DIY door locks repair

In detail: DIY repair of door locks from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

How to fix a lock on a door if it suddenly breaks down? Such an unpleasant situation requires an urgent solution, especially when it comes to the front door. In this case, you can make repairs yourself. What is required for this and what actions need to be performed?

To know how to repair it yourself and not damage the door lock, you need to familiarize yourself with its design. There are many types of mechanisms. For an entrance wooden or metal door, the following systems can be used:

cylinder - the key is small in size, with notches and protrusions;
lever - a key on a long leg with "wings" on the sides;
disk - a small semicircular key with notches;
Phillips - The wrench is similar to a Phillips screwdriver.

The main types of door locks for the front door

The principle of operation of such systems lies in the features of the locking elements: cylinders, levers or disc plates. Cross locks are similar to cylinder locks, but they do not differ in reliability, since the lock can be broken with a simple screwdriver.

Also distinguish between overhead and mortise locks. It is quite easy to repair the invoice, as you only need to remove the escutcheon. But it will be more difficult to correct the mortise on your own. You should not undertake repairs if you are not familiar with the rules for installing the mechanism, since you can only repair a door lock of such a plan by disassembling it.

Repair of a door lock largely depends on the nature of the breakdown. It is not always possible to fix the problem with your own hands.

A common cause of door lock breakage is failure of the locking mechanism tongue

Video (click to play).

The most common problems are the following situations:

The tongue does not snap. The reason may be an insufficient size of the mating hole. In this case, you need to bore it or displace the iron plate. The pad of the lock itself at the end of the door can block the tongue. It may also be skewed due to frequent use of the door, due to wear and tear of the mechanism. It is necessary to adjust its position.
It is difficult to open the door. It can be blocked by a skewed lock or a door frame. The problem is corrected by adjusting these items.
Key sticks, turns poorly, or does not insert. Especially often, such a breakdown occurs in the locks of a metal door. The reason may be clogging of the mechanism or displacement of its individual parts. To repair it, you need to disassemble the lock, clean it, lubricate it and install it in its proper place.
The lock is jammed. The reason lies in the state of the larva. Repair of the lock, its replacement or complete change of the lock can help.

Do-it-yourself repair of the lock on the front door largely depends on the type of larva mechanism. It is in this detail that the source of the problem most often lies. For a metal door, cylinder and lever locks are most often used.

Replacing the larva will help extend the life of the locking mechanism

How to fix a cylinder lock on a door with your own hands:

Remove the armor plate.
Unscrew the retaining screw at the end of the door.
Pull out the cylinder.
Replace it with a new one and put all the parts back.

In the case of a lever mechanism, it is better to completely replace the lock, since it is highly likely to break again. If the tongue is ignited, you need to disassemble the structure and adjust its position.

Other types of mechanisms are less reliable or do not have adequate quality replacement parts on sale. First of all, this applies to disc and cruciform locks.Therefore, it is easier to install a new lock than to repair a broken larva.

A more complicated situation is when the spacer mechanism becomes unusable. In this case, the repair is carried out by removing the door from the hinges and disassembling the door leaf. The peculiarity of this lock is that when the door is closed, additional crossbars are extended both vertically and horizontally.

Any locking mechanism requires periodic lubrication

Let's say you checked the security status and did not find the source of the problem. All parts are intact and are in place. How to repair a lock with a working cylinder in a metal door with your own hands? Most likely, the cause of the breakdown lies in the clogging of the mechanism. This situation is not uncommon, especially when it comes to a metal door.

In this case, do-it-yourself repairs are as easy as shelling pears. Unscrew the lock first. Remove all parts of the mechanism. Blow thoroughly and use a stiff brush to remove any accumulated dust and other dirt particles. Then wipe down the larger parts with a cloth. Apply a small amount of lubricant to a cotton swab and carefully clean each piece of the lock. Assemble it and put it back in place. Check the quality of his work.

Please note: after such processing, the key may become contaminated with lubricant for some time.

Quite often, it is required to repair the lock in the interior door. There is a large load on them, and therefore, over time, the tongue begins to sink, the handle sticks or the latch dangles.

