Help, locked out of combine

texelburger · Aug 11, 2019

Many years ago I was locked in a combine for about 5 hours.A new to us combine had been delivered on a Friday and after Sunday lunch my 6 year old son and I decided to have a play with the combine in the yard.We looked around it ,checked behind guards and then decided to have a sit in the cab.My lad slammed the door and a guard,we had not reattached correctly swung round on its hinge and jammed against the door.We drove the combine to a couple of farm cottages on the drive and tonked the horn,no one was in.Drove to the farmhouse,could not get too close because of a walled garden with a small entrance, tonked the horn again but ,alas,the wife could not hear.I was seething,my boy started crying and patience began to dissappear quickly.There was a hammer in the cab to break the glass in the event of an emergency but I could not bring myself to do it,it was after all a 2 year old shiny combine.
We entered the cab at around 1.30pm and eventually at around six my wife came to see how we were.5 bloody hours ! It was a MF 30 and my neighbour went on a MF combine course the following year where he was told to always check this guard as some plonker had it jam against the door locking him in.
True story.

2wheels · Oct 22, 2021

dennileks said:
I had the same experience last year and had to go to a locksmith to open my tractor. It was a very long operation when I tried to open the transport myself, but I failed. In any case, the locksmith always has the necessary tools for such a case. I'm sure it's not just you and me, OP. I've had this happen with my bedroom door too, so it's almost routine for me. I'm sure they will soon come up with better locks that can be opened much easier in the event of losing the key.

lock on the bedroom door? oooh missus.

Scholsey · Oct 22, 2021

texelburger said:
Many years ago I was locked in a combine for about 5 hours.A new to us combine had been delivered on a Friday and after Sunday lunch my 6 year old son and I decided to have a play with the combine in the yard.We looked around it ,checked behind guards and then decided to have a sit in the cab.My lad slammed the door and a guard,we had not reattached correctly swung round on its hinge and jammed against the door.We drove the combine to a couple of farm cottages on the drive and tonked the horn,no one was in.Drove to the farmhouse,could not get too close because of a walled garden with a small entrance, tonked the horn again but ,alas,the wife could not hear.I was seething,my boy started crying and patience began to dissappear quickly.There was a hammer in the cab to break the glass in the event of an emergency but I could not bring myself to do it,it was after all a 2 year old shiny combine.
We entered the cab at around 1.30pm and eventually at around six my wife came to see how we were.5 bloody hours ! It was a MF 30 and my neighbour went on a MF combine course the following year where he was told to always check this guard as some plonker had it jam against the door locking him in.
True story.

This story has not got the likes it derserves!

Two Tone · Oct 22, 2021

Laggard said:
I’ve broken the barrel out of my New Holland TF78 and can’t unlock the door. I’ve tried sticking a screwdriver in the hole and turning it but can’t. Can I drill it? Any advice welcome.

You are not the only one to have had this problem on a TF 78 and I assume, every TF and TX NH Combine with the Discovery cab.
It’s like the door has locked itself but won’t unlock with the key.

Very annoying indeed when you have only got one key and it is inside the cab!

The simplest way to get in is to undo the hinge pins. They are inserted upside-down with a lock-washer on top. Remove the washer by prying it off and drive the pins downwards with a punch. The door will then open and annoyingly, once you have got in, the outside door handle will then work!

It could be that the catch is a bit too tight, which causes the problem. So adjust it so that it is only just tight enough to do the job, without having to slam the door closed. Slamming it is probably what causes the problem in the first place.
Then give the mechanism a good dose of WD40 and it will work properly.

But I’d replace the hinge pin the opposite way up in case it happens again, so that you don’t need to pry that lock washer off again.

Cowabunga · Oct 22, 2021

dennileks said:
I had the same experience last year and had to go to a locksmith to open my tractor. It was a very long operation when I tried to open the transport myself, but I failed. In any case, the locksmith always has the necessary tools for such a case. I'm sure it's not just you and me, OP. I've had this happen with my bedroom door too, so it's almost routine for me. I'm sure they will soon come up with better locks that can be opened much easier in the event of losing the key.

They are all dead easy to open if you know how and have appropriate tools. Have a look at 'Lock Picking Lawyer' and 'Bosnian Bill' channels on YouTube.

2wheels · Oct 22, 2021

my son has aset of lock picks for recovery work. they are stored in a safe in the office at work when he isn't using them. i saw him get into an audi a4 in 4 minutes but some cars can take over an hour. needs a lot of patience.

Al R · Oct 22, 2021

2wheels said:
my son has aset of lock picks for recovery work. they are stored in a safe in the office at work when he isn't using them. i saw him get into an audi a4 in 4 minutes but some cars can take over an hour. needs a lot of patience.

A friend’s wife had their new Audi A6 lock on them, luckily one of their employees was from a rough area known for crime and he got in it within a few minutes with no damage at all!

jh. · Oct 22, 2021

I got locked out my CX just as we finished one night. Engine running so leaving it wasn't an option .

Went into farm , got spare key and still wouldn't unlock . Chapped out door pins but iirc still couldn't reach inside door handle because of the assistor ram . By this stage the hammer was getting considered.

