Locksmiths ? - uPVC door lock cylinder puzzle

[Ste]

Today something strange has happened to my front door lock.

It is a Mila 'Euro' cylinder lock operating the multi point locking system. The door was already unlocked and the key in on the inside. When I came to the door I put my key in the outside and tried to turn (nothing happended as it was already unlocked).

However, when I shut the door lifted the handle and turned the key to the lock position, the key didn't go past the vertical as normal and it was difficult to remove from the lock.

I have removed the cylinder lock and compared it to the one in my back door.

When the key is in the vertical position, the cam is at about the 10 o'clock position when looking along the cylinder from the 'inside' end.

My back door cylinder works fine in the front door lock mechanism and the cam is at the 5 o'clock position when the key is vertical.


Clearly and by some mystery, the cam has changed positions in a rotational way from it's normal position.


How do I get it back to the correct position that will allow easy key removal when in the locked state? I've tried looking on internet to no avail.

The house is secure, just the key is Very difficult to remove from the lock, as it won't go past the vertical to allow easy removal. It's as if it is tight against the locking mechanism of the gearbox thing.





Is a generic picture. The black cam is the normal position (ie on back door lock) and the red is my front door lock cam position.

[gtr1000]

Hi Ste - we've got dozens of these Euro locks at work and some have exhibited your problem. I took one to a locksmith once who told me it was the lock's tumblers that were knackered and replacement was the only option.

I get new ones from said locksmith but places like Homebase do them for less than £30 with three keys http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs...earchtext>EURO. Just make sure you take the old one with you as there are different lengths available.

[ditchp]

ste get a new cylinder mate, as said by gtr the tumbler's have failed and this is the problem, just make sure you get the right length and correct offset as the old one as you don't want any unnessesary trouble fitting the new one

[keith1983]

Don't suppose you haver any guarantee left on it?

[sshooie]

as above, it sounds like sticking tumblers, a new (snap resistant) one will cost circa £20.00

[Birchy63]

Pretty much all of them will do this if you put a key in both sides and turn one key....

You might be lucky though, it can be fixed sometimes by inserting both keys again and turning them until they both line up. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

[andrew375]

Several of the pound shop / stretchers have these locks in stock. As I found out after paying £3 for having a key cut for mine.

[Birchy63]

Brought a new set of 2 LSH branded locks on ebay for >£15, because it was for a rear patio door I needed both locks to use the same key.

[Ste]

I have now bought a new lock. Got 3 keys with it, but will need at least one more cutting....