How to repair a lock in an interior door with your own hands:

If the problem lies in the sunken latch, it is necessary to disassemble the lock and reinstall it. The spring may need to be replaced.
If the handle is loose and does not return the tongue to its original position, you need to check its attachment relative to the pivot mechanism. Then put it back in place and tighten with screws. From time to time, you need to carry out a similar procedure and lubricate the mechanism to prevent its breakdown.
When the latch jams, you need to disassemble the part of the lock that is responsible for fixing it. The reason may be displacement of the part, rubbing of elements, their deformation or cracks. In this case, you need to replace the damaged part with a new one.
If problems arise with the turnkey lock, the repair is carried out according to the same principle as for the front door. Perhaps replacement of the larva or simple cleaning of the mechanism is required.

If all efforts were in vain, you can call the master. However, you will most likely need to install a new lock.

Repairing a lock in a metal door is considered a very difficult process. The most important thing is to prepare carefully. How do you repair the locks of an entrance metal door with your own hands?

With a conscientious attitude, you can fix the breakdown without contacting the master. The situations are very different. Sometimes, for the lock to work properly, only adjustment is carried out, and it may be necessary to change the cylinder, or in very rare cases a new device is bought.

Door locks are of two types: lever and cylinder. But it may be that a person has no idea all their features. First, let's figure out and understand the characteristics of each type of castle.

In a simple way, they speak to him - "safe". But if you take into account the principles of work, then the castle does not really correspond to this name. The entire internal structure is a set of plates that rotate. They function if the key is inserted correctly and all its protuberances are ideally located in the door lock.

In the event that there are more than six plates and all auxiliary elements are produced ideally with special teeth, then it is impossible to crack such a constipation.

When the keys to the lever system are lost, it is very difficult to replace it. The whole mechanism is interconnected - it is easier to buy a new device.This, of course, will not reflect well on the budget.

Cylinder locks are considered the most popular in use.

The main influencing factor is its cost. The price of the castle is not big. It is very convenient, since in case of a breakdown, you do not have to change the entire structure, it will be enough to change the inner part of the system (cylinder). It is considered unsafe because it is very easy to hack.

Sooner or later, everything tends to break down. Likewise, door lock mechanisms are no exception.

Let's analyze the main causes of breakdowns.

The constipation may have been incorrectly installed, which led to the malfunction. Or the device is of poor quality.
An inappropriate installation means that the housing is skewed. In this case, the key may be deformed or broken.
The folded work of the lock is influenced by the metal it is made of. Manufacturers are obliged to use quality material.
The door system will last the maximum period, if you follow it - disassemble and clean. But, of course, use it with care.
A malfunction of the lock could have caused an attempt to break into the front door.

If the lock in the metal front door starts to jam a little and the key hardly turns, then there is no need to rush to the store for a new one. It is highly likely that this problem can be fixed in ten minutes. You need to take a good look at everything and only then summarize. It is possible that no repairs will be required.

First, take the flashlight that shines the brightest and look through the keyhole. There is a high probability that someone has thrust foreign objects into the well, and this has caused a breakdown. Rubbish can be removed very easily with tweezers.
If this procedure does not help, then the entire body of the door system is removed. There may be a lot of debris or even glue. For proper operation, the insides are cleaned and lubricated with special agents.
Failure to open the lock could cause deformation of the key. The owner of the premises must very scrupulously inspect the presence of damage on it. With any incomprehensible find on the key, it immediately changes. There is no need to correct deformations on your own, because this will lead to irreversible consequences. The key will get stuck in the keyhole and a real breakage is formed.

So the castle became incapacitated. In the case when you can figure out a breakdown on your own, then it can be eliminated easily and simply. Let's take a look at the most popular malfunctions of metal door locks and how to fix them.

Key problems. In this situation, the middle of the constipation changes. But first, try to lubricate it. Typically, a special lubricant is used for these options. And she will solve all the problems.
The main element does not pop out when closed. To do this, disassemble the door frame and adjust the lock structure. This application of work is used when maximum effort must be made when closing the door.
If the door lock does not open at all, then the entire system is disassembled and the insides are replaced, or the entire lock is changed.
The whole mechanism is jammed. This is the most difficult problem. First, it is determined what kind of element stopped working. And then they replace it.
When opening the door, it is difficult to extract the keys from the lever lock. This indicates that they are worn out.

If a breakdown happened in this type of constipation, then actions are taken depending on the price of it. It's just that there are no spare parts for inexpensive devices.With more expensive locks, the situation is much simpler. Spare internal parts are sold with the lock. Everything is very easy.The body is disassembled, and then, adhering to the manual, the worn-out internal parts (levers) are replaced with the newest ones. Leaflet - insert must be in a box with a lock.Replacement is carried out in the following stages:

At the first stage, you need to remove the lock panel that is on the side. It is removed after unscrewing all the bolts.

