What's the trick to removing this lock?
September 26, 2015 3:46 PM Subscribe
I have a piece of furniture with a lock on it. I'd like to replace the lock, but I'm having a very difficult time figuring out how to remove it. Pictures inside.
Here are pictures of the lock from the front and back (there was a nut on it, which I removed before taking the picture). It seems like I should be able to pull the flat part straight off, and then push the lock through the door from behind. But the flat part won't budge at all. I've pulled as hard as I can without bending it. It almost feels like it's all one piece with the metal behind it (covered by the foam in the pictures), but I don't see how that's possible because it could never have been installed in the first place that way? I'm hesitant to try to force it or use serious tools, because I don't want to damage the wood around it.
Is there some trick I'm not aware of? When I'm searching for videos and instructions, what terms should I use? What is this kind of lock called?
Here are pictures of the lock from the front and back (there was a nut on it, which I removed before taking the picture). It seems like I should be able to pull the flat part straight off, and then push the lock through the door from behind. But the flat part won't budge at all. I've pulled as hard as I can without bending it. It almost feels like it's all one piece with the metal behind it (covered by the foam in the pictures), but I don't see how that's possible because it could never have been installed in the first place that way? I'm hesitant to try to force it or use serious tools, because I don't want to damage the wood around it.
Is there some trick I'm not aware of? When I'm searching for videos and instructions, what terms should I use? What is this kind of lock called?
The flat part and the bolt may indeed be attached, and the nut was just applying pressure to hold it fast. The front of the lock may be attached to the back half through some other means.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:50 PM on September 26, 2015
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:50 PM on September 26, 2015
That flat part should come off -- maybe put a little more pressure on it.
There's probably another nut directly against the wood of the door that's actually holding the lock in place (see here) -- you should cut that foam off, since it may be easier to replace it than to try and work around it. If you take the foam off, you may be able to unscrew the interior nut and work it off over the flat piece.
posted by AzraelBrown at 3:50 PM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's probably another nut directly against the wood of the door that's actually holding the lock in place (see here) -- you should cut that foam off, since it may be easier to replace it than to try and work around it. If you take the foam off, you may be able to unscrew the interior nut and work it off over the flat piece.
posted by AzraelBrown at 3:50 PM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Sorry, I should have mentioned, if I push the foam back it looks like a smooth metal cylinder. I just couldn't get a picture of it because holding the foam back with one hand and taking a picture with the other failed several times.
The foam is important insulation, so I don't want to damage it permanently.
posted by primethyme at 3:51 PM on September 26, 2015
The foam is important insulation, so I don't want to damage it permanently.
posted by primethyme at 3:51 PM on September 26, 2015
I think the way to do this is to gently knock the bolt out through the flat part by pounding (tapping, really) on the end of the bolt with a wooden or plastic mallet -- or a wooden rod.
Be careful not to bend the bolt or mash the end of it.
posted by jamjam at 4:00 PM on September 26, 2015
Be careful not to bend the bolt or mash the end of it.
posted by jamjam at 4:00 PM on September 26, 2015
Best answer: it's difficult to tell from the image, but i would expect the screw sticking out the back to be flat on two (opposite) sides. is it? if so, the flat part will have a hole in it that matches that (not a round hole). and it may have twisted slightly, jamming against the threads. if all that makes sense then look to see if you need to rotate the flat thing slightly so that the hole is nicely aligned (with the flat parts of the thread) before removing it.
posted by andrewcooke at 4:08 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by andrewcooke at 4:08 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
I bet a bearing puller would do the trick.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2015
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2015
Is the flat part threaded? Have you tried unscrewing it?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:51 PM on September 26, 2015
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:51 PM on September 26, 2015
Best answer: Agreed, the flat part will be fitted onto the shaft with two flat sides on the shaft and elongated round hole in the flat part. It might just be tight, but you should be able to pull it off. Try giving it a wiggle.
After that, you can remove the foam sleeve and there will be some sort of threaded section and a large nut holding the lock on from the back. Undo that and then slip the lock out of the front. If there really isn't a threaded section underneath the foam, there must be a spacer (i.e. a very thick washer) that is held on by the flat section and the nut you have already removed.
posted by ssg at 5:37 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
After that, you can remove the foam sleeve and there will be some sort of threaded section and a large nut holding the lock on from the back. Undo that and then slip the lock out of the front. If there really isn't a threaded section underneath the foam, there must be a spacer (i.e. a very thick washer) that is held on by the flat section and the nut you have already removed.
posted by ssg at 5:37 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think that philips screw visible on the right next to the foam surround on the back side probably goes straight through the door into the part of the lock on the front side, and keeps the body of the lock from turning as you turn the key (instead of the hidden nut postulated by AzraelBrown and ssg).
Remove that, tap gently on the end of the bolt, and I bet the front part of the lock will come right out at the same time the bolt is pushed through the flat part.
posted by jamjam at 7:00 PM on September 26, 2015
Remove that, tap gently on the end of the bolt, and I bet the front part of the lock will come right out at the same time the bolt is pushed through the flat part.
posted by jamjam at 7:00 PM on September 26, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks all. I got it off. andrewcooke and ssg were right, it just needed a bit more "wiggle" to get it loose. Once the flat part came off, the foam slips right off, revealing the nut holding it to the door.
posted by primethyme at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by primethyme at 5:13 PM on September 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
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posted by intermod at 3:49 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]