Rim lock steel spring replacement

We have a selection of rim locks in our Edwardian semi and one has just stopped working. Opening it up shows that the steel spring has snapped - see photo. Any advice on replacing? We're keen not to cannibalise from other locks around the house if we can avoid it.

Amazon?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rim-Lock-Springs-16/dp/B005ZFFTTW/ref=asc_df_B005ZFFTTW/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=480182876042&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12233075585176594421&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006917&hvtargid=pla-1019436037860&psc=1

(I didn't think about amazon and have just been googling soft spring steel etc.. then Amazon came up.)

Cheers,
Richard B.

Richard, thank you! Didn't imagine anyone would make or sell such things!

loads on ebay too

I highly recommend this chap:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144209559415

He'll have several listings. Very helpful, I've had 2 off him in the last year for different locks. Send him a picture of your old spring sat on graph or squared paper preferably

On a similar subject I’ve got some old rim lock keys I wanted to copy as I’ve only got 1 of each .

Any ideas?

pj38 said:

On a similar subject I’ve got some old rim lock keys I wanted to copy as I’ve only got 1 of each .

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

My brother had the same problem/challenge a few years back. He took his into a Timpsons whilst out shopping and was able to get most of them copied quickly and cheaply. For one though he had to find a suitable blank with closely sized barrel diameter, shoulder position and blade width/height. Once found he then spent many happy hours copying the fabled burglars technique of using a plasticine mould as a pattern and working with some needle files. He succeeded in those endeavours but told me later that it had taken two blanks to produce a working key. :roll:

Green sand casting - blowtorch, ladle and some suitable metal - simples

a twig said:

Green sand casting - blowtorch, ladle and some suitable metal - simples

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The trip to our local shopping centre would be so much more interesting if Timpsons were into that!

Where I've had some missing keys I've got blanks from Timpsons in the past and made them into final keys myself having taken the lock to bits - it's very, very simple with most rim locks, a set of cheap needle files is all you need. If you've got a key already though, most of the time they'd be able to copy it. Timpsons did say they will send locks away and get keys made to suit.

Since then though an independent local locksmith has opened up near me - he was great when I wanted a key for my kit car (who would have thought that getting a key for Ford Sierra barrel would be a problem!) - if I took a lock in there he'd do one to suit. He has access to an enormous range of key blanks held at wholesalers.

pj38 said:

On a similar subject I’ve got some old rim lock keys I wanted to copy as I’ve only got 1 of each .

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

You may be able to get a suitable blank from here.

https://www.cheaplocks.co.uk/key-blanks-machines/mortice-blanks.html

(I've not used them but i bookmarked them for a future project.)

Cheers,
Richard B.