lock on water tank

Hi 
I have just aquired a 1996 Romero and can't get the key in the lock to the water tank therefore can't put water in the tank! Is there a special 'knack' to this or a reason why the key won't go into the lock  I have tried pushing the lock in but don't want to force it Previous owner has just gone on holiday for 2 weeks!

Are you sure that you're using the right key? the key to my water tank and the door to the toilet cassette look very similar and I often put the wrong key in the slot.

Frank

Hi Frank thanks for your reply I was given 2 keys - the ignition key and a smaller key - I've tried both as I haven't yet met with the last owner I didn't realise there was a key to the toilet cassette Is the water tank key the same as the ignition or will it be the smaller of the two ; or should I have three keys?

The ignition key should have the Renault badge on it and it is probably the larger one. I know very little about Romero's but if it has a cassette toilet with an access door on the outside of the van then Yes! you should have three keys.

EDIT:
I've been looking at some Romero piccies on t'internet and it seems that the cassette is accessed through the rear doors, so you won't have a key for that.
Do you have a locking petrol cap? and a key for it?

Frank

I don't know if yours has a similar cap to other vans i have seen but this is the type we have and i have seen on other vans it has a key with a black plastic top. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I would say you are definitely short on keys. I don't know Renaults but does your ignition key also do your doors? If not I would think you should have 4 keys - Ignition, doors, toilet access and water filler (and maybe a petrol cap key).

Hi if you cant even get the key in the lock I agree with above you don't have the right key. :(

Paulmold wrote:I would say you are definitely short on keys. I don't know Renaults but does your ignition key also do your doors? If not I would think you should have 4 keys - Ignition, doors, toilet access and water filler (and maybe a petrol cap key).

The ignition key usually does the doors, there isn't a lock for the cassette so there should be one for the ign, one for water and one for fuel (unless the ign key does that too?) plus spares.

If the cap is the same as in Mikejack's link, it will turn freely when "locked" like a fuel cap.

Frank

Many thanks I'll go and have another look at the locks

Hi there,

The two keys that we have for the Water Fill Cap and the Thetford Cassette Door are on a separate key-ring.

I suggest that you search all door and dashboard shelves, all glove-boxes, all ledges and then all of the other lockers including the wardrobe.

Another place to look is anywhere near spare toilet liquids or in toolboxes or where the gas is stored.

Seek and ye shalt find!   

Best regards,


PS When you do find them there is a "knack" to opening the Water Fill Cap. It normally rotates freely when it is locked. Normally you have to hold it steady whilst inserting the key and then turning the key to allow it to be unscrewed.

 

Sorry for veering off topic, but why IS there a lock on our water tanks? It's not as if it's cider or beer...

To stop toerags putting undesirable substances in your water  

Frank

Yes you are right Boxerman. I know someone who left their cap off and someone did as you say and put muddy water in their tank.

I had this problem with my Trident, in the end I called a locksmith who managed to open it.  It was just clogged up, traffic muck etc.  Now every few months I squeeze a little WD40 in just to keep it operational

Bilyco wrote:Yes you are right Boxerman. I know someone who left their cap off and someone did as you say and put muddy water in their tank.

They were really lucky on that one!!   

On the Duetto it is at a very convenient height for a much more unsavoury liquid.   

Best regards,
 

anthp123 wrote:I had this problem with my Trident, in the end I called a locksmith who managed to open it.  It was just clogged up, traffic muck etc.  Now every few months I squeeze a little WD40 in just to keep it operational

Hi there,

I'm not sure that I would recommend squirting WD40 around my drinking water inlet!  

About twice a year I put a drop of olive oil into the keyhole and work the key a few times.  

So far so good. 

Best regards,

Fair point, but I did say a little WD40, I'm not dousing the whole thing in it, just a couple of drops in the lock and work the key a little.

I'm sure many of us do this, but just in case: I've tied a long piece of cord to my water-filler key, and tied the other end inside the van, somewhere convenient such as at the base of the passenger seat. The key (permanently on the cord) lives down the side of, or behind, that seat; when I need to unlock the filler, I fish out the cord & key, and unlock the cap leaving the key in the cap, and temporarily place the cap with the key still in it (attached to the cord) on the seat.

That way (a) I don't forget to replace the cap because it's visible on the passenger seat; and (b) don't lose the key because it's on a cord attached to the van.

anthp123 wrote:Fair point, but I did say a little WD40, I'm not dousing the whole thing in it, just a couple of drops in the lock and work the key a little.

For lubricating lock barrels never use oils. You can get a small puffer bottle of colloidal graphite which is far more effective and does not clog. I have had a bottle for about 30 years and it shows no sign of being used. And it really works.
If you can't find the colloidal graphite then rub a 2B pencil along the serrated part of the key and put it in.

inspiredron wrote:

anthp123 wrote:Fair point, but I did say a little WD40, I'm not dousing the whole thing in it, just a couple of drops in the lock and work the key a little.

For lubricating lock barrels never use oils. You can get a small puffer bottle of colloidal graphite which is far more effective and does not clog. I have had a bottle for about 30 years and it shows no sign of being used. And it really works.
If you can't find the colloidal graphite then rub a 2B pencil along the serrated part of the key and put it in.

That sounds really sensible!! Many thanks!  

Best regards,