Old cam lock - 4/8" body? Old stamp machinel ock

[a_gunslinger]

I have an old vending lock I’m repairing. Everything fine except the cylinder disintegrated. Lock body show 4/8” – kind of odd as most are 5/8" aren't they. See pictures. Trying to find a replacement body for the lock cylinder because I like to keep as much originaa as possible.





Need some wisdom

[MBI]

I see what looks like the broken remnant of the lock housing. Do you have a pic of the broken pieces too? That's gotta be some rather low-quality sintered zinc to come apart like that.

I'll dig through my box of old, oddball cam locks, but I don't recall running across anything exactly like that before.

[billdeserthills]

It would be helpful to see the keyhole, but from here it looks like an old chicago or Illinois cam lock

[a_gunslinger]

I dont have the key housing broken parts anymore. But it is just the housing that broke. I had to break the rest off to get the cylinder off. I soaked in vinegar for the rust, maybe that affected the zinc?

I should know better than to not include a picture of the keyhole. Here's the machine itself with the keyholes ;^)

The stamps that were in it were 1 cent and 5 cents if that helps with age.

[Jacob Morgan]

Vinegar is slightly corrosve to zinc, some people use vinegar to etch galvanized parts so paint will adhere better.

It looks like a Chicago CG1 keyway?

[a_gunslinger]

Thanks Jacob. Will start searching. Its the odd length of 1/2", not the standard 5/8 that is the tricky part.

[Jacob Morgan]

There is a 7/16" -- that is 1/16" shy of 1/2", would that do? Maybe go with a longer cam and put two off set bends if need be, or grind down part of the cam to make up the 1/6"?

They are on page 11. You would have to find a distributor, I don't think the manufacturer would sell one at a time. A locksmith might order one for you?
http://compx.com/images/compxchicago_march2015.pdf

Looks like they are nickel plated, not brass .

[a_gunslinger]

That might do. I will have to rig something, or bite the bullet and get a new lock. That OCD to stay original is my downfall.

You knoow there is a box of them sitting a basement somewhere

[Jacob Morgan]

Here is one source:

http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Lock-Cam-C3205/dp/B008VH0IWO

If you really need to make it 1/6" longer you could try slipping a washer under the cam, it looks like the threaded part is long enough to allow for that.

[Raymond]

You can probably use a 5/8" housing if the lock works properly with it. The face of the lock plug needs to seat correctly. Just cut off the back end to the exact length required. The attachment nut will thread on anyway.

[billdeserthills]

Here is one source:

http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Lock-Cam-C3205/dp/B008VH0IWO

If you really need to make it 1/6" longer you could try slipping a washer under the cam, it looks like the threaded part is long enough to allow for that.

I may have one just like yours, laying around the shop, I'm sure someone on here does