Crossbar lock: what it is, security classes, pros and cons

As a rule, rack and pinion locks are used in garages (therefore they are often called garage), street gates, outbuildings, pavilions "shells" and other similar buildings. To lock apartments and houses, they should only be used in conjunction with other locks. Manufacturers offer a wide range of such devices, because, despite the emergence of more advanced locks, they are still in high demand. Our publication will tell you how to choose a suitable mechanism and install it.

The appearance of the bolt lock

Description of the device

Such a lock is often used for a garage located on the site of a country house. This device is considered a durable option, which, unfortunately, will not be able to independently protect the gate from burglary. However, it is often used where other protection methods already exist.

This is a very ancient device. Scientists believe that our ancestors used it as early as the fourth century BC. Of course, then the rail had a simpler design.

To understand how suitable such locks are for arranging a garage, you need to study their structure and principle of operation. It's simple enough:

The first element is the body. It has holes for attaching a lock to the door, as well as round holes for bolts. In addition, it has a key through hole.
There are crossbars inside the body. They also lock the garage doors. They are metal rails-cylinders, which are supported by a spring from the inside. It is through her that they strive to move outward.
The locking rails have grooves, thanks to which the lock is unlocked with a key.
The key is a metal, often flat, slotted bar.

Such a lock has no secret mechanism. Its locking occurs when the grooves of the lock coincide with the grooves of the rails. Therefore, such a design cannot be called reliable.

Breakage of rack locks

Nothing lasts forever, and even locking devices such as rack and pinion locks can reach the end of their life and break. We have encountered two major failures in these locks.

The first is the breakage of the spring that pushes the crossbar.
The second is a strong wear of the key and locking rails.

In both cases, we recommend that you do not look for those who will repair these locks, but run to a professional store for replacement and installation services using welding.

For example, in Nizhny Novgorod, you can contact the Door Doctor company, which has been providing these services for decades.

Advantages and disadvantages of the mechanism

These locks have a very simple design. Therefore, at the moment they are practically not used to lock apartments. It is more commonly used for driveways. However, sometimes such a device is also installed on the garage door.

The key in it can only move backward or forward. The door is locked by a conventional slamming action. It opens due to the fact that the key stuck into the keyhole coincides with the grooves with the rivers and pushes them back.

Despite the fact that such mechanisms have practically outlived their usefulness, they are still used to equip a garage. Indeed, despite all their shortcomings, they also have some undeniable advantages.

What are the advantages of the castle:

It is really cheap. This is due to the simplicity of their device, which allows you to assemble such a mechanism almost at home.
Ease of use is another advantage. You don't need to make any effort to open it. It is enough just to push the key into the bolt and the door will open. You can close the gate by simply slamming the door.
Such locks have a very simple design. Due to this, they almost never jam and serve for a very long time. They are much more durable than more modern and sophisticated options.

With all the advantages of such mechanisms, they also have very serious disadvantages. It is because of them that they gradually go out of use.

Main disadvantages:

One of the main drawbacks, practically overlapping all the above-described advantages, is the low protective properties of the mechanism. Even a novice "bugbear" can open it with improvised means. To do this, you can use fishing line, wire, hairpin, knife, nail file, and even a carrot. In addition, it is not uncommon for the keys to fit one rack and pinion lock to another. Thus, such a product can in no way be used as the main means of protecting the contents of the garage.
Also, such locks are distinguished by the fact that it is very difficult for them to make a duplicate key. The fact is that such work is quite difficult, so many craftsmen, whose offices are located in supermarkets, refuse to take on it.
Such products require drilling holes in the door during installation. Therefore, if you decide to change it, you will hardly be able to find devices that will block all the openings from the previous exhibit.

Thus, it is safe to say that such a lock cannot be used as a full-fledged primary means of protecting the contents of your garage. You can install it additionally along with a more complex device. It can also be used in suburban areas equipped with an alarm system.

Negative qualities

The main disadvantage of rack and pinion locks is their low resistance to burglary. The above described techniques that are known to very many. For burglars, there is no problem how to open the crossbar lock. This is done with an ordinary penknife.

Modern security structures refuse to guard an object if the canvas is protected by only one rack and pinion lock. They find this device ineffective in properly protecting property.

Such rack and pinion models have non-standard sizes, differ in shape. If replacement is required, it is difficult to choose another lock due to the mismatch of the seat.

DIY installation

One of the indisputable positive qualities of the device is that it is easy to install it with your own hands. This process is quite simple, so you can handle it yourself without any problems.

The mechanism is best used for single-leaf garage doors. It will not work for structures with two doors.

To install it yourself, you need to know the sequence of actions. There are not many stages of such work, so you will quickly cope with it.

How to install the device:

Attach it to the door. Mark the places where the holes for the fastening of the mechanism and its keyholes will be.
Drill the required holes according to the marking. They must be processed by cleaning the sharp edges.
Now you can weld on the lock. If you do not have the skills of welding, then it can be screwed on.
Next, the second part is welded on the back side. The main thing is to install without distortions.

