYLINDER LOCK OUT, dead bolt (well latch) activated

[NickBristol]

The snib can drop by itself, usually in my experience as a result of the door being slammed frequently and or poor fitting. Not an everyday thing but it does happen.

auto-deadlocking nightlatches are a right pain too, thank god for letterboxes and catflaps!

[jiggler]

I see. Letterbox it is then. Though it seems toomush has other means.

With an auto-deadlocking nightlatch wouldn't you just pick the lock open the normal way? It must be the cylinder that disables the deadlock when you use the key so the same applies when you pick it, unless I'm missing something?

[toomush2drink]

Ok this is quite a common problem take a look at a standard nightlatch and you will see this problem occurs when the lock is fitted on the right.If you drop the snib with the latch sticking out and not retracted it is still possible to shut the door if its given a hefty slam.Another way is if the snib is not fully lifted up of worn and the door slams thus jolting it.The giveaway is when the customer rings saying they have the keys but cant get in, just ask them if the lock is on the right, it surprises them you can tell this over the phone but its obvious really if you look at this type of lock.

Yes i did open one this week with no letterbox but im not revealing how as its a bypass method, all i will say is it was a conversion flat door.
This week ive had a spate of them and done 3 in a week yet its been ages since ive had this type of lockout.

[UWSDWF]

toomush...

do you think that increase might be due to the cold weather coming in?
I don't work with this sort of thing (i'm a canuck), I just want to through a hypothesis out there, maybe see if there might be treatment for the disease rather then the symptons.

cheers

[jiggler]

when the lock is fitted on the right

When looking at the back of the door? So the cylinder on the outside would be on the left?

So when it's fitted this way up the snib drops to lock - rather than lifts to lock so the snib can drop if it's loose and the door is slammed?

Sorry to labour the point but I just want to know that I understand what you mean.

[toomush2drink]

Jiggler its the other way round i mean look at it from the outside. Just google for a picture of a night latch and it will be obvious.

[jiggler]

I did have a look before I posted the question. It appears that it isn't a hard and fast rule of cylinder on the right.

The ERA 1400 and 1600 nightlatches that I have would have to be fitted on the left (looking from outside) for the snib to be drop-to-lock.

The old style basic Yale lock fitted on my back door is the other way around and like you said, would have to be fitted on the right hand side when looking from outside the door for the snib to be drop-to-lock.

It seems that they are not all the same so I guess it depends what nightlatch you are dealing with. But the brand on the cylinder is not necessarily the brand of the case mechanism!

The clue is that the door won't open with the key like you said toomush. And you can tell that the plug is turning when the shearline is made as it should be but the deadlocking is stopping the bolt from being withdrawn as the plug will turn a little and then stop dead.

Don't get me wrong toomush - I'm not after arguing with you at all and I certainly believe that you know your stuff but it just didn't look right to me when I looked at the ERA nightlatches in my stock and I want to be sure I'm understanding correctly.

Again it's another one that comes down to experience I suppose. And to think some would have you beleive that you can learn all you need to know in 2 days!!!

[toomush2drink]

Earlier in the thread he mentioned it was a normal yale type, no mention of era hence my explanation. Its all in the detail, miss the details and you miss the jist of it.

[jiggler]

I see what you're saying. I expected that the "normal Yale type" tag referred to the fact that it was a normal nightlatch (not double or auto deadlocking) as Yale were the original inventors of this type of lock I think weren't they?

Look at the 84/88 Standard Yale on this link, they are the same way around as the ERA snibs - just to throw another spanner in the works.
http://www.yalelock.com/Yale/Templates/ ... _5036.aspx

Perhaps they redesigned the snib position as I expect that ideally most will be fitted to the right, looking from outside, as most people are right handed and use the right hand to open the lock and the left hand to open the door. Though the location of interior walls etc. wil take precedent.

Though I do concede to your train of thought toomush, if it's a newer standard Yale lock then it might be fitted on the left and suffer from this shock-dropped snib problem.

Thanks for helping me to get it straight in my head anyway mate

[xorb]

I can only assume that a spate of snib drops is due to timbre doors swelling in the wet weather we are having at the mo.

[keyman]

You say there is no letterbox and a back door ,is it a solid door or does it have glass in it . Anyway if the client customer will allow it drill a hole in thedoor as if you where fitting a spyhole but before fitting it us a bent wire through the hole to move the snip bingo .Not sure if this is to much info for open forum so mods please remove if it is ,

Regards Keyman

[UNFORGIVEN]

PM Sent

[Tattoo Guy]

Or just cut a hole in the door where a letter box would be and fit one when you have opened the door