ERA Night Latch - how to change cylinder ourselves?

DIYhelp76

Hi,

We have an ERA Night Latch on our front door. It is one of the "British Standard" supposedly high security ones.

We would like to know how easy/difficult it is to change the cylinder ourselves, so we have a new key/lock, without changing the whole lock itself.

Also, pls does anyone know where we can find the replacement cylinders as the like sof B&Q, Wickes etc., don't seem to stock these.

We did call a locksmith but they said it would cost so much for them to come out and change the cylinder that we would be better off paying them to put a whole new lock in - either way too expensive for us. They also said if we change just the cylinder on the outside then we would have to use two different keys for the inside and outside, which we didn't understand.

Would be very grateful if someone knowledgeable on this could advise.

Many thx!

fwor

You can buy night latch cylinders from Toolstation.com - Yale branded at just under £9, or unbranded for less than £4.

Should be simple to change unless you are a total toolphobic.

DIYhelp76

Thanks fwor, will take a look at Toolstation.

Certainly not toolphobics! We've changed "ordinary" locks ourselves before, just not this type of "high security" lock.

We were a bit alarmed by what the locksmith told us about not being able to change just the cylinder without them taking off teh rest of the lock, taking it back to their shop and "re-pinning" it or something like that, and so they suggested a new lock. The alternative being that you would apparently need to use two different keys - one for the outside and one for the inside.

We just couldn't understand this.

Also, from both the outside and inside there are no visible screws to get into the inside of the lock - only four screws on the inner "rim" of the door - so we presume we must unscrew these, but that would seem to remove the whole main body of the lock, and just wanted to be sure that is the correct thing to do, and that would give access to the external cylinder part we'd like to replace.

Would any unbranded one do the same job as a branded one or must we get one that says it works with ERA locks?

Many thx

leveller2911

DIYhelp76 wrote: »

Hi,

We have an ERA Night Latch on our front door. It is one of the "British Standard" supposedly high security ones.

We would like to know how easy/difficult it is to change the cylinder ourselves, so we have a new key/lock, without changing the whole lock itself.

Also, pls does anyone know where we can find the replacement cylinders as the like sof B&Q, Wickes etc., don't seem to stock these.

We did call a locksmith but they said it would cost so much for them to come out and change the cylinder that we would be better off paying them to put a whole new lock in - either way too expensive for us. They also said if we change just the cylinder on the outside then we would have to use two different keys for the inside and outside, which we didn't understand.

Would be very grateful if someone knowledgeable on this could advise.

Many thx!

It sounds like you may have a BS3621 double locking nightlatch.If so you can't buy a normal "Yale" cylinder so you may have to buy the complete lock.
http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/Products/Locks_Latches_and_Security/Night_Latches/3484/ERA_BS36212004_Double_Locking_Nightlatch/490655

leveller2911

DIYhelp76 wrote: »

Thanks fwor, will take a look at Toolstation.



Also, from both the outside and inside there are no visible screws to get into the inside of the lock - only four screws on the inner "rim" of the door - so we presume we must unscrew these, but that would seem to remove the whole main body of the lock, and just wanted to be sure that is the correct thing to do, and that would give access to the external cylinder part we'd like to replace.



2 of the screws (nearest the door) will be screwed into the timber on the edge of the door and the 2 outside screws screw the lock onto a metal faceplate. If you undo the 4 screws pull the lock case towards the edge (by about 4mm) of the door and it will then pull off. You will see a spindle( protruding out from the "cylinder) by about 7mm. Be warned the inside part of the lock can be a git to put back on so don't try and take it off just to have a look.

If it is this type then the link below is the fitting instructions. Many of the locks on the website have fitting instructions so hope this helps.

http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/Documents/Fitting_Instructions/490655.pdf

Norman_Castle

Era don't make replacement cylinders for this lock http://www.era-security.com/nightlatches.html Replacing the lock with an identical one should be very easy.

They also said if we change just the cylinder on the outside then we would have to use two different keys for the inside and outside, which we didn't understand.

The lock has two cylinders. One outside and one inside.

DIYhelp76

Leveller2911 thank you so much, you are spot on - those are the directions for the lock we have and the ironmongery website is fantastic - miles cheaper for this lock than anywhere on the high street. I think replacing with a whole new lock is the way to go and then maybe we can sell the old one on to recover some of the cost.

Thanks again for your help - certainly much cheaper than getting a locksmith out... or buying from B&Q or the like!

leveller2911

DIYhelp76 wrote: »

Leveller2911 thank you so much, you are spot on - those are the directions for the lock we have and the ironmongery website is fantastic - miles cheaper for this lock than anywhere on the high street. I think replacing with a whole new lock is the way to go and then maybe we can sell the old one on to recover some of the cost.

Thanks again for your help - certainly much cheaper than getting a locksmith out... or buying from B&Q or the like!

No worries, make sure you buy the right one.Measure from the edge of the door to the centre of the keyhole(backset) .It will be either 40 or 60 mm and order the one thats the same as your current lock.

Good luck