Hi all,

We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Any help appreciated.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

Cheers,
Richard

Single screw on the edge of the door, remove.

Richard Conway wrote:
Hi all,

We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Any help appreciated.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

Cheers,
Richard

Ordinarily, you would insert a key and turn about 10 degrees after
having removed the long M5 screw from the lockplate that holds the
cylinder in (at ninety degrees to the axis of the key). Sometimes there
is a decorative plate over the lockplate that hides this screw.
Not having the key, you may be lucky to 'jiggle' or force the cylinder
out once the screw is undone, otherwise you are into drilling the whole
lot out.....

Christian McArdle wrote:
We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge) and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be supplied!

I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

Richard Conway wrote:
Christian McArdle wrote:
We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge) and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be supplied!

I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

Only thing to watch out for is the physical length each side of the
centre of the cylinder (ie/ thickness of door).
Screwfix sell suites of 4 (on the same key) which is very useful.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

There is an amazing variety in lengths. They are described using two
numbers, indicating the length from the middle of the centre lug to the
edge. i.e. 35/35 for a typical symmetrical one or 30/50 for assymetric. If
you want to stick with thumb turn, then add a 'T' to the beginning and the
first dimension is for the thumb side.

Measure your existing ones to get it right. If you get one too long, it
reduces security, so get the size right.

Sometimes you see them described with measurements from the edge of the lug,
rather than the middle. So a 30/50 would become 25/10/45.

Christian.

Phil wrote:
Richard Conway wrote:
Christian McArdle wrote:
We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.
Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge) and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.
It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be supplied!
I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

Only thing to watch out for is the physical length each side of the
centre of the cylinder (ie/ thickness of door).
Screwfix sell suites of 4 (on the same key) which is very useful.


Not sure if that would be useful in this scenario (although I can see
the benefits in some circumstances). I like the idea of master keys and
things like that but they seem to come at a cost and I only need a few
so I'll not bother.

Out of interest, does anyone know what the fire/building regs are with
regards to having thumb locks on the interior of doors? I will probably
replace them with ones that do have thumb locks, but was just wondering
if this was strictly necessary.

In article , Richard Conway
writes
Christian McArdle wrote:
We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge) and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be supplied!

I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

Yes, they are interchangeable, requiring only a match for length (as others
have mentioned). Zone cylinders are better than average for the money:
http://www.londontools.co.uk/acatalo...Cylinders.html

Don't expect too much from any euro unless you are very careful with the
installation and if the ends the cylinder are proud of the door/escutcheon by
more than 2mm then see if you can find a shorter one.
--
fred
Plusnet - I hope you like vanilla

Richard Conway wrote:
Phil wrote:

Richard Conway wrote:

Christian McArdle wrote:

We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these
locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge)
and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the
keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you
know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be
supplied!

I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.


Only thing to watch out for is the physical length each side of the
centre of the cylinder (ie/ thickness of door).
Screwfix sell suites of 4 (on the same key) which is very useful.


Not sure if that would be useful in this scenario (although I can see
the benefits in some circumstances). I like the idea of master keys and
things like that but they seem to come at a cost and I only need a few
so I'll not bother.

Out of interest, does anyone know what the fire/building regs are with
regards to having thumb locks on the interior of doors? I will probably
replace them with ones that do have thumb locks, but was just wondering
if this was strictly necessary.

If you are looking at security and restricted access, you can get euro
cylinders in suites so that some keys are 'access all' and others can
only access some rooms. The suite I work with is made by ASSA and there
are 5 levels, A to E and locks and keys can be made to any combination
of theses levels

Malcolm

On Tue, 09 May 2006 15:37:27 +0100, Richard Conway
wrote:

Christian McArdle wrote:
We've just moved into a new office and the doors have euro locks with
cylinders that protrude from either side. We want to change these locks
but I'm not sure how to go about removing the cylinders. The locks
won't come out of the door until the cylinder is removed.

Basically, you undo the mounting screw (accessed from the door edge) and
withdraw the cylinder. Most require you to insert the key and rotate 30
degrees or so before you slide. Some don't. If you don't have the keys, and
they do require rotation, you should get a locksmith out unless you know
someone who can pick locks.

Oh, we don't have any of the keys.

It is normal when renting or buying property for the keys to be supplied!

I know - its a long story. Basically we got very involved in the
refurbishment of the office to the degree that we saved a lot of money
doing some bits ourselves.

Thanks to you and everyone who replied - I have managed to get the
cylinders out which was easy as they were the type that have a thumb
turn at one side so you don't need the key.

I think we'll probably just get new cylinders for them - are all "euro"
cylinders totally compatible or is there anything to watch out for?
Toolstation have them pretty cheap.

get a EVVA 3KS. £70 each and unpickable!

marvelous wrote:
.... snipped


get a EVVA 3KS. £70 each and unpickable!

"Bumping" seems to be more of a risk than picking - are they un-"bumpable"?

Dave

fred wrote:

Don't expect too much from any euro unless you are very careful with the
installation and if the ends the cylinder are proud of the door/escutcheon by
more than 2mm then see if you can find a shorter one.
--
Some makes have a little cushion/spacers that falls off when being
fitted. I vaguely remember having major difficulties but forget exactly
how bad and what the mechanics were. It was an horrendous botch though.

I think the OP will be better off taking the locks to a locksmith and
seeing if the keys can be made and if the sets can be adjusted to one
master key.

I would change the locks if I thought the keys were still in nefarious
hands they don't sound like they might be well worn.

And I would get rid of the safety openers if there was a danger of
criminals hiding in store rooms but no danger of staff being put at
risk of stranding.

On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:55:54 +0100, Dave
wrote:

marvelous wrote:
... snipped


get a EVVA 3KS. £70 each and unpickable!

"Bumping" seems to be more of a risk than picking - are they un-"bumpable"?

Dave

Yes, one of the few.