All Questions
445 questions
1
vote
1
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270
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Replace mortice deadlock in wooden door
My flat's wooden door has an old mortice deadlock that needs replacement.
It's one of the old Chubb locks, that apparently (from the info I found online) is now rebranded Union.
However, I can only ...
- 181
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What could be wrong? My front door latch opens OK from inside, poorly from outside
The following Kwikset lockset on my front door no longer works well. From the inside rotating handle it's fine. From the outside it's sticky, as the bolt does not fully pull in. This particular ...
- 11k
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How to lubricate door lock?
My door lock needs care, the key is hard to put in.
I've got this in my previous apartment and I got some 'magic cream' from a friend which worked like a charm, but unfortunately, I don't have this ...
user146955
0
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Garage door lock broken
The internal side of my garage door lock is broken (first image). Due to this, the cable that pulls the latch is no longer pulling it and hence the garage door cannot be opened (third image). I could ...
- 165
0
votes
1
answer
108
views
When installing Kwikset lock part of the shaft of the lock collides with the bolt
The red box in the picture shows that the semicircular metal cutout on the bolt for the perpendicular shaft of the lock is in the way
I know this is not a manufacturing defect because the earlier ...
- 1,568
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Door lock only on one side?
Guests room has 2 doors:
One that opens inside the house, to let those already in the house move to guests room.
One that opens to the outside of the house, to let those outside to get in.
The ...
- 133
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Deadbolt will not unlock from inside if locked with key from outside and vice versa
Our office door deadbolt will only unlock with a key if locked with a key. If you lock it with the key from outside and then someone tries to unlock the deadbolt from inside with the knob, it won't ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
186
views
How to reassemble this Fortress combo lock?
This rarely used lock (in perfect condition) came apart on me today when I put in the combination and pulled up on the shank (with usual force).
The shank is now stuck in this open position. It does ...
- 1,379
1
vote
1
answer
168
views
Is there a two way lock that doesn't "lock" on both sides?
I have a 135lb rottie that sort of barges into any room(connected to an outside door. All the other doors he cant go through) due to having weak doors. We are working on replacing them, but for now we ...
- 13
2
votes
6
answers
25k
views
Type of exterior door lock that always allows exiting?
I am looking for a lock and handle mechanism for an exterior door that is always openable from the inside. E.g. locking with a key locks the exterior handle from opening the latch, but the interior ...
- 123
1
vote
2
answers
6k
views
How to fix free spinning thumb turn in entry door lock
I have an Emtek Charleston entry door lock set that seems to have a free-spinning thumb turn with nothing attached to it. I can turn the inside doorknob to either lock or unlock (similar to how the ...
- 1,209
0
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Security thumbturn for euro cylinder lock
My front door has a mailbox slot which makes it really easy to operate the inside door handle from outside with a long object. One solution I'm considering would be a mailbox secured to the door over ...
- 101
0
votes
3
answers
213
views
How does the locking mechanism work for these doors?
Below is an example of such door, where there is no handle that you can twist. There is only a fixed handle, and a place to insert the key to lock the door.
The question. If you leave the house, ...
- 133
0
votes
1
answer
940
views
How to make a key for an old Yale padlock [closed]
I found this old padlock and plan on cleaning it up and using it for decoration. There was no key with it. Is there a way to modify the locking mechanism and fashion a key (even a useless flat edge ...
- 2,113
3
votes
1
answer
283
views
What is this worn part on this door handle assembly?
I've been having problems with our Kwikset front door handle. It's a lever on one side, and a press down latch on the other. When you try to open the door, it doesn't retract the bolt all the way. ...
- 365
0
votes
0
answers
122
views
Cannot remove Kwikset knob eventhough unscrewed
After several hours I've been unable to remove my Kwikset deadbolt eventhough its unscrewed. There is NO set screw on the knob. I've even tried pliers to separate from the deadbolt without success. ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
How can I remove this commercial Schlage door latch?
I just moved into a new place and am trying to swap out the front door lock with a smart lock. It appears that the house (which was built in the 70s) came with some industrial locks and I can't seem ...
- 145
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to secure a door lock's box and strike plate? It keeps shifting
We recently moved into a mobile home and one of the doors would keep opening.
I adjusted the box and strike plate (just moved them all the way over, shifted it over to the right to be closer to the ...
2
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Are there any kinds of door locks immune to being opened with a credit card?
I live an apartment and am unable to secure my bedroom door due to a large gap in the frame. Due to the gap, it is extremely easy to take a credit card and open the door from outside. Even when the ...
3
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Key stuck halfway in door lock
My bedroom door has a lock on it and the key is stuck between a 90 degree turn and the top (pictures below). The weird thing is that when I turn it counter clockwise it moves the latch bolt just a ...
- 31
2
votes
0
answers
419
views
How to remove old schlage lock system
There is no exposed screw, there is only a tiny hole in the handle.
Can't figure out how to open it.
- 121
1
vote
2
answers
6k
views
How do I get this locked doorknob off?
I'm writing this on my phone (laptop is locked in my room), so I apologize if this isn't formatted well. I also know nothing about tools/doorknobs, so forgive me for not knowing the exact terminology ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
What style/type of storm door handle and lock is this?
This storm door handle has gone bad and needs replaced. With my experience in the past, these handle sets are very specific styles, and not something I can just go to a big box store and find a ...
- 399
1
vote
0
answers
1k
views
Fixing a misaligned door lock
I have a typical lock in an exterior door as shown. Note that this door also has a deadbolt, so this is perhaps not a critical fix, but I still would prefer this non-deadbolt to be working properly.
...
- 131
1
vote
0
answers
422
views
Re-assemble vintage (1960's) Schlage front door knob assembly
Refurbishing front door of 1960's MCM house. Fully functional brass Schlage door lock with large rosettes on front and back. I began to disassemble to clean by pushing on collar pinhole closest to ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What is wrong with this filing cabinet lock mechanism, and what options do I have to improve it?
I recently got hold of a second hand filing cabinet. I do not have keys for it.
When I put some hanging files in the top drawer, I noticed that upon closing the drawer, the part of the file that hangs ...
- 111
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Metal gate slide bolt jammed
I have a black metal gate at the back of the garden which was installed about 12 months ago. When going to open the gate this morning, the key fits in the lock, but doesn't turn fully to allow the ...
0
votes
0
answers
81
views
How to remove older Schlage deadbolt? [duplicate]
I just bought a house and want to replace the locks. Unfortunately, on door has what appears to be an older Schlage double cylinder deadbolt that I can't figure out how to remove. I've tried prying ...
12
votes
2
answers
8k
views
"key will unlock the door" vs "key will *open* the door, but not unlock"
Can anyone help me with terminology to describe two different types of functioning in a door lock. (Please note, I am not talking about a lock that is broken.)
My front door and my back door both have ...
- 221
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
Internal lock with modified flat bolt?lock
I have a surplus military case that I want to house a group of sensors inside and strapped to my car's roof rack. It's painted to avoid looking like anything but a typical cargo box. I'd like to add a ...
- 11
6
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Install lock on electrical panel
I have this Siemens electrical panel and I am looking for a way to install a lock on the panel door so that it can only be opened with a key. Any suggestions? Are there latches that already have built ...
- 173
0
votes
0
answers
68
views
Door lever sticks down
My new entry door uses a Baldwin La Jolla handle set with interior lever. After the pro installer completed their work I was disappointed to find that the interior lever likes to stick in the down ...
- 1,599
2
votes
1
answer
498
views
Lost skeleton dresser key
I bought a dresser from someone and they said they lost the key. What is the best way to open it? It would be ok to force it open but don’t have any idea how to do it.
- 187
1
vote
1
answer
243
views
Closed the closet door and Kaboom the acorn thumb latch broke off. Looking for a solution to open it
After I closed my closet door the acorn thumb latch fell apart. The part I depress with my thumb fell off in front and the door is locked. There is a small hole where the thumb piece was inserted, but ...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Best lock for side hinged wooden garage doors
We've just had a new pair of oak garage doors installed at the front of our house.
