HON F26 File Cabinet Lock

*** Update ***After THREE unlocks the center lock popped right out of the filing cabinet. Oh well, right? Wrong. Now the cabinet is permanently locked because the keyed part is disengaged from the locking mechanism. My accountant is unable to get to the files within. I'm going to have to find some long, skinny pliers to try and reach inside and operate the locking mechanism long enough to get the drawer open and take out this junk lock. Do not buy if you need to open your filing cabinet successfully more than three times. Picture attached.Original review:I wasn't thrilled with the plastic bezel that goes into the filing cabinet. I expected the surround to be metal. I think that will be the weakest link. We'll see how it lasts.Install was pretty easy even though the cabinet I had never had a lock in it before. The instructions were ok but are a really, a really poor quality reproduction. It looks like they used a low-quality JPEG scan of a set of instructions, added their pixelated logo, scanned it again using the lowest-quality setting, then took a picture of it and emailed it to someone who then printed it, scanned it again and then provided it for us to use. The JPEG artifact in the instructions is just awful. I tried to post a link to a better version but Amazon won't let me. Go to Google and search for this product by name and you'll probably see the instructions.

Low price, all metal, has held up fine, keys work smoothly. Not as heavy as original lock from 1985, not plastic either. I dintend want to spend $20 per 2 drawer cabinet. Easy keys called me before spending the lock to make sure I got what I wanted. They were fast sending it out and I was happy with my locking cabinet within 2 days. I am going to order another pair because of my own fault. I am lazy so hid a key close to the cabinet. Of course it later disappeared, and since I keep coming home to find one or all of the drawers unlocked. When I am sure I locked them before leaving, I'm going to change them out. Thank goodness I can for $12 a pc. Rather than $19 to $28. Good dependable strong lock for low price with fast personal service from right here in USA.

Pros. The lock worked. Everything else looked brand new except the core.Cons. The round "lock" part the moves up and down when you turn the key is angled to a sharp point. That point would eat into the plastic sleeve and start to shave it down when it slides. The original core I have is not angled but completely flat with a protruding part that rides the curvature of the sleeve for a much smoother movement. Included picture of old style core but 'preview' isn't showing it so hopefully it works. I ended up reusing the old core. Not that big of a deal but I lost one of the original keys so having two again would have been nice.The pin you insert at the pivot point has 2 tabs that lock it into the hole but if you have to remove it like I did, it is likely to break as mine did since you don't have any clearance to depress them both - I could only do one. The other folded backwards and broke off when I gently bent it back. Luckily the original pin is like a cone that is completely open along one of the edges so after compressing it to remove it you can still widen it back and reuse it. I had to remove it because I inserted it into the lower of the two holes and the movement wasn't correct to raise the bar to lock it. Since I took it apart weeks ago I didn't remember so having instruction would have been nice.I've looked for this lock at other places and most locking pins are angled. So if you lock and unlock it a lot I would expect it to fail sooner than later. There was one I saw like my original on e**y but at twice the price.Also, they all seem to have plastic sleeves even at my local locksmith shop (didn't check if the pin was angled) but it was also about $29.Since this cabinet isn't locked a lot I'm ok with the lock. If I locked it daily I would spend the $29 and get a better product in the future.

I rounded up an old filing cabinet at work that was in good shape but was missing the lock. I contacted this vendor with the pertinent information and they immediately sent me a link for it. I received the lock and associated parts and, following the instructions provided by the vendor, had a functioning filing cabinet within 15 minutes. I don't know why other reviewers have been saying the instructions were no good -- mine were clear, illustrated, and straightforward.

Have a Hon upright f4 drawer file cabinet that is used 6 days a week that had the Hon F26 cabinet lock The lock held up for about 20 years before something internal in the lock mechanism broke. I purchased this kit and it fit and works great with all the required parts after I found some instructions somewhere else online to install it. The original Hon kit had a metal barrel for the locking mechanism to fit into. This kit has a chromed plastic barrel. Maybe it will hold up ok but it is too early to tell. Sure hope it does but I am a little worried about it.

Bought a used HON 4-drawer file cabinet and had to break out the lock because the keys were missing. Ordered this replacement and it took about 5 minutes to install. Came with a number of pieces not shown in the photo that would be useful if you are installing in a cabinet that didn't have a lock to begin with.Only negative is that the instruction sheet provided was a multi-generation photocopy where the illustrations were impossible to decipher. However, I doubt anyone would really need the instructions anyway.

I found that the top hook does not have any clearance at the top while moving to the locked position. That necessitated drilling another hole. Also I had to make multiple bends in the metal plate to get it aligned and fit the cabinet. The plastic sleeve of the unit, I'm afraid, will probably crack with use.