Toolbox lock broke at -12°F — the $9 replacement that fixed it
Woke up to -12°F in Minneapolis last January. Went to open my Weather Guard saddle box and the latch mechanism just… snapped. Plastic internals got brittle and the key wouldn't turn.
I called the dealer — $65 for a replacement Weather Guard lock cylinder. Nope. Found CompX Fortress L-Plate locks on Amazon for $8.99 each. Same keyway pattern as the OEM, just better construction: all-metal guts, brass wafers, zinc housing.
Install took 15 minutes per side. Two bolts on the inside of the lid, swap the retaining clip, done. The CompX uses the same CH751 key code so I didn't need a new key. That was 14 months ago. Still smooth, even through last summer's 95°F heat.
One thing I'd do differently: put a dab of white lithium grease on the cam before sliding it in. The instructions don't mention it, but it prevents the galling I got on the first one.
Total cost: $18 for both sides. Dealer quote: $130 installed. Saved $112 and got a better product.