Help.
Locostbuilders seems to know everything, so here goes....

I have a compartment locker on my camper. It has two 'cam locks' with the same key for both. But I can only remove the key when the lock is in the locked position. So to open the compartment I have to unlock one lock, pull the lid out and then re-lock that cam lock, remove the key and then unlock the other one. Not ideal.
I know its possible to get locks that allow you to remove the key when in the locked or unlocked position.

I would rather not replace the locks, so I am hoping there is some easy modification that I can do to these two locks to make the key removable when unlocked.

Anyone got any advice on if this is possible, or how to do it? Looking at the back of the lock its only got the screw that holds the cam bar in place.

EDIT: its this type of thing...



[Edited on 28/6/10 by balidey]

To be honest, the quickest way would be to replace the locks.... they are about £6 each from t'web......

Less than £4 at Toolstation, but before I buy two locks to replace two perfectly working locks I wondered if there was a 2 minute modification to remove say a little internal clip that stops the key from being removed. Failing that, two new locks.

Just turn the lock 90 degrees. You may have to remove the flats in the mounting hole and then do it up ** tight but it should work.

However, normally the assembly of the tag to the key barrel will determine wheter the key is removed when locked or not... So you can take the tag off the end and put it back on 90 degrees further around. (Of course, unless there's a screw holding tag on then I mean 'snap', and 'weld'.)

Ed.


[Edited on 28/6/10 by Madinventions]

why not get another key cut?

I think you will find that on that lock the key remove in open stop is part of the casting.

To have a look, remove the cam bar, insert the key and the barrel should slide out.

Roger

Update if anyone is interested.
Took barrel out and there is a pip in the casting to stop the barrel turning 180 degrees. Note thats 180, not 90 as i said. That's because the key can come out at both ends of the 180 degree travel, but not at 90.
There is then an additional little plastic quadrant inserted next to the pip. This gives you the 90 degree stop position and the key will not come out, so I have taken out this insert and now I can get my key in and out at locked and unlocked positions.

Took about 2 minutes per lock and no money spent. That's locost.