Re-key a cam lock

[2002sheds]

Hi All,
New member here... I am interested in rekeying the storage hatch locks on a 1978 Airstream.

The locks are keyed all the same, but I have no key. I did pick up a lock picking set and also a wafer and spring kit by ESP. Fortunately, the latches are open, so I have been able to remove the core cylinders.

What I have already run into is that the old wafers and new ones are slightly different. As seen in the attached pic (https://imgur.com/a/Erux9r9), the original wafer has a different shape to the part that the spring contacts. It is also missing the small “bump out” on the other side (or it has worn off over time). I stupidly jammed one in as a replacement for a wafer that I had pulled, and the new wafer (of course) does not budge. I removed it.

I then used a Dremel to shave down the “bump”, but I think my shoving the too-wide wafer into the slot may have deformed the area that stops the cam, as it falls right out now...

Are there different manufacturers of these wafers? Should I make it look more like the original (shave down the angled “shoulder”)?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
David

[just1pick+open]

Pictures of the lock, any #'s on the lock, Do you know what blank to use & I would just replace the locks new KA (order them keyed alike) ones.

[2002sheds]

Hi Just,
Thanks for the reply. Below are links to a few pics of the locks. No numbers anywhere... Being such a rookie, I have not been able to find a source for the core/cylinders that would fit such a lock... any help there would be great!


https://imgur.com/a/ba5MFwb


https://imgur.com/a/zUmBx5p

Thanks,
David

[billdeserthills]

As a locksmith, I have simply made keys to many of these locks & most if not all are keyed to work on all the same key.
Even paying someone $35-45 to make a first key to fit your locks would likely save money over the cost of rekeying or replacing them

[just1pick+open]

From my resources the replacement locks you need are discontinued. I would just take a lock to a locksmith shop and have a new key made.
Matt

[billdeserthills]

If you do go to a locksmith to get the key made, bring one of the locks you haven't worked on

[2002sheds]

Hi Just, Bill,
Thanks for the great advice. I will ask a locksmith to make a key, and I will take in one of the locks I did not work on.

I am still curious about the one cylinder that I did work on... were there different wafer manufacturers back in the 70's when this lock was made? If I modified the ESP wafers (shave down the areas that don't look like the original wafer) could they work?

And it seemed like I removed the metal needed to prevent the new wafer from popping back out. Was that because the wafer was too wide, or were these cam locks more of a "one-shot" deal?


Thanks Again!
David

[billdeserthills]

Hi Just, Bill,
Thanks for the great advice. I will ask a locksmith to make a key, and I will take in one of the locks I did not work on.

I am still curious about the one cylinder that I did work on... were there different wafer manufacturers back in the 70's when this lock was made? If I modified the ESP wafers (shave down the areas that don't look like the original wafer) could they work?

And it seemed like I removed the metal needed to prevent the new wafer from popping back out. Was that because the wafer was too wide, or were these cam locks more of a "one-shot" deal?


Thanks Again!
David

Many replacement wafers have that little bump & need to be filed a bit to fit properly. The wafer won't be able to pop out of the cylinder when it is installed into it's outer case, so the only worry about it popping out is for the service person taking that lock apart, which is reason enough to place a key into the lock before disassembly

[2002sheds]

Hi Bill,
Thanks! I was guessing the same thing, and used a Dremel to remove the bump on several of the new wafers. I was then able to swap out the wafers that stood too tall when using a key that I had, and the lock was re-keyed!!

Between the picking kit and the assortment of wafers it is likely to be a wash, cost-wise when compared to taking the lock to a locksmith, but I like to know how things work and this was a great exercise..

Thanks again for your and Just’s help!

David

[GWiens2001]

The learning and knowing that you can now do something you didn't know how to do before is quite rewarding.

Gordon

[2002sheds]

Hi Gordon,
So true... !


Thanks,
David