Saving Lives & Protecting Property
Hey folks, in this video we’re going to talk a little bit about stores lock kits. Which ones are appropriate and what is in those kits. We’re going to specifically talk about the four and five in stores lock kits. Now, there was a time when TFD installed plastic locks on their stores fittings. And, over time those may degrade or break.
And if, you know, wrenches are placed on them and they can break and fall off at some point in time. We’ve since switched to all aluminum locks. We have a kit for the foreign stores and five in stores. A kit specifically each, because the circumference of a couplings is different, requiring a different lock for each one.
So if you have a plastic lock that’s broken and fallen off, then we have an aluminum lock kit to replace that. Before ordering your kits, you want to look and make sure that the post that is on the store’s coupling is still intact, that it’s not broken off. The post is cast into the coupling, so if it breaks off, the entire coupling will have to be replaced.
And we’ll talk about available stores, coupling kits, and a different video. Now in both kits, whether they’re 4 or 5 in stores, includes two aluminum locks, hard anodized aluminum, two springs, the spring, actuate the lock as well as holds it on to the the post on the coupling. And then there’s a tool, that you preload the lock on to, to insert it on to the coupling.
There’s one preloaded on a tool. The foreign store’s kit has all the same as the five in stores kit, except with the addition of a bearing strip puller tool. Because in many cases, as you see on this valve, there’s no room to get the lock on or off without removing the coupling. So we include a bearing strip power tool to remove the coupling, on various devices so that you can replace that lock.
And again, in a different video we go over how to service the LDH coupling. So we’re not doing that here. These lock kits will fit stores, couplings that were manufactured after June of 2003 to present date. If you’re not sure about the date of your device, you can look up the serial number on the support tab on our website to determine the age.
If you have questions regarding any of the lock kits, what’s appropriate? What will fit, what won’t fit? Certainly reach out to us at the support [email protected].
If your Storz coupling is missing a lock or has a broken one, you might not need to replace the entire unit. TFT offers aluminum lock kits that are more durable than the old plastic versions. This guide will help you determine which kit is right for your 4-inch or 5-inch Storz coupling and what to check before ordering.
In earlier versions of TFT’s Storz couplings, plastic locks were commonly used. Over time, these locks could degrade, especially if a wrench or other tool was applied to them. This often caused them to crack or fall off entirely. To address this, TFT upgraded to hard-anodized aluminum locks, which offer greater strength and longevity under operational stress.
Each kit includes:
Two anodized aluminum locks
Two springs to activate and hold the lock in place
A preload tool to help insert the lock onto the coupling
In the 4-inch kit, you also get a bearing strip puller tool. This is especially useful when there’s limited room around the valve to install or remove the lock without taking off the coupling.
Before ordering, you should inspect the lock post on your existing Storz coupling. This post is cast into the coupling body. If it’s broken or snapped off, the entire coupling must be replaced. The lock kit will not work without an intact post.
These lock kits are compatible with TFT Storz couplings manufactured after June 2003. If you’re not sure about the manufacture date of your coupling, you can look up the serial number using the Support tab at tft.com.
No. The circumference of the couplings is different between the 4" and 5" models, so each size has its own specific kit. Be sure to choose the right one for your application. While both kits contain the same essential components, the 4-inch version includes an additional tool to help remove the coupling if clearance is tight.
If you're uncertain about what fits your equipment, or if the lock post is damaged, reach out directly through the support tab at tft.com. A quick photo or serial number lookup can help TFT confirm the right kit or replacement part for your needs.
