HARTAL DOOR LOCK.

brian_c · Jun 30, 2013

Hello all. I have a worsening problem with the door lock on our Bailey Ranger Van.
The Door lock has always been awkward to open from outside the caravan. The main problem is that the OUTSIDE Door handle doesn't withdraw the catch quite enough and the door tends to snag a little when opening.

The locking action works no problem and if we open the door using the key then the catch is withdrawn fully and the door opens with ease.
Likewise when opening the door from the Inside the catch fully withdraws and the door opens no problem..

I have read a few threads regarding these locks dating back a few years and they did have issues with the mechanism sticking but I wouldn't describe my issue as sticking.

It seems that the action of the outside door handle is out of adjustment or indeed is worn so much that it can not fully withdraw the catch although the caravan is a 2010 model I would hope that wear is not the problem.

Can anyone with a similar experience put me right re how to resolve the issue, I am itching to get the screwdrivers out and have a go at it but am aware that the caravan is still under warranty but don't fancy the 100 mile round trip to where I bought it from.

I have often regretted that my nearest Bailey dealer 9 miles away didn't have this model in when we were buying.

We probably got one of the last of the Traditionally made vans before Bailey changed over to the ALU TEC Style. The Ranger GT60 is a perfect weight match for our Tow Car hence we had to shop around a bit to find a dealer who still had one in stock.

Regards to all.
Brian

ProfJohnL · Jun 30, 2013

You say your caravan is still under warranty. I have to assume you are refering to the Manufacturers warranty, in which case any of the manufacturers participating dealers should be able to undertake manuafacturers warranty work. If in doubt check your warranty documentation or directly with the manufactures customer care department for clarification.

brian_c · Jun 30, 2013

Thank you for that reply Prof John.
as I understand it the van and all it's bits fridge heater etc are covered for 3 years and the water Ingres is covered for 6 years provided of course I keep up with the servicing via approved dealers.
i know new cars can be taken to dealers of the same brand for warranty work but didn't expect it to apply with caravans. I will get all my paperwork out tomorrow and give my local Bailey dealer a call and explain the situation. When we collected the van the dealer pointed out that all warranty work must be returned to their workshop.
I think this door handle may only need a minor adjustment all be it internally and dont fancy a long haul just for that,
Thank you again for your reply.

regards Brian

Dustydog · Jul 1, 2013

Hi Brian

I'm on my third Hartal lock. The latest has now lasted two seasons with no problems.

Looking at my Bailey handbook you can use.any Bailey authorised dealer. However it is very important you first seek both Bailey and the supplying Dealers agreement on just who does the repair. Also you need to be sure your local dealer is willing to do your warranty work.

Your problem sounds different from the original Hartal faults which were sticky shafts.

brian_c · Jul 1, 2013

Thank you for your reply Dusty Dog.
I did find some posts re these locks and mine is certainly not sticking. I presumed that the sticking problem would have been resolved in a 2010 van because the posts I read predates that and If it was a design fault I should have thought the supplier would have made the necessary modifications to the design before mine was made.
My problem is purely the the outside operating lever for need of a better description doesn't quite retract the locking tounge quite far enough. By watching the action with the door open the internal opener retracts it almost fully as does the key when used from the outside.
I am not able to get the van out this week but I will speak with the local dealer to see if he would be willing to look at it next week otherwise I look like having to make quite a round trip to take it to the supplying dealer.
Not really my week so far I wonder if you have seen my comments on the thread regarding Kampa air awnings. In the equipment and accessories section.
I have just spoken to the supplier re a problem with the one I bought last Monday and he has suggested that they will send it back to Kampa for repairs rather than just swap the thing. When I said that I wasn't happy with that he says he will ring Kampa then call me back with what they say.
Frustrating because the damage although minor was clearly inflicted at the factory either prior or during packing.
thank you again for your reply regards Brian

Mel · Jul 1, 2013

Hi brian, we have exactly the same problem with our Hartal lock. The catch doesn't seem to retract far enough when opened from the outside. Not a problem from the inside. Doesn't always give us trouble though. At the last service we mentioned this and I think they lubricated it and it wasn't a problem for a while, but has been playing up again lately. Our van is a 2011 eldiss. Let me know how you resolve it.
mel

brian_c · Jul 2, 2013

Thank you for your reply Mel. After your post and before ringing around to see if a dealer will help I decided to follow your lead and lubricated the lock mechanism as well as I was able through the key slot, the latch slide and also holding the handle out exposed a couple of points I was able to get lubrication in as well.
I used a microfine lock lubricating Graphite powder from a specialist locksmiths shop.
I believe I have had the same result as you because the lock now opens more cleanly from outside.
When I watch the action with the door open the latch still does not retract as far with the outside opener as it does with the key or the inside handle, but it actually clears now so the lubrication has had a small but usefull effect.
I suspect that it may gradually return to what it was given time, but five minutes with the lubrication may get it away again.
from reading other posts these locks appear to give most people problems to some degree, I am at a loss why caravan manufacturers haven't dug their heels in with Hartal and bullied them into making some modifications surely a tweak here and there during the assembly process could resolve many of the problems. Perhaps the owners of Hartal and caravan manufacturers don't actually use caravans themselves so not experiencing the problems first hand.
best regards Brian

