Hello all, The "cam" locks on my '89 Holiday Rambler Imperial are almost toast and getting very difficult to lock/unlock. There's absolutely no identifying model or company marks on these and I've done an online search and all replacements I see aren't long enough shafts. Anybody have a similar issue and what have you done? Thanks for your input! Greg

Take one out and measure the length of the housing. Any competent locksmith shop should be able to order them. 1-7/8' is as long as they come. About $10 each. Some Lowes crry them. You also might try brake cleaner and some Triflow teflon lube or Houdini which is hard to find. Don t use WD40.

Many of the big box hardware stores have them in stock in various lengths. Hard part is getting enough with the same key without having them re-keyed.Locks

any decent RV place will have an assortment of them, combination, key, etc.bumpy

I've had good luck rehabbing mine by pulling them out and getting them laid flat where a good penetrant can soak into the key slot mechanism. Once freed up so the key works well I tear them apart and clean all corroded surfaces with solvent and a wire wheel. Then I reassemble them using Never Seize on all appropriate surfaces. Finally I apply a liberal dose of a graphite lock lubricant into the key slot.

Have you tried all the available remedies? One option I never knew of was graphite powder (available at key cutting station at hardware stores). While it is very messy it does work extremely well to loosen up a lock.

Basement compartment bin locks | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Aug 17, 2015
Some compartment locks have plastic tumbler assemblies so the metal keys eat right through them.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2015
jwmII wrote:
A little graphite lock lube and they will probably work another 20 years.

Graphite is the worst thing you can put in a lock. Well maybe peanut butter.
jwmII
Explorer
Aug 17, 2015
A little graphite lock lube and they will probably work another 20 years.
maanpaontheroad
Explorer
Aug 16, 2015
Let us know what you did to solve your problem.Happy RVing
hram
Explorer
Aug 16, 2015
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your input!
maanpaontheroad
Explorer
Aug 15, 2015
Locksmith turned me on to Tri-Flow. Don't use WD40 and or graphite. My basement locks were ready to be replaced when I founded out about Tri-Flow. A squirt on the key was all it took. All locks now work like new. Just squirt your key , place key in lock, try turning a few times, reapply Tri-Flow again and try to turn key. Couple of my locks took three time to free up, now all lock work like new. Cheap cure for under 10 bucks.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2015
Many locksmiths frown at WD40 and graphite. Too much graphite can prematurely wear soft brass. While slippery, its carbon and abrasive.

Most recommend a good cleaning to get rid of the dirt and dried up lithium with Houdini or brake cleaner then a teflon based lube like Triflow or powdered teflon.
Raist11
Explorer
Aug 15, 2015
Have you tried all the available remedies? One option I never knew of was graphite powder (available at key cutting station at hardware stores). While it is very messy it does work extremely well to loosen up a lock.
hipower
Explorer
Aug 15, 2015
I've had good luck rehabbing mine by pulling them out and getting them laid flat where a good penetrant can soak into the key slot mechanism. Once freed up so the key works well I tear them apart and clean all corroded surfaces with solvent and a wire wheel. Then I reassemble them using Never Seize on all appropriate surfaces. Finally I apply a liberal dose of a graphite lock lubricant into the key slot.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 15, 2015
any decent RV place will have an assortment of them, combination, key, etc.
bumpy