The installation process is fairly straightforward. However, it is better to install the lock by welding. Since the screwed-on device is easily damaged by mechanical stress.

Locks for transom doors

The lock is the main security element of any door block. It is on its parameters that resistance to burglary, security, and ease of use depend. Let us consider in more detail how the transom locks differ from their counterparts, and what features should be taken into account in practice so that the choice of a particular model is really optimal:

These structural elements, crossbars, are created in the form of cylinders. As a rule, several identical parts are used in one lock, enhances the protective functions, complicates the destruction of such latches.
To strengthen the structure as a whole, additional crossbars are used, which are extended using special mechanisms on the side, lower and upper ends of the door leaf.
The cheaper technology has made it possible to reduce prices without sacrificing quality. Previously, locks of this type were installed only in bank safes. Today ordinary apartments and private houses are equipped with them. Despite the price attractiveness of the product itself, it is better to entrust its installation to professionals. Only they are able to take into account weight, temperature and other parameters important for the operation stage.

Locks for crossbar doors are an overhead mechanism that has one or more crossbars, with the help of which the door is locked. The larger the number of valves, the more reliable the entire structure, but its emergency opening without a key becomes many times more difficult.

Modern models can be additionally equipped with blocking systems, connected to alarms, panic buttons. Therefore, before breaking the crossbar lock, you need to prepare special equipment, apparatus, tools, and find out the principle of the mechanism. Nevertheless, it is better to entrust this task to experienced craftsmen.

The bolt lock device assumes the absence of springs and type-setting leveled plates, which makes it one of the most durable and practical locking mechanisms. Despite the apparent simplicity, a crossbar-type apartment lock may require removing the door from its hinges or mechanically cutting it out of the canvas.

Crossbar mortise lock

Mortise crossbar locks are universal, they are installed in wooden, metal, and also armored doors

This is the best way to increase the safety of your home. In installation, it is more difficult than overhead, while it is more aesthetic due to the absence of various protruding parts and has a higher reliability.

Mortise crossbar locks are universal, they are installed in wooden, metal, and also armored doors. Their main advantage is stealth. Another important quality is the crab locking system - the lock tongues engage along the perimeter of the entire door: along the bottom, side and top ends, which increases resistance to burglary and locking properties.

The reliability of such models is also due to the fact that they are located in the door leaf, which serves as both a fastener and a protection for them.

Mortise transom locks can be locking, locking and locking, as well as locking.

Crossbar padlocks

Typically, padlocks are used for utility rooms, garages and storage areas. In addition, they are used in swimming pools or in the locker rooms of fitness clubs. They are simple to install, while their weak point is poor security against burglary in comparison with other types of locking devices.

There is a wide selection of such models on the market today - from the most inexpensive and simple options made of brass or cast iron to expensive ones made of stainless steel.

Before purchasing such a lock, you need to consider what type of door it is selected for. The choice of locks must be carried out, starting from the material from which the entire structure is created.

If we talk about manufacturers, at the moment there is a huge selection of locks created by all kinds of manufacturers around the world. In general, the choice of a device depends on your needs and financial capabilities.

Selection rules

Very often rack locks are made in clandestine conditions. Moreover, not every such product is of sufficient quality. Therefore, you need to know how to choose a good option:

Ask the seller what kind of load the product you like can withstand, this figure should vary within 200-300 kg.
The lock must be made of solid metal. This is necessary so that it does not jam and serve for a very long time.
Try to lock and unlock the lock. He must not stagger.

These simple rules will help you choose the highest quality product. It will serve you for many years.

A rack and pinion lock is not the best option for a garage. As a protection against hacking, it is practically useless by itself. Therefore, it is better to replace it with a more modern design.

What to change rack locks for?

Replacing a rack and pinion lock on a metal door is a whole story. Don't expect to find another one for these holes - you won't find it at all.

And when choosing a lock in place of a rack and pinion, you need to adhere to several rules.

The castle this time should have good security properties, relevant today. I see no reason to change the awl for soap and spend money at the same time.
The lock should be easy to use, closed from the inside with a turntable, because the owners are used to it.
The lock should have no end plate, because rack and pinion locks are often found on thin metal doors. And the end plate of the lock somewhat restricts its installation.

Based on this, when replacing rack locks, our craftsmen often install various types of Barrier locks. In the overwhelming majority of cases, one or another model of the Barrier is most suitable for the place of the rack and pinion and meets the high requirements of quality and safety.

Where is it used?

No special effort is required to install the bolt lock. In addition to a ruler with a handle, pliers and a screwdriver, a drill, a grinder and a welding machine can be useful if the door is metal.

Most often, such locks are bought:

for garages, gates;
wickets;
warehouse doors, utility rooms, outbuildings;
roller shutters (installed on the motor and gearbox to block the entire structure);
furniture (lockers, safes).

