94 Grand Villa
I have searched the forum and found the replacement latch....but mine failed with the door closed so I am not able to access the latch. I have unscrewed the knob. Is my only option to drill the lock?
Karl,
What kind of latch is it? All I have on my closet doors is a simple "spring and ball" type catch on the sliding doors, and the push button latch on the washer/dryer closet (see photos). Yours are different?
Hey neighbor, never heard of one failing in the closed position. You may have to just get a small pry bar up in the area (mine are at the top) and break it.
Edit, this is what mine has. Some time the door side hits the latch and trips it closed. If this is what you have it SHOULD be fairly easy to break.
Heavy Duty Push Latch - RV Designer H316 - Cabinet Hardware - Camping World (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/heavy-duty-push-latch/49551)
I wonder if he has the push button style?
Thanks, Andy - edited my question (above).
We picked up a replacement button at FOT recently for two bucks. The mechanism is also available. Save the threaded cylinder that was on the old button! New button doesn't come with it.
It is the push button type (picture on right). I have unscrewed the button....tapped. ..beat...rattled. ...jiggled.....that sucker wont open.
I tried to pry it open but ir appears it will break the wood first. Looks like dirty underwear again. Guess I will drill the guts out but will wait till the new ones arrive to make sure they match. I have removed the button so if the new latch is the same everything should match. Since I am on the road I ordered from Amazon in order to make sure that they match. The one on the door next to it failed a few months ago in the open position....but I was able to open it up and repair the mechanism.
Karl,
If you have already opened up one of these latches, and repaired it, then you probably know more about them than 95% of the membership. It sounds like you have a good plan, and I doubt we will improve on it. I looked at the back side of the push-button latch on my closet. It is made of plastic, and held on with 2 "ears", one at top and one at bottom, secured by wood screws. Both of the ears on my latch are already cracked (a condition I hadn't noticed before reading your post), and it looks like the whole thing could fall off any time. If the part you ordered turns out to be a good replacement, please post the source and model number. I would like to replace my latch preemptively before it dies.
@Karl,
I had one where the button and post both came out in my hand. There wasn't much to it. I'd try grabbing the post with needle nose or even better needle nose vise grips and yank. If it comes out it should release the lock.
or...
As Chuck mentions the tabs that the lock is held on with are pretty flimsy. I would think a punch and a hammer may be all you need to get the lock off.
Good luck. Let us know how you get it off.
see ya
ken