In this case, the elements are squeezed out one by one and eventually removed.

The levers are put back on the empty space in the same order, but new and clamped.

The door lock is closed by a cover with bolts.

Such restoration is carried out when replacing the well. In any stores or markets, you can consult with sellers. He will easily cope with the task if the buyer brings with him old broken parts.With the right choice, the following must be taken into account: the dimensions and the ratio of the hole where the screws are screwed. The insides can be of high quality and not very good. If their cost is low, such a metal door can be easily broken open with the help of a selection of a key.An important factor is the gap to the hole where the bolt will be screwed in when fastening.There are many different larvae. They can be with an internal opening and an external one. If there is only an external well, then the one that will not have a hole in the middle, manufacturers attach a plastic wing instead of it. In such a lock, the door is closed from the inside without using a key.The color scheme of the opening must match both the lock and the front door.When the required element is purchased, the tools are selected that are used in the work. It is important to consider everything down to the smallest detail. After all, if the well is installed incorrectly, then the entire structure will not work.Step-by-step guide to replacing a metal entrance door cylinder lock:

Bolts for fastening are unscrewed. This is done with the door open because the screws are on the side.

The key must be in the lock. It serves as a cylinder holder until the bolts are screwed in. The interior can be easily removed by scrolling left and right.

In the event that the key cannot be inserted into the larva, then a drill is used and some parts of the lock are drilled out. And after this procedure, the cylinder can be easily removed.

When the owner fixes constipation for the first time, then when buying it is better to seek advice from consultants in the store.

The inner part is installed back into the lock and the fastening panel is fixed.

When the bolts are screwed in, they do it with extreme care so as not to break the lock again.The opening of the panel is directed perpendicular to the relation of the side of the door. They completely insert it and already, then, without haste, twist it clockwise, slightly moving the inner part. When you feel the stop, the screws are tightened. With the correct use of the instructions, everything should work out perfectly. Tighten not tight, no matter what breaks the thread.The screws are turned several times, and when its upper part is at the level of the door strip, then the screwdriver is removed so as not to break anything.As mentioned earlier, when the lock breaks, the well is most often replaced. But this option is not always used. Suitable only for embedded and overhead larvae. First, an initial inspection of the front door lock is carried out. Then it is removed, and very easily, in the following stages:

When the structure is built in a simplified way, then you need to push the crossbars into the middle of the lock completely.

Next, all the parts are unscrewed one by one, and the structure is removed.

Go to a store or market that sells locks. Be sure to take with you the old constipation and all its elements. The seller will select the most suitable model in order to avoid difficult fittings.

Professionals do not recommend repairing a metal entrance door yourself. Especially if it is a lever lock. Without adhering to the instructions or not having enough experience, it is possible to make irreversible mistakes. Replacing the lock should bring reliability and safety.Based on the advice of this information, the repair will take place in the most adequate way. It will also help when choosing a lock for the front door.In the modern world, in every populated city there is a whole bunch of specialty shops. Professionally trained people naturally work there. They will be happy to provide any advice.Most locks are fairly simple mechanisms, which are a collection of locking devices.Depending on the complexity of the lock, the system may include crossbars, a lock (lock), a latch bolt, as well as other mechanisms that ensure the movement of all its functional elements.The following types of locks are widely found:

Cylinder (English) - open with a key, on one side of which there are projections and recesses.

Lever - a key with characteristic "blades" on a long shaft is intended for it.

Cruciform - the key represents two planes intersecting at right angles, on each side of which there are notches.

Disk - the body of the key is made in the form of a semicircle, on one of the sides there are recesses.

According to the method of installation, the locks are overhead and mortise.The type of malfunction depends on how difficult it will be to repair door locks. Sometimes it's easier to buy a new lock than to fix an old one.The most common causes of breakage:

Mating hole of the wrong size.

Drawdown of the door frame, due to which there is a mismatch in the mating parts of the door lock.

Debris got inside the mechanism.

There was a violation of the geometry of the castle.

The larva broke.