We want to be able to open these doors from the inside and outside. Therefore, a simple padlock or internal bolt ...
- 103
12
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Do I need this special strike plate on my laundry room to garage entry? It's creating problems with a new lock
Good day everyone. I recently replaced my existing keyed Schlage lock with a keypad security lock on the door from my mudroom to my garage. The door is metal and the frame/jamb has thick rubber/...
- 305
0
votes
1
answer
138
views
Finding replacement upvc door keeps
We've recently moved into a new house and we've found that some of the doors are not closing properly. We had a locksmith in to change the locks and he mentioned that we needed to get a 'keep' for ...
- 101
6
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How to “lock” a bathroom door without drilling or spending too much money?
I am currently renting an apartment with a few flatmates, but it seems that the keys to the bathroom door have been lost. The owner of the apartment is not open to modifications.
We are trying to find ...
- 161
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How to fix deadbolt lever that doesn't lock or unlock the deadbolt
I have a Bold deadlock on the front door of my apartment (I'm not sure exactly which model it is but it looks basically like this: http://boldlocksupply.com/premium-cylinder-deadbolt-d-8-gold/). A few ...
- 3
2
votes
1
answer
217
views
Millenco Lockmaster Mantis 3 lock - extra part after rebuilding
tl;dr - where does the horseshoe-shaped bit at the bottom of the picture go?
Long version
I've been trying to refurbish the locking mechanism (gearbox?) for my street door after it got so stiff the ...
- 295
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Needs to fix this bed, this lock is keep on turning, did not tighten up, can anybody guide me?
I was trying to fix this lock but its not working, out of four one was intact and it locks right away, I am looking for new locks or to fix old locks.
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What's the (current) process for getting Arrow locks fitted by USPS?
I'm not sure this question is at all appropriate for DIY.stackexchange, but it seemed the best fit so if it's not appropriate here it's probably not appropriate anywhere. Perhaps this is a question I ...
- 233
-1
votes
1
answer
484
views
Internal latch plate stuck in latch bore? [closed]
I am trying to replace my interior door knobs and am really struggling to remove the latch in my bathroom door. The latch plate (which goes into the latch bore) was painted over so I assumed that’s ...
1
vote
0
answers
392
views
How to remove this latch handle (no screws, no slot)
I am having difficulty removing this latch handle. I've removed the face plate but I'm unsure of next steps.
For context, the handle isn't working.
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
867
views
Sliding Glass Door Mortise Lock Replacement
I live in Florida and I have a Hurricane sliding door there the lock has failed. I thought that this would be an easy thing to replace, but when I removed the screws to take the lock out, there is a ...
- 259
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I open the latch mechanism on a Schlage keyed entry lock without the doorknob?
I have a problem almost exactly similar to How to open a door that has the insides of a door handle inside without a door knob but I have a more complicated mechanism.
Basically while installing the ...
- 387
0
votes
0
answers
955
views
Bathroom thumb turn lock unlocks when handle pushed down
I believe we have a thumb turn lock on our bathroom door. You twist the thumb lock bit from inside to lock the door and can see on the outside that the line is turned diagonally so can see it is ...
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
What would cause one tool chest drawer to fail to lock?
I have a Harborfreight U.S. General upper tool chest (part #64440) that is only a year old. The upper right drawer fails to lock. The remaining ones do. No tools are blocking anything as the drawer is ...
- 899
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Using "interior" door lever on an exterior door
I'm replacing the doorknob on my front door; I like the look of this lever, but it's described as
For use on interior doors requiring no locking functionality, such as hallway or closet doors.
(...
- 167
2
votes
0
answers
413
views
Why can't mortise locks be installed upside down?
I purchased a mortise lock for a gate today and the person at the shop told me to make sure I install it right side up — lock on top and handle on bottom — and that a lot of customers install them ...
- 1,068