I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door handle
snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must be locked
on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any suggestions other
then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the answer.
John McGinnis
800-781-8040
--- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John McGinnis"
wrote:
>
> I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door handle
> snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must be
locked
> on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any suggestions
other
> then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
> properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the
answer.
> John McGinnis
> 800-781-8040
>
John I would turn oft the gas at the tank first if your concerned about
the heaters burning up your gas. Is this the dead bolt lock or the
door lock that acquaints when you close the door? What year rig is
yours? Jipjob
Jon
RebelBird
911 cancelled: I was able to use 2 flat blade srewwdrivers as
suggested by Bill Pape, (My Hero) and pry the mechanism open from under
the door handle, there are to pieces one on top on on bottom. Now I
need a new door handle, any suggestions. John 88FC35 --- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John McGinnis"
wrote:
>
> I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door handle
> snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must be
locked
> on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any suggestions
other
> then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
> properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the
answer.
> John McGinnis
> 800-781-8040
>
Maybe keep a magnetic key holder hidden outside somewhere so this
doesn't happen to you again.
This is what we have done as I am concerned about doine the same
thing.
We only use the dead bolt as I don't think the door lock is a very
secure lock.
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Fernley, Nv.
>
> 911 cancelled: I was able to use 2 flat blade srewwdrivers as
> suggested by Bill Pape, (My Hero) and pry the mechanism open from
under
> the door handle, there are to pieces one on top on on bottom. Now
I
> need a new door handle, any suggestions. John 88FC35 --- In
>
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John McGinnis"
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door
handle
> > snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must be
> locked
> > on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any suggestions
> other
> > then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
> > properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the
> answer.
> > John McGinnis
> > 800-781-8040
> >
>
What year? Most BBs have two door locks. An "automotive" lock and a
home-style keyed dead bolt.
The dead bolt lock is installed much like any home-type door lock. If
it is broken/jammed, then a locksmith can probably open it for you,
even if it has to be drilled out (worst case). In most cases, the
dead bolt lock is also operated by the electronic keypad (if you bird
has one) and even if the key isn't working, the entry code may work.
The automotive lock is another matter. It is locked by pushing down
on the plunger at the bottom of the window. It has several long rods
and cams inside the door that all have to be aligned properly for it
to work. Over the years, wear and tear has caused my automotive lock
to not work correctly. I opened up the door, cleaned and lubricated
the various pieces and discovered that no matter what adjustments I
made, a particular piece would not move as expected. Installation of
a bungee cord to overcome the wear in the components solved the
problem -- but I know that the bungee cord will fail sometime in the
future.
When the automotive-style lock was acting up, I found that with
somewhat more effort than normal -- and by 'jiggling' the key I was
able to get the automotive lock to open. Be careful! It's a fine line
between forcing a recalcitrant lock and breaking the key off in the
lock!!
Sometimes, thoroughly lubricating the lock with graphite will help.
Do not use WD-40. Eventually, WD-40 will cause a lock to gum up,
making matters worse down the line. Most graphite is sold with a
'puff' top. You can squeeze the sides of the container an puff a
quantity into the lock. Also put some all over the key and poke it in
and out of the lock and try turning it. This will usually loosen
things up.
Actually, a locksmith with automotive experience may be exactly who
to call...
Then, there's always a brick. Try to pick out a "cheap" window. (Flat
pieces of glass are best.)
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart, Texas
On Nov 11, 2007, at 11:05 AM, John McGinnis wrote:
> I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door handle
> snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must be
> locked
> on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any suggestions
> other
> then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
> properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the
> answer.
> John McGinnis
> 800-781-8040
>
Sounds like this is very much after the fact but I have had similar
problems. What has happen to me is that the sun hitting the door
will sometimes cause just enough expansion to make the door just
about impossible to open. Simple as it sounds if you push in really
hard on the door you can get enough slack to get the lock to
release. I haven't heard why the door would not open for the person
posting, but I have been almost ready to throw the brick myself. I
was surprised just how tight the lock would get, I know the key
would have broken before it let loose. A couple real hard pushes in
on the door did it for me. I have also had the same happen a time or
two when I was in the coach. Since the cold weather is setting in
not likely a problem for a while.
John Heckman
central Pa
1073 FC
>
> What year? Most BBs have two door locks. An "automotive" lock and
a
> home-style keyed dead bolt.
>
> The dead bolt lock is installed much like any home-type door lock.
If
> it is broken/jammed, then a locksmith can probably open it for
you,
> even if it has to be drilled out (worst case). In most cases, the
> dead bolt lock is also operated by the electronic keypad (if you
bird
> has one) and even if the key isn't working, the entry code may
work.
>
> The automotive lock is another matter. It is locked by pushing
down
> on the plunger at the bottom of the window. It has several long
rods
> and cams inside the door that all have to be aligned properly for
it
> to work. Over the years, wear and tear has caused my automotive
lock
> to not work correctly. I opened up the door, cleaned and
lubricated
> the various pieces and discovered that no matter what adjustments
I
> made, a particular piece would not move as expected. Installation
of
> a bungee cord to overcome the wear in the components solved the
> problem -- but I know that the bungee cord will fail sometime in
the
> future.
>
> When the automotive-style lock was acting up, I found that with
> somewhat more effort than normal -- and by 'jiggling' the key I
was
> able to get the automotive lock to open. Be careful! It's a fine
line
> between forcing a recalcitrant lock and breaking the key off in
the
> lock!!
>
> Sometimes, thoroughly lubricating the lock with graphite will
help.
> Do not use WD-40. Eventually, WD-40 will cause a lock to gum up,
> making matters worse down the line. Most graphite is sold with a
> 'puff' top. You can squeeze the sides of the container an puff a
> quantity into the lock. Also put some all over the key and poke it
in
> and out of the lock and try turning it. This will usually loosen
> things up.
>
> Actually, a locksmith with automotive experience may be exactly
who
> to call...
>
> Then, there's always a brick. Try to pick out a "cheap" window.
(Flat
> pieces of glass are best.)
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Lockhart, Texas
>
>
>
> On Nov 11, 2007, at 11:05 AM, John McGinnis wrote:
>
> > I'm locked out of my coach, all windows are shut tight, door
handle
> > snaped off in my hand. Door locks seem to function. It must
be
> > locked
> > on the inside, furnances are running, need help. Any
suggestions
> > other
> > then a brick!! Door handle mechinisim does not seem to function
> > properly. Who should I call, I don't think a lock smith is the
> > answer.
> > John McGinnis
> > 800-781-8040
> >
>