65 miles ...

[Sinifar]

Okay, you have heard me pontificate on here about what to carry and a bunch of other stuff. Jump into the TC and we are going out on a call. The trouble call says, "Back receiving door lock inoperative." That is all I know at this juncture, except, this is an old grocery chain store from the days when we did all 56 state wide. This call comes from Janesville, a good 65 miles from our base.

Arriving on site, it is a good hour and a half via the roads around here, I meet up with the "frozen mgr." a fem in her late 20';s who only knows where the problem is. the store director (manager) is out for now. Okay it is SFIC, Best to be exact, but this is in a Yale lock, and it turns out to be 70 function (classroom) ... my records show this core was made in 2003 when they moved across the street from the old smaller store to this one. So far you with me?

Now the problem is the lock is basically shot. it won't retract the bolt, and the bolt's deadlatch is shot as well. time for a new lock.

Pull the core, it does come out nicely, so problem one is solved, so I don't have to make a new core. NOW as to the lock? It should be a Group 1, heavy duty lock, classroom function. What is on the service truck?

All of these are LSDA Group 1 locks ...

2 of LF2000 Entry / 26D
2 of LF2400 Storeroom / 26D
1 of LF2500 Classroom / 26D
2 of LF2000IC Entry / 26D
2 of LF2400IC Storeroom / 26D

That's it, that is all I have with me. I am 65 miles from the shop, and I don't want to make a second trip. Now what?

Knowing LSDA as well as I do, the LF series is pretty much the same, except the outside lever. Solution to my problem? Pull the 2500 from the rack, and take off the lever, and cylinder. Pull the 2000IC entry form the rack and remove the lever, and swap them out. Now I have made the 2500 into an IC lock. Exchange the screw packages so I have a throw for the core, install the core, and then install the lock. Works like glass.

I now have an additional LF2000 entry in stock. Well sort of, someplace around here I do have a junk IC LF series lock which got hit by a low unidentified flying object,(LUFO) and tore the lock apart. SO I can swap out the IC lever which is good, and I just made the lock back into a LF2000IC.

Ordered up new locks from Chicago, and they will be in Monday.

LSDA is one of the locks in which you can do this. I did this ages ago with Arrow and Best as well. The chassis are different as far as function but the spindle the thing which sticks out is pretty much the same across the same lines. I have found that the same spindle will work with both. On some Schlage you may have to cut the thing off to take the Best adapter knob / lever but if you are into this you know that already, and how much to cut off. So if you are stuck with this type of problem you can spend a little time in the van, and make up your own lock. Order parts / locks later. For now - get the job done.

Job 2 at site - they have an LSDA LS100 which won't lock. The stupid button won't go down / in -- Okay, with the manger standing there I pull the lock from the door, and strip it apart. ALL of it down to the chassis. The problem is the white plastic thing which goes between the spindle and the chassis body has turned and the "slot" won't line up with the plunger assembly. Taking my pocket screwdriver out, I realign the plastic thing so the slots line up and then reassemble the whole thing. Manager is impressed. 15 minutes of work and I fixed his lock.

ANY thing else not working Jeff?

Billing came to a bit under $450, call, lock and all ... Not bad for a long drive and I had another call to get to that afternoon in Watertown, another good 45 miles up the road. Long day out, but very profitable.

One more? I get a call late from a guy named Robin. He wants some 16B keys. Now what?

Going back to that chain, he was a store manager ages ago and I guess now has the padlocks about a dozen of them from the old store. WHICH keyway is it? F - J - or L? That confirmed, now to find the really old code book and start a dig. First find that old book. The chain went away a good 10 years ago, and now?? It is down here someplace. After a dig I find the book, and now I find that back in 2001 we had changed the Best codes and rekeyed the store. That explains the 16 and the "B" .. Cut him five keys and mail them out to him. That store was in Oak Creek, now long flattened and a Menards was built on the site.

For those who are asking what I or any locksmith does each day, now you have some kind of idea, and what you need to know to be in this business.....

Thanks for riding along ...

Sinifar

[cledry]

Interesting reading. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Personally unless just a temp repair to get me out of a bind I wouldn't repair an inexpensive lock like a grade 2 LSDA lever, they are inexpensive and repairing locks often costs more time if you get a recall. I always replace, customer gets warranty and I shouldn't get a recall, at least not within my 90 day labor warranty.

[shutterstuff]

Not having the decades of experience and being in business, I find myself ordering parts/locks and a second trip somewhat often.

I keep growing my inventory, but I still find I don't have in stock what I need for some jobs.

Fortunately for me, my territory is comparatively small. Maybe 45 minutes max travel time. Average is about 15 minutes.