Luckily as I was finishing the grain tank was empty so hauled the tank lids out the runners and managed to pop the tank windows to reach the inside handle.

Next morning removed barrel to find it had broken and jammed the catch . Then had a real bit of fun trying to pop the window seals back in . Dad's in cab holding the glass up , I'm in tank with seal and a string drawing it back in , going well until the string breaks , I fly back wards and the glass rattled dad off the forehead drawing blood .

Al R · Oct 22, 2021

jh. said:
I got locked out my CX just as we finished one night. Engine running so leaving it wasn't an option .

Went into farm , got spare key and still wouldn't unlock . Chapped out door pins but iirc still couldn't reach inside door handle because of the assistor ram . By this stage the hammer was getting considered.

Luckily as I was finishing the grain tank was empty so hauled the tank lids out the runners and managed to pop the tank windows to reach the inside handle.

Next morning removed barrel to find it had broken and jammed the catch . Then had a real bit of fun trying to pop the window seals back in . Dad's in cab holding the glass up , I'm in tank with seal and a string drawing it back in , going well until the string breaks , I fly back wards and the glass rattled dad off the forehead drawing blood .

I drove a combine unsure which one think it may have been lexion 480 where the tank window had been taken off and not put back in right and OSR and smaller dust would come into the cab

Isabellah · Jan 14, 2022

Al R said:
A friend’s wife had their new Audi A6 lock on them, luckily one of their employees was from a rough area known for crime and he got in it within a few minutes with no damage at all!

This is what I call a true locksmith xD

MrNoo · Jan 14, 2022

Had exactly the same on my CX this year, combining, had a stone flip onto the table so turned header off, left the guts running flat out, hopped off to remove the stone, obviously shut the door. On getting back on the steps I noticed the barrel had fallen out and I couldnt get back in.
So combine running flat out and what to do. Fortunately I had a screwdriver in the tractor on corn cart duties and after much fiddling about managed to get it open. It took a good 15 mins.
I could have switched it off using the isolator but didnt want to as it was all rather hot and running flat out.
And despite being well aware not to shut the door when getting out I did it the very next day, another 15 mins wasted!

Steevo · Jan 14, 2022

MrNoo said:
Had exactly the same on my CX this year, combining, had a stone flip onto the table so turned header off, left the guts running flat out, hopped off to remove the stone, obviously shut the door. On getting back on the steps I noticed the barrel had fallen out and I couldnt get back in.
So combine running flat out and what to do. Fortunately I had a screwdriver in the tractor on corn cart duties and after much fiddling about managed to get it open. It took a good 15 mins.
I could have switched it off using the isolator but didnt want to as it was all rather hot and running flat out.
And despite being well aware not to shut the door when getting out I did it the very next day, another 15 mins wasted!

You're braver than me wanting to get out the cab to remove a stone from the header leaving the machine running flat out.

Just picking up on your other point - surely the isolator wouldn't have shut the machine off because the alternator would still be providing the electrical power...?

MrNoo · Jan 14, 2022

Steevo said:
You're braver than me wanting to get out the cab to remove a stone from the header leaving the machine running flat out.

Just picking up on your other point - surely the isolator wouldn't have shut the machine off because the alternator would still be providing the electrical power...?

Maybe but I would have thought there would be an elec solenoid on the pump to cut the fuel off, turning the isolator off I would hope stop it. I will try it next time I fire it up, useful to know

oskerb · Mar 3, 2023

texelburger said:
Many years ago I was locked in a combine for about 5 hours.A new to us combine had been delivered on a Friday and after Sunday lunch my 6 year old son and I decided to have a play with the combine in the yard.We looked around it ,checked behind guards and then decided to have a sit in the cab.My lad slammed the door and a guard,we had not reattached correctly swung round on its hinge and jammed against the door.We drove the combine to a couple of farm cottages on the drive and tonked the horn,no one was in.Drove to the farmhouse,could not get too close because of a walled garden with a small entrance, tonked the horn again but ,alas,the wife could not hear.I was seething visit web site,my boy started crying and patience began to dissappear quickly.There was a hammer in the cab to break the glass in the event of an emergency but I could not bring myself to do it,it was after all a 2 year old shiny combine.
We entered the cab at around 1.30pm and eventually at around six my wife came to see how we were.5 bloody hours ! It was a MF 30 and my neighbour went on a MF combine course the following year where he was told to always check this guard as some plonker had it jam against the door locking him in.
True story.

i am having the same issue.

Laggard · Mar 3, 2023

oskerb said:
i am having the same issue.

As Delia would say, “where are you “? I’ll come and let you out.

Paddington · Mar 3, 2023

After going out for a few hours riding, I stopped to post a letter and got locked out of my Renault 5. Called the AA out. The repairman could see the keys in the ignition and grabbed them as soon as he got the door open in a minute or so. He walked around to the back of the car, opened the boot and quickly shut it again. Turning to me he asked me what the registration was without looking at it ? He then asked what was in the boot ? I told him a toolbox and jumpleads, this didn't satisfy him," anything else sir ? " "Oh, er riding boots, some ropes and a couple of whips" I remembered. He gave me the keys and told me to have a nice evening.

Help, locked out of combine

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