Side compartments key broken

[panamea]

Hello all,

Just bought a 1984 Class C made by Triple E on Chevy chassis. Have lots of questions. Here is the first one:

I broke the key that opens the side compartments door. One of locks was stuck and I pushed it and it broke. What should I do? Should I replace all the doors or can I replace just the locks. Where should I go? RV stores will carry anything like this or should I go online.

Thank you

[Dutch_12078]

Bumpyroad wrote:
lock smiths can do amazing things. I had a cylinder for a lock box, with no key. took it to a locksmith and he figured out what blank was required. then he inserted it into the cylinder, wiggled it sideways a few times, evidently noted on the blank where it was contacting the tumblers or whatever they are, and ground it away. after a half dozen tries he had a key that worked.
bumpy

Yep, that's called "hand fitting". And it's exactly how the locksmith made a working key for the driver's door lock on my coach when I first got it. Once he had that one working smoothly, he then made duplicates for me by conventional means.

[wny_pat1]

Pauljdav wrote:
A good locksmith will be able to make a new key from the code on the lock cylinder. Cheap and easy.

You can order a new key on ebay with the code too. Or buy at any RV shop with the code.

[Bumpyroad]

lock smiths can do amazing things. I had a cylinder for a lock box, with no key. took it to a locksmith and he figured out what blank was required. then he inserted it into the cylinder, wiggled it sideways a few times, evidently noted on the blank where it was contacting the tumblers or whatever they are, and ground it away. after a half dozen tries he had a key that worked.
bumpy

[panamea]

I bought a replacement key from an RV store that didn't work and also went to a locksmith that was able to cut the remaining of the old key into a new one in a couple of minutes. Now I have a key again. Changing the locks went down the list for now.

Thanks again everybody

[Bumpyroad]

I would think that if the key was broken off inside the lock, the lock would easily turn with a screwdriver, etc. since it would be "unlocked". once unlocked, throw the old lock away and buy a new one or a bunch of new ones with a different key.
bumpy

[Jayco254]

If you know anyone with an R.V. be it a travel trailer, 5th. wheel, motor home or what have you ask to try one of their keys almost all of the locks on these things use a #751 key and I think the lock and key number may be stamped on the front of the lock. If so then go to an R.V. shop and you should be able to buy that key, or a different number lock and key so yours will be different than most. I would take the old lock with you seeing as they come in different lengths.

[Bumpyroad]

panamea wrote:

Tried to open the side doors with a small knife and a screwdriver but without success. Guess my lock picking skill are limited 🙂


Thank you all for your suggestions

perhaps other posters are merely repeating what they have read here, not what they have actually done.
bumpy

[panamea]

I've managed to get the broken part out of the lock. I went to walmart but they said they can't cut it. I will try home depot and canadian tire tomorrow and then a locksmith.

I'm very bad at remembering numbers (just forgotten my debit card pin after not using it for a while) so I think I will stick with the key.

I don't think we have Colaws or anything like this in Canada.

Tried to open the side doors with a small knife and a screwdriver but without success. Guess my lock picking skills are limited 🙂


Thank you all for your suggestions

[PatStab]

Just a suggestion if you don't know. Colaws has lots of parts for motorhomes, might give them a try for the water heater door.

[mlts22]

You could always go for Combi-Cam locks. They don't provide that much security with three digits (four if you buy the Combi-Cam Ultras), but they provide decent usability. I like the Combi-Cam ultras because they can be opened with a combination or a key, so getting locked out is harder.

[robatthelake]

The irony is that every one of those compartment locks can be opened with a small knife blade in about the same time it takes to use the proper key!

[panamea]

Thank you very much everybody. I didn't expect that many replies so soon. I really appreciate it.

Looks like I have several options here. I will see if I can find a key. Next week I will visit a few RV stores. The problem is they close to early for me and I might need to wait till next weekend.

There is one thing I forgot to mention. I'm missing the side door from the hot water compartment so I'm going to have a buy a new one with a new look which means I might need to replace all the locks so I won't end up with 2 keys. I will make a decision based on cost vs benefits as I don't want to spend too much on this issue.

All the best

[Pangaea_Ron]

Key removal video

[sljkansas]

If you can remove the lock, take it and tap it on a hard surface with the key end down, and most likely the broken piece inside will come out. Then buy a new key.