The next idea is for larger doors. The chains would work but I just wanted to see if something else would work. Besides the junk bin provided all of the parts for the chain version. I had to make a trip to the hardware store for some 1/4-20 nuts for the rod idea.

First step was to cut 1 half inch off some aluminum angle I had left over from the oil cooler project. I then cut one leg off to about a quarter inch long.

The long leg has a 1/4-20 clearance hole drilled and the shorter leg has a 10-32 clearance hole. I drilled a 10-32 clearance in the lock tab and used jam nuts to bolt the angle on the tab. I should have tapped the tab but again this was one of a few experiments. The jam nuts on the back side present clearance problems. Again if I can find replacements, they will be drilled and tapped.

The tabs were put back on the latches. A 1/4-20 all thread rod was put between the angle bracket. Jam nuts hold one end of the rod in the angles while the other end is allowed to slide free.

They work like the chain, when locked the rod keeps the other side from moving, when unlocked the free side is able to be open or latched.

Above the lock is unlocked and are both unlatched.

Above the latch side can be latched or unlatched when the lock side is unlocked.

Here we see the lock side locked and the latch side is held closed.