Crossbar locking devices are constantly being improved. Modern models are no longer mechanical, but electrical - they are more reliable than some expensive models. When buying a door with a built-in lock, they do not pay attention to it at all, admiring the design or choosing the appropriate size. However, the locking device is the main thing to pay attention to. The crossbar is easy to install, dismantle, the price is low. Using such a device is more familiar and understandable.

How to choose?

With the improvement of technology, even such not the most reliable lock was improved - to increase the security class. Manufacturers produce multi-stop devices that have additional protection stages. The handle in them can rise to a certain angle, and the mechanism is locked with a key.

The crossbar of the lock must meet the following requirements:

Withstand up to several hundred kilograms.
Have anti-shock properties.
The bolt metal must be hard enough so as not to succumb to the hacksaw.
It must have a clearance for movement in the lock, but of a small size.
The door must be securely locked in the closed position.

Areas of use

Although these locks have a strong metal structure, they are not able to block the path even for a novice thief. The bolt lock belongs to the first class of security, that is, to less reliable devices. Such locks should not be used in places where expensive equipment and other valuables are stored, as an entrance one. But at the same time, they do an excellent job with the function of additional constipation.

They are often and effectively used on:

garage doors;
gates on the street;
doors of utility rooms, warehouses;
change houses;
sheds;
bolt lock is used for roller shutters. Moreover, it is installed on the gearbox and the motor, which ensures the blocking of the structure.

Output

The crossbar lock, although not considered reliable, is still popular, since it does not have a large number of movable components that fail in other locks. At the same time, opening it, or rather, hacking, is not difficult. Perfect as an additional locking mechanism.

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Opening methods

Option 1

If the mechanism is relatively new, regularly serviced, then you only need a screwdriver with a long blade. It is necessary to insert it into the well and try to find the groove of the "slider". After that, you need to slightly tilt the sting in order to achieve a rigid "coupling", and you can open the garage lock. Pressing the door and inserting a screwdriver alternately into the following grooves, the bolts are retracted to the side. As a rule, a quarter of an hour is enough and the canvas is unlocked.

In the absence of a screwdriver, any thin object of the corresponding section will do - a pencil, a branch cut, a long nail. The only thing that is desirable to do is to pre-wet the wood, otherwise, with great effort, it will crack.

Option 2

Using this method to open a rack and pinion lock without a key is somewhat more difficult, moreover, it is not always possible. It is necessary to find a tool (as an option, a "hard" wire) with a long and thin sting - a screwdriver, an awl or something similar.

An autopsy is carried out through the gap between the door leaf and the garage door leaf. It will have to be bent a little and fixed in this position. You can use an ax, a nail puller, a small crowbar; if the meaning is clear, it is not difficult to choose. The working tool goes deeper into the slot in order to hit the edge of the slot. After that, you need to press and try to move the crossbar from its place. It will take a lot of time, but the rack and pinion lock will surely succumb.

Option 3

If you have time, you don't have to think about how to open a garage lock with a "slide". It is advisable to prepare a "lasso"; it will come in handy more than once in a force majeure situation. It is made from a metal tube and a cable; it is inserted into it and brought out in the form of a loop. By flattening the end of an improvised handle, you can get a kind of key.

For opening it is necessary to remove the bolt in turn. Each end has a pin-like projection; here on them the "lasso" should also be thrown. As soon as possible, by turning the tube and taking it to the side, they are displaced to the "open" position.

With this method, it is recommended to try two methods: insert the key into the gap between the flaps (if one of them can be bent) or into the well. But in any case, the lock will open.

Useful Tips

Almost all factory-made rack and pinion mechanisms are equipped with a return spring.To open a crossbar lock with several locks, each retracted one must be fixed.
These locks are quite fragile. This must be taken into account during the unlocking process. Excessive forces lead to deformation of the edges of the grooves, and this will cause difficulties with the subsequent operation of the product, even if it will be opened with the "native" key.
Given the simplicity of the rack and pinion locks, it is not worth using them separately. It is possible to speak about reliable protection of the door only if it is additionally equipped with another locking device, and of a different type.

Knowing the principle of operation of the rack and pinion mechanism, it is not difficult to choose an acceptable way to open it. And in this regard, it is appropriate to recall the need for regular maintenance of the castle. If it is systematically cleaned and lubricated, then there will be no problems with the displacement of the crossbars.

What else is worth knowing

Do not neglect additional protection products. Armor plates, for example, will help protect the cylinder lock from mechanical stress. An overhead internal lock or latch will provide additional protection against intrusion when everyone is at home.

When choosing a lock, pay attention to the quality of the front door itself. So, even a combined security class 4 lock is unlikely to help if the door can literally be opened with a can opener. A heavy lock in a light door can also lead to it skewing and sagging.

Consider all these points, and your home will be reliably protected. A large selection of locks is always available in our catalog.