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BurbMan's avatar
BurbMan
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2021

Locked Out!

We just put a brand new lock on the Lance, and went to get into it yesterday and couldn't. I only locked the handle, not the deadbolt, but when you turn the key the handle doesn't release. Also you can't remove the key in the unlocked position. Had this same lock on trailers for years and never had an issue. Anybody have any tricks before I drill the lock and replace it?

It's the standard paddle handle RV lock:

  • TenOC's avatar
    TenOC
    Nomad
    Feb 25, 2021
    The door may be jammed not locked. You may need to use something to pry the door "open" before you can unlock. This happen to me when one of my stabilizer jack sunk in the soft ground.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2021
    Have you tried pressing the door itself firmly into the frame while manipulating the lock and latch? I know my latch is rather reticent if the latch is binding at all against the strike plate, and leaning on the door a bit frees it up.

    (On mine, the keys only come out in the "neutral" position, halfway between "lock" and "unlock", but maybe yours is different in that regard.)

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