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joebedford's avatar
joebedford
Nomad II
Dec 25, 2019

Tumbler fell out of RV door handle

Never had a problem with this lock before. Is there any way to get this back in or just replace the whole handle? It's the handle tumbler not the deadbolt.

Looks like this.
  • Never one to give up on a challenge, I discovered that there is a certain position of the latch and the tumbler that if you push down on the end tab of the tumbler with the key in, it will slip into place. The latch itself seem to be the same as a standard one except there is a hole for a pushrod from the remote solenoid. I'm pretty sure I can just ignore that.

    I will get a new one to replace this Baker 359. Which ones have steel innards?
  • joebedford wrote:
    I know they're not expensive for a standard handle. This one looks exactly like a standard handle but is also a remote lock (that I never trusted). I'll have to pull it out and see if a standard handle will fit.

    Steel innards? Does that mean that some brands have plastic parts?


    No. Pot-metal. Junk.
  • I had one do that several years ago. I replaced it instead of fooling around trying to fix it.
  • joebedford wrote:
    I know they're not expensive for a standard handle. This one looks exactly like a standard handle but is also a remote lock (that I never trusted). I'll have to pull it out and see if a standard handle will fit.

    Steel innards? Does that mean that some brands have plastic parts?


    Prolly not plastic, but cheap cast "pot metal" parts are a definite possibility.
  • If it's the 4 little screws that loosen up inside which causes the cover plate not to hold parts in place just take a drop of loctite on the screws.

    Use the blue grade... "Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 is designed for the locking and sealing of threaded fasteners which require normal disassembly with standard hand tools. The product cures when confined in the absence of air between close fitting metal surfaces."
  • I know they're not expensive for a standard handle. This one looks exactly like a standard handle but is also a remote lock (that I never trusted). I'll have to pull it out and see if a standard handle will fit.

    Steel innards? Does that mean that some brands have plastic parts?
  • Usually when they fall apart, it's due to something wearing out as opposed to just a screw that loosened up.

    I'd replace it.
  • For $25 I would think you might just replace the whole lock mechanism. That is what I did when I have a part break so the lock would no longer open.

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