ChrisUK · Jul 17, 2013

brian_c said:
Thank you for your reply Mel. After your post and before ringing around to see if a dealer will help I decided to follow your lead and lubricated the lock mechanism as well as I was able through the key slot, the latch slide and also holding the handle out exposed a couple of points I was able to get lubrication in as well.
I used a microfine lock lubricating Graphite powder from a specialist locksmiths shop.
I believe I have had the same result as you because the lock now opens more cleanly from outside.
When I watch the action with the door open the latch still does not retract as far with the outside opener as it does with the key or the inside handle, but it actually clears now so the lubrication has had a small but usefull effect.
I suspect that it may gradually return to what it was given time, but five minutes with the lubrication may get it away again.
from reading other posts these locks appear to give most people problems to some degree, I am at a loss why caravan manufacturers haven't dug their heels in with Hartal and bullied them into making some modifications surely a tweak here and there during the assembly process could resolve many of the problems. Perhaps the owners of Hartal and caravan manufacturers don't actually use caravans themselves so not experiencing the problems first hand.
best regards Brian

⇦

ChrisUK · Jul 17, 2013

*** test

ChrisUK · Jul 17, 2013

I'm having difficulties replying to this. Final try disabling rich text?

My lock does the same and have yet to solve it. However it also had the other problem these locks have, a jammed lock, it being the internal handle that sticks in the inner part of the lock, this has to turn using the key from the outside. If you undo the 4 screws on the inside the lock separates front and back, nothing springs out, there is then a circlip to remove and the inner handle comes out. I then used emery cloth till it rotated easily. I was forced to do this on holiday this month.
I have some photos if I can find a way of attaching. I know this is not the answer to the original query, but it my help, particularly with the pictures.

mealsonwheels · Jul 17, 2013

We have exactly the same problem with the Hartal door lock on our 2008 Swift Challenger and will ask our dealer about it, when we take it in at the end of the month for the water ingress in the front wallboard to be sorted. Ho Hum.......it's one problem after another.

Masud_Ali · May 22, 2015

I have same problem with my lock and replaced it two times.I dont know what to do with it.Looked into many guides and threads but nothing was helpful.Every time it got stuck, have to bring locksmith to repair the lock they lubricate it, it works fine for some days and after that same problem.If anybody get any reliable answer please let me know.

Mod Note: External Link removed.

masudali · Aug 15, 2015

Post Removed.
Poster was someone who obviously has no knowledge of caravans but was simply trying to use the forum for personal advertising.
Hard luck, you have been rumbled and banned.

Dustydog · Aug 15, 2015

Why do you remove the door

WoodlandsCamper · Aug 15, 2015

Dustydog said:
Why do you remove the door

To take it to the locksmith that's being advertised 2 years after previous posting.

ChrisUK · Aug 16, 2015

Photos. Note to remove the internal handle to lubricate or sand it down the spindle, you really need circlip pliers.
er. photos -How?

Sorry - failed.

ChrisUK · Aug 16, 2015

ChrisUK said:
Photos. Note to remove the internal handle to lubricate or sand it down the spindle, you really need circlip pliers.
er. photos -How?

Sorry - failed.

Ha, just read, I have to joint something called Photobucket. No thank you. No other forum I use needs this. Why should I save my photos to a remote server. What's in it for someone?

Parksy · Aug 16, 2015

ChrisUK said:
ChrisUK said:

Photos. Note to remove the internal handle to lubricate or sand it down the spindle, you really need circlip pliers.
er. photos -How?

Sorry - failed.

Click to expand...

Ha, just read, I have to joint something called Photobucket. No thank you. No other forum I use needs this. Why should I save my photos to a remote server. What's in it for someone?

The reason why the owner and administrator Haymarket don't host your pictures on this website and forum themselves is that Haymarket are amongst other things a well established publishing and digital media commercial company.
Unlike most of the other forums that you use Haymarket are bound by laws on copyright.
This forum is a free of charge public access forum which is paid for by Haymarket and as such there are no built in controls which would prevent any picture being copied and redistributed either to or from here by any individual or organisation.
If the website was administered by private individuals or even smaller commercial companies, as most caravan related websites are, this wouldn't matter but for a large and very well funded commercial company there is potential for legal complications and issues.
In other words, Haymarket's massive global profile makes them worth suing.
This is why pictures and photographs come to Haymarket via a third party, Photobucket.

ChrisUK · Aug 17, 2015

Parksy said:
ChrisUK said:

ChrisUK said:

Photos. Note to remove the internal handle to lubricate or sand it down the spindle, you really need circlip pliers.
er. photos -How?

Sorry - failed.

Click to expand...

Ha, just read, I have to joint something called Photobucket. No thank you. No other forum I use needs this. Why should I save my photos to a remote server. What's in it for someone?

Click to expand...

The reason why the owner and administrator Haymarket don't host your pictures on this website and forum themselves is that Haymarket are amongst other things a well established publishing and digital media commercial company.
Unlike most of the other forums that you use Haymarket are bound by laws on copyright.
This forum is a free of charge public access forum which is paid for by Haymarket and as such there are no built in controls which would prevent any picture being copied and redistributed either to or from here by any individual or organisation.
If the website was administered by private individuals or even smaller commercial companies, as most caravan related websites are, this wouldn't matter but for a large and very well funded commercial company there is potential for legal complications and issues.
In other words, Haymarket's massive global profile makes them worth suing.
This is why pictures and photographs come to Haymarket via a third party, Photobucket.

OK, understood.

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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HARTAL DOOR LOCK.

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