Mailbox lock- How to remove old lock?

[Mogs43]

My mailbox was broken into and all my post stolen. The managing agent for my flat wouldn't help but told me where to buy a new lock from. I was quoted nearly £200 for it be replaced so thought I would try myself. Joke!

They have taken out the barrel of the lock but left part of the fitting in (please see photo) I have tried to pull it out using a screwdriver from behind but all I have done is bend the screwdriver and hurt my thumb!! Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions?? I want to pull the old lock out and then try to put the new one in - it just won’t budge…any ideas? Thank you so much.

Remove the clip?

See pic.

No help sorry. But why won’t the agent for your flat help? I take it you rent?

How does he think you are supposed to get mail if it’s a set up where every door has a mailbox in the lobby?

You’d think that would be covered. It’s a fixture. Not a content. Or perhaps I’m being silly

Thank you. How do you remove the clip? I’ve been trying for the past hour to bend it etc but completely failed.

I thought the managing agent would help (service charge is huge) but they couldn’t have been less interested or helpful.

Pair of pliers. Get hold of the tag and then pull it sideways away from the barrel.

Thank you! Fingers crossed!

Oh heck!

I’ve managed to take out the old broken lock using the pliers (thank you!!).

But now I can’t get the new lock in. I thought you simply put it in the lock and turned the back but it won’t fit in the lock space. The guy in the shop has assured me it’s the right lock. Do I need to do something to get the back off? Have tried but am worried about breaking something. Any advice appreciated. Thank you

So I managed to get the back off but can’t put the tiny round clip on whilst holding the rest of the lock in place. Any suggestions? Thank you . Sorry for being so rubbish

That’s a circlip. Easier to remove and refit with a proper pair of circlip pliers. But you should be able to snap it back on with ordinary pliers if done carefully. I would wear eye protection when doing this. They can ping off dangerously. Maybe get someone else to hold the lock in place while you pop the clip back on?

Thank you. I had never heard of one of these before. I have measured the clip and it’s only 18mm (so tiny). It’s too fiddly /small when I try to hold the lock in and then use my existing pliers to put the circlip on. Would you recommend buying some specialist pliers, might be easier? or do I need to get a friend to help me? Sorry for all the questions. Never done anything like this before.

starting to wish I had just paid the £200 for someone else to do it but I just can’t afford it. … didn’t realise locks were so difficult…..

I don't know about the UK, but on this side of the pond the cheapest circlip pliers (sometimes called snap-ring pliers) are about $12, which is about 8 pounds, I think. Please note they come in different sizes. Do you have a friend who is a mechanic or machine-repair person?

Thank you. I think they sell them on Amazon. Will try and get the smallest size.

unfortunately I don’t have any friends who are mechanics or repair machines: would be handy: lol!

Unfortunately my saga with the mailbox lock continues. Despite buying pliers I couldn’t get the lock on. I called out a handy man (£140 call out charge: eek). He said the new lock I had bought (from the original suppliers of the mailbox) won’t work. They insist it is the new version of the lock (which has been discontinued since the mailbox was fitted in 2008) and will work. The handyman guy said he can’t purchase new locks of the size of my mailbox (it does seem to be tricky but it was also Friday afternoon and I got the distinct impression he just wanted to go).

In my thousands of google searches, looking for a locksmith who doesn’t charge hundreds, I have noticed that you can buy mail box locks online (in all shapes and sizes). I wondered whether anyone has bought one before and successfully fitted it themselves? Is it worth giving it a go just in the off chance it works? If so are there any particular locks that are easier to fit than others? Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to give.