Caravan Window Thumb Locks

DMaxer · Guru

Caravan Window Thumb Locks

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The parts are made from a plastic that is unlikely to be affected by most lubricants, but I would never use silicone because once it is there it is virtually impossible to remove.
One of the safest lubricants to use on plastic generally is wool fat.
These parts are just cheap and nasty unfortunately.
Cheers,
Peter

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks Peter. The lubrication is secondary at the moment. I want to get the thumb lock to slide open. Will WD40 be ok?

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi DMaxer

I assume that there may be different types of Camec window thumb locks, for the wind out windows

The ones I have, (which also come up when I google Camec window thumb lock), are in the pic below

I would probably describe them, as a lever sliding lock, so they may not be the same as what you have

My Camec wind out windows are a type of clear plastic, the slide locks seem to be of another type of plastic, there is also some rubber involved, to cover the hole in the fly wire, at the lock

I had the same problem, when I purchased my second hand RV

I used a compressor to blow any dust/dirt away, then I used a sparing amount of silicon spray, (I no longer carry the WD 40 type lubricant spray, when I travel)

I can confirm, never to use the Electrical Fast Drying Contact Cleaner. (Some people mistake it for WD 40 lubrication spray), it destroyed a plastic Anderson Plug on my RV

Hope that this info is useful to you

Opps forgetting me manners
Thank you for pointing out, (in another thread), that a Judge can not be given any extra information, after a court case has ended, and before he gives a judgement, it was something I was not aware of

Window lock.png

DMaxer · Guru

Hi Tony. My ones are a bit different in that they have two ends, a bit like a butterfly with open one way and close the other. Push to left to open and turn other way to close lock.

The bloody things are jammed in the closed and I do not want to put any pressure on them as they break really easily.

They are held in with a pop rivet. Total rubbish.

Long Weekend · Guru

Try having someone press on the window from the outside. That may take the pressure off and allow the slide to move. With those locks even though the window looks closed up tight often there is a gap of a millimetre or so, particularly if the window is warped slightly.

My locks are the same as Tonys on our van. A few months back the 'hook' broke requiring replacement. The locks are pop riveted on but I used a self tapper screw just in case it happens again!

Murray

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I would NOT use WD40. Get some Lanotech.
Try having someone press on the window from the outside.

Yes to that.

Cheers,
Peter

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I would NOT use WD40. Get some Lanotech.
Try having someone press on the window from the outside.
Yes to that.
Cheers,
Peter

Hi Dmaxer,

Peter-n- Margaret are correct as above. Lanotech is a natural oil extracked from Lambs Wool. Repco etc sell it in an aersol form, $12--$15 with a fine tube for direct contact.

Grey

patrol03 · Senior Member

The sliding thumb locks are very cheap to buy and easy to fit. If they are playing up drill out the pop rivet, clean the lock and the sill then re rivet in place. I carry a couple of spares with me but find that a clean and refit usually does the job.

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for the great advice. Will keep you posted.

darjak · Senior Member

When I replaced mine used stainless pop rivets and lanotech totally fixed problem.
Its the aluminium pop rivets thats the problem.

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks Darjak. I will look into that.

DMaxer · Guru

Just thought I would let you know the success of the operation. The thumb locks on the windows of my van were virtually welded shut. I could not move them a millimetre and any force would have resulted in them breaking off.

As suggested by the forum I used a lanolin based lubricant called Lanex and after a couple of applications over an hour or so they all moved freely. This is really good stuff, thanks for the tip.