![]() ![]() Pass the key to someone who can try to unlock it from the outside. This may help initially but will make things worse later because oil gathers dirt and dust. Sometimes I have to slam it to get the latch through when I close it. My front door Yale lock has become harder and harder to open over the last few months. Next time you find your Yale lock latch broken, you will know exactly what needs to be done. Whether you are a believer in solving these issues yourself or in letting the professionals do what they do best, now you have a clear understanding of the root cause of the problem. Theyinstead recommend calling in a professional locksmith to fix it. Some people strongly advice against tampering with your lock when problems arise. Let the polish dry and re-assemble the lock. To prevent re-rusting in the near future, use car wax to cover and polish sections susceptible to rust. Rust also creates extremely high potential for re-rusting of the same piece of metal in the same spots. Rust is caused by a natural oxidation process which cannot be prevented. ![]() This helps clean out rust and other grime. Make a vinegar solution of about 5% acidity and let the lock components sit submerged in this solution for several hours. What is the solution? Disassemble the lock and wipe it down. The most common cause is a build-up of material such as rust, although other materials could be stuck in-between components. This confirms that the problem is not on the door or the door handle but in the components which allow the latch to extend and retract. The latch fails to extend or retract even when its control (door handle) moves in the manner of opening and closing as normal. When a thin splinter of wood is all that separates the screw and previously made hole, the entire strike plate is left very insecure. Although this quick process is sure to solve the problem, it comes with the risk of weakening the screws because they are too close to the holes made the first time. After that, widen the hole on the wood to allow the latch fit into it perfectly. Ensure the strike plate aligns with the latch. What is the solution? Unscrew the strike plate and move it up, down or to the side depending on the misalignment. Another possibility is that there is an issue with the foundation of the house, which causes the door frame on which the strike plate sits, to move up or down. The best way to confirm that misalignment is your problem is if the latch extends and retracts as normal when the door is open but does not extend into its space on the strike plate as it should when the door is closed.Strike plates could lose alignment as a result of expansion of the wood on the door caused by moisture. Let’s look at two common problems which could cause your door latch to fail and recommended solutions. ![]() The ideal solution to any problem comes from a clear understanding of the cause. Whether it stops working with the door open or closed (yes it is a lot less complicated if it gets stuck with the door open) this is something that needs to be fixed immediately. It is not uncommon to come home and find your Yale lock latch broken. Causes of a Broken Lock Latch and Easy Solutions When you use a wrong key, it either fails to enter the keyhole or fails to push all the pins into a straight-line position. Deadbolt locks have a cylinder which contains a series of spring-loaded pins.The key pushes all the pins into a straight line which allows the cylinder to be turned and the door opened. It can only be moved back and forth (into the strike plate and back into the face plate) using a key. Unlike the latch bolt, the deadbolt has a solid rectangular edge with no spring. When you open the door using the door handle, the latch bolt retracts into the face plate, enabling the door to open.Ī deadbolt is typically found just below, sometimes above, the latch bolt. When the door is fully closed, the spring releases the latch into a space in the strike plate. When the door is closed, the spring enables the angled edge of the bolt to press against the strike plate.This forces the latch to retract to allow the door close. The latch bolt (or latch) is an angle- edged bolt loaded with a spring. The front door in an average American home has a lockset(or lock) which comprises of two locks. Image courtesy of Pixabay How a Lock Works I’m wondering if it is time to change them or if minor repairs will do the trick. Recently, I have dealt with a few stuck lock latches. I live in an old house which was fitted with Yale locks many years ago. This post will help you understand exactly what’s happening when you find your Yale lock latch broken and what needs to be done. If your Yale lock latch is broken and you are wondering if you can fix it yourself or whether you have to call in a locksmith, read on. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |