File Cabinet Lock Old Meilink Hercules

[1mrchristopher]

One of the jobs put on perpetual hold by my mentor, that I've now been tasked with completing, is the replacement of a file cabinet lock from an old Meilink Hercules "fireproof" filing cabinet. I thought it wouldn't be any big deal at all, but the overall length of the cylinder is 1 5/8" and the only sizes I can find from any manufacturer are 1 33/64", 1 3/4", and 2". Considering the age of the container, I'm tempted to tell the owner to replace it anyway, but I have a hard time believing that this cylinder size is no longer made - far more likely that my Google-Fu is failing me.

[cledry]

Is it broken?

Post a phto because sometimes length is not important. I can't recall anything other than Cole cabinets that can't be replaced with a current lock.

[1mrchristopher]

It isn't visibly broken, but it's completely worn out. I've cleaned it as well as can be done, and between pins binding and the plug pulling forward maybe 3/32" when trying to remove a key, it is very difficult to either insert or remove the key. When the key is in place, the lock does function.

And now show and tell:

[1mrchristopher]

OK, after doing some measuring and getting my hands on the file cabinet, I believe that a modern 1 3/4" cylinder will work, provided that the distance from the latch bolt to the back of the lock is the same. The front of the cylinder will stick out a little in the locked position, but the customer doesn't care about that. They aren't worried about using it as a fire cabinet or for burglary prevention (I made it very clear that it was old enough that putting trust in it for fire protection was a gamble), they just want to have the option of locking it to keep prying eyes out of certain files.

[cledry]

That is still available. The distance from the screw to the lock bolt is important but the rest doesn't matter.

CompX Chicago C5002LP should do the job for you.

[1mrchristopher]

Is it possible you meant a C5001LP? The CompX Chicago catalog shows the C5002LP as having a rectangular bolt rather than a round bolt. Thanks for the help Cledry, I really appreciate it.

[cledry]

Is it possible you meant a C5001LP? The CompX Chicago catalog shows the C5002LP as having a rectangular bolt rather than a round bolt. Thanks for the help Cledry, I really appreciate it.

Yes, my mistake. I didn't have a catalog in front of me and was relying on a faulty memory.