You can file the edges of the strike plate a little, and even slightly round the edges of the deadbolt’s end. Be sure the strike plate is securely screwed and in reasonable alignment with the bolt. If a deadbolt is stuck, the chances are good that the bolt is having a hard time engaging the opening in the strike plate on the door jamb. Surface-mounted rim lock: Unscrew and remove the cover (called a “case”). Tighten the setscrew(s) by turning clockwise-be sure they engage the slot that runs along the edge of the cylinder (the key slot should be perfectly vertical). They should be in line with the center of the lock cylinder. Mortise lockset: Remove the door knob’s faceplate (if there is one) at the door’s edge and locate the one or two cylinder setscrews. Victor Entire Lock Cylinder TurnsĪ cylinder turns when the setscrew(s) meant to hold it in place become loose or broken. Aerosol lock de-icer thaws and lubricates a frozen lock. The last resort is to disassemble the lock to see if something has jammed or is broken-you may be able to set it straight or replace the part without buying a whole new lock. Lock de-icers contain alcohol and other lubricants that help to dissolve gummy, dirty deposits. Then operate the door lock a few times to work the graphite into the mechanism. Put some graphite into the lock’s keyhole, either by squeezing it from a tube or dusting it onto a key and pushing the key in and out. (Scars on the strike plate may show where it is misaligned.) The latch bolt may be positioned above, below, or off to one side of the strike plate. If the latch does not catch, close the door slowly to watch how the latch bolt meets the strike plate. Latch repairs range from making minor adjustments like this to completely repositioning the door. Tighten the door hinge screws and then, if necessary, adjust the strike plate by loosening its screws and shifting it slightly. When a door latch doesn’t click into position, it usually means the door latch and the strike plate on the door jamb are out of alignment. Of course, if it’s on an exterior door, you’ll want to do this when the weather is nice and when it’s safe to leave the door unlocked. If you need a professional locksmith to fix a high-quality door knob or lockset, it’s usually far less expensive to remove the hardware yourself and take it to a locksmith as opposed to having the locksmith come to you. Diagram of Door LocksĮxterior latches and locksets, on the other hand, can be very pricey. Door knob replacement is more affordable. Most door knobs on interior doors are relatively inexpensive to replace-in fact, it doesn’t usually pay to have interior door knobs or locks repaired by locksmith services unless the knobs or locks are special or particularly expensive. For serious lock problems, it is usually best to call a locksmith or, if you can get the door open, to replace the lock entirely.
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