which is a quality item and reasonably priced for what
you get.
We are trying to become "reverse snowbirds" by rehabing
a 1977 30ft Avion TT into a homebase up in NY State for use
a couple months each year in the summer so we can escape
from the Oppressive Summer Heat and Humidity in SC.
It is all original, including the Bargman door handle with
lock. But that doesn't lock! And that lock has been discontinued
and there are no replacement parts being made. No info is
even available from the Bargman company. I finally located
a NOS door/lock repair kit online and figured the problem
was solved when I could get to rebuild it with the new parts
from that. So $100 for the repair kit later, and a hot
afternoon in NY State spent figuring out how to take the
handle out and repair it with the new parts and then
reinstalling it, resulted in the damn door still not locking!
The only part that was not replaced and which was not
included in the repair kit is evidently the malfunctioning
culprit that is preventing the door from locking. Arghh,
Arghh, Arghh, Arghh Arghh !
Local locksmiths didn't want to install a normal deadbolt
as they considered the aluminum door frames not thick
enough for them to do so. I didn't have all the tools with
me that I'd need to try to do so myself. Plus I wasn't really
convinced that the small thickness that'd be left in the
door opening frame, when you drilled out the hole that
receives the deadbolt, would really be strong enough to
hold or provide good protection.
So I searched online for "Deadbolt Locks" and finally
came across this:
http://www.lockeyusa.com/
Which is a keyless mechanical digital deadbolt lock. The
one I chose is a surface mounted model:
http://www.lockeyusa.com/2200-surface-mount.html
It was quite straight-forward to install, just drill three
5/16 holes per the provided pattern. The hard part was in
deciding just Where to install it! I had to allow for a
screen door that nests onto the exterior door [still will
need to finish the final details/modifications to use
that with the lock but have enough done for lockability
at the moment] and the different aluminum extrusions that
constitute the door frame and the wall's door opening
frame and how they interact as well as the trim around the
opening. That done, I installed the deadbolt lock by
drilling the three holes in the door, and used a couple
of interior spacers I made out of 1/4in poplar that were
needed to clear the screen door's thickness. The surface
operating deadbolt just bears against the interior door
opening aluminum extrusion that constitutes the frame
for the door opening. So there is now the full wall frame
and thickness as well as the extruded aluminum door opening
frame for the deadbolt to secure against - the strongest
possible scenario. [The model I chose came with two
different interchangeable deadbolt lengths - the longer
length allowed me to position it as was needed.]
The lock is definitely well made. It has a hefty weight to
it. The instructions were quite good, as far as instructions
go. It comes with a preset combination, but you are able
to change that if and when you want to do so [per the
included combo change directions]. It is simple to use as
well. And it looks quite spiffy on the door [got it in
brushed chrome 'color'] - like it is supposed to be there -
and it coordinates with the existing door hardware and
anodized silver Avion exterior walls perfectly.
Most Importantly: It Cannot Be Picked or Bumped !
My only gripe with it is, that they only include one each
of three various lengths of stainless steel machine screws
that are used to secure the two halves of the lock together
through the door. I guess the idea is to find which works
for the door thickness you have. Then - per their
instructions - you can get the other one at your friendly
hardware store ! A definite head scratcher there ! And
they identify the machine screws as size #8 for the three
lengths they provide, but Don't Believe It! #8s are just
slightly too big ! The screws are really a metric size.
Take the lock with you to get the other screw !
I am quite pleased with it. We can now lock our vintage TT
and it looks great. We didn't have to resort to the dreaded
'hasp and pad lock' that disfigures so many vintage TTs. I
was determined to avoid that at all costs if I could. The
Lockey Keyless Mechanical Digital Deadbolt let me do that,
and I'd say, elegantly so.
[Sorry I don't have any pics of the install, but our laptop
died and the borrowed one I'm doing this post on is not set
up for anything but the bare basics,]
I think this'd work well on any TD/TTT. Especially if you
like the keyless, pickproof and bumpproof features. [They
have a wide range of models, including standard mortised
deadbolts as well as some with both keys and the mechanical
digital keypad.
'Hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
P.S. 01-23-2013
We finally replaced the computer and got an adapter to read the
camera memory cards directly to the computer. So here are an
exterior and an interior pic after installation. Click on them to
enlarge.
Mechanical Digital Deadbolt Lock Exterior 09-04-2012
The mechanical push buttons operate the combination and the knob
operates the deadbolt. There is no battery in this model of the lock.
It is totally mechanically operated.
New Mechanical Digital Deadbolt Lock Interior 09-04-2012
This is in the 'open' position. The deadbolt moves over the whole
length shown beyond the right side of the lock to the left and bears
against the wall which incorporates an extruded wall stud there and the
door frame opening extrusion together where it is located when locked.
