euro

[cred]

hi guys,
got a job yesterday and the key had snapped off in the lock,the woman says the lock has been stiff for quite a while and eventually got that bad that the key snapped ,so i unlock the door and replace the euro,and the new lock was very stiff as well,but found out that if i loosened the screw that holds the lock in place the key turned freely but when i tightened it up it was very stiff,anybody know why this was happening?
thanx guys
ray

[pinky]

hi

sometimes overtightening the retaining screw can distort the way in which the cylinder sits in the case, making the cam unable to turn freely if at all sometimes.
though leaving the screw too loose can also cause problems.

its common , and is easily adjusted as you did, by easing screw tension.

[Don Braidwood]

Hi Ray,

This happens alot to me and as Martin says easing off the tension on the retaining screw will do it. I would suggest though to file down both sides of the cam as easing of the screw can cause the barrell to go loose after a while.

A couple of points though to be aware of....

Sometimes the height of the cam on the cylinder can catch in the case as it travels to the top, then you have to file down a bit of the cam, this happens alot on aluminium doors.

If you do ease of a barrell on some Anglian doors the screw can block the travel of the gearing.

Some aluminium doors require like for like barrells to be changed because of the unique shape of the cam, you see them most on the oval cylinders.

I recently changed a barrell on a upvc door lock and it would not work correctly, after opening the case to see why the mechanism would not work, I noticed the cam only connected to about 2mm of the mechanism and if the barrell would move a touch the lock would not work, I fitted a new barrell and suggested he change the upvc strip, he didnt and rang me again because he could not open the door, I changed it again and he kept the same upvc strip in The upvc lock was a avocet and the quality was very poor.

Don

[cred]

thanx guys some good info, thankyou
hey don nice to see you back m8
ray

[BUNGYSTRAP]

Hi Cred, you didn't mention but did the euro fit through a pair of handles or not? Sometimes the handles through use can become misaligned and so when you tighten the euro retaining screw the lock is bowed and tightens. It is possible to loosen the handle screws and then tighten the euro lock retainer. Reposition the handles to allow the lock to operate freely and then tighten the handle screws. I have only come across this problem twice and once was at home due to a heavy handed relative...

[cred]

cheers bungy,
now you come to mention it i did notice that the hole in the door looked to be a little out of line with the hole for the spindle on the lock case, maybe that was the problem? nice 1 m8, i will know next time
thanx
ray

[BUNGYSTRAP]

Glad to be of help cred. All that flexing in plastic doors, prefer a good old fashioned hardwood door myself, but didn't have a choice for the conservatory.

[pinky]

good to see don back, welcome back mate and good to see you posting such good info.

this is where we was 6 months ago, more like this and we will really be back on track.

good thread all round.

[Don Braidwood]

Thanks Martin and Ray,

I once sent out a guy to just change a barrell and because he couldn`t work the lock when the screw was in , he simply left it out, can you believe that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don

[acl]

This is a coincidence ,ive just been out to change a euro cylinder no problems but couldnt lift the handle to throw top and bottom deadbolts.After a couple of minutes i sussed it was the cylinder fixing screw.Instead of putting in the alen bolt that screws right through the faceplate it had a normal cylinder screw in it! It still worked on a deadlock but didnt throw top and bottom deads.To be honest i didnt take much notice of which make it was(yale perhaps?) promised id go back some time and fit the correct ones.Any one got any lying about? Don am i right on Yale?
Andy

[haribo]

I have had this a few times its seems replacing Union euros or Ovals with another brand. I find as Don said filing the cams sorts the problem. I like to tighten the screws properly saves any hassle of the cylinder working loose and having a call back.

[toomush2drink]

Changed a euro on one of these today and it was a yale. Looked at it and thought somebody had taken out the screw at first till i lit up the hole with my torch and saw the allen screw. This one had problems throwing the bolts but only with the door shut, the door had warped bent like a banana and no amount of adjustment to the keeps could take the pressure of off the bolts. Luckily it was up on the first floor on a balcony so the tenant wasnt too bothered as at least it locked on the throw bolt.

[haribo]

i have had a euro held in with a wood screw and a bit blue tack as the screw wasn't even the right size!. It was a rented property that was a bodge from top to bottom and the landlord didn't like to part with his money. Cost him in the end to have to call a locksmith to fix his mistakes.

[toomush2drink]

Yep landlords hate spending money that job today needed a new handle too but the letting agency wont pay for it until it breaks thens its another callout for me .

[airbag]

When changing Euro's i always try to use the screw that came out of the old lock
I have experianced problems in the past that if the new retaining screw is a couple of milimeters slightly longer than the old then this prevents the mechanism from throwing the multipiont bolts