If the lock cylinder breaks, you need to purchase a new one and replace the faulty mechanism. Such repair implies replacement of keys for opening the corresponding lock.If the breakdown is caused by a defect or wear of large elements, it is preferable to purchase a new mechanism in its entirety. If small elements, such as springs, break, only this part can be replaced. Sometimes the unsatisfactory operation of the lock is associated with a lack of lubrication in the moving parts of the mechanism, then it is necessary to disassemble the lock and lubricate it.The larva must be changed if the key in the lock scrolls, or, conversely, jams. It may be necessary to remove the lock to remove the broken remainder of the key. Then they act according to the following algorithm:News of the world, Russia, Ukraine and NovorossiaPerhaps, many have had to deal with such a situation - you need to leave the house, but you cannot lock the door or, having come home, you cannot get there. The situation is not pleasant, therefore, sometimes you need to do the repair of the door lock of the front door yourself, moreover, as quickly as possible. I do not propose to study the craft of schnyfer, although they know the designs of locks better than the manufacturers themselves, but familiarity with locking mechanisms will help you avoid many troubles.To fix a breakdown in the door lock on the front door and at the same time leave it intact, at least you should understand the design features of such mechanisms. Of course, there are a lot of varieties here, but there are four main systems, understanding which, you can start repairing.Types of systems: 1) disk, 2) cylinder, 3) lever, 4) cruciform

Disc system - has a small semicircular key with notches.

The cylinder system is a small key with projections and notches.

Lever system - there are wings on the long key leg on the sides.

Cruciform system - the end of the key is sharp, but in general resembles the tip of a Phillips screwdriver.

The principle of operation of the mechanisms is reduced to the features of the blocking elements: disc plates, cylinders and levers. But cruciform systems are very similar in functionality to cylindrical ones, but at the same time they are easy (with certain skills) to crack with an ordinary screwdriver.Also, such devices can be classified according to the method of installation - they can be overhead or mortise.The first option is somewhat simpler, since to dismantle it, you just need to unscrew the bar, while in the second case, you will need to do more operations.As a rule, in the event of a breakdown, the crossbars do not move.As a rule, in the event of a breakdown, you cannot move the crossbars in one direction or the other, but this problem can be caused by various reasons. But, you should always be prepared for the fact that you will not be able to fix the malfunction with your own hands, or that it will not be possible to fix it at all.Larva or secretion from the insideWhat can happen most often:

The door does not slam. The tongue may not snap into place for the reason that it rests against the strip on the box and you just need to bore the mating hole with a file. Also, the tongue can rest against the overlay that holds the mechanism from the end side of the web - here, too, you need to bore the hole with a file.

Problem opening (closing) the door. The reason most often lies in the skew of the canvas, or in the skew of the door lock. Check it out and fix the problem. Also, during installation or dismantling, you could bend the walls of the mechanism case - remove it, level it and the functions will be restored

It is difficult to turn and sometimes insert the key (in most cases, this problem is inherent in metal doors). The most common cause of breakdowns lies in clogging of mechanisms or, as a result, displacement of parts. In such situations, they simply remove the lock, clean it, or even wash it with white spirit or gasoline (the first option wears out faster), then grease it and insert it into place.

The system will jam, both open and closed. Most often, the problem lies in the secret. It is removed, washed with white spirit and a few drops of machine oil are dripped into it. If the rotation normalizes, then the larva is inserted into place, and if not, then it is replaced with a new one.

Replacing the larva with a new one is easy enoughReplacement of the larva (lock, key cylinder) is done in two cases: the first is described above in point 4 of the "Frequent faults" section, and the other reason is the need to change the keys (5 pieces are usually attached to the lock). In order to dismantle the old part, it is necessary to remove the clamping bar from the end of the canvas (usually there are 4 bolts), as well as handles with side plates. After that, you need to unscrew the long bolt that rigidly fixes the cylinder in the working position - this way you will free the larva, but it will not come out right away.The blue tick marks the cam that not only moves the crossbars, but also stops the partThe fact is that the larva is held by the cam when the key is in the "open" or "closed" position - in a different perspective, the key does not pull out, but this is not necessary. The key remains in the lock and is turned slightly, literally 5-6⁰ to one side or the other (you must try). And then the cam sticking out to the side will sink into the body of the cylinder, which will come out of the bore hole without any problems (just pull the key). You may not need to change this unit, but a few drops of engine oil will suffice. After dismantling the lock, you can pull out the entire lock, but there are no bolted connections on the body - the side walls are riveted.Destruction of pins in the larva with a thin drillIf you need to open the door, and you have lost the only key, then this can be solved in at least two ways:To do this, you will have to destroy the set of pins. Just below the well, make a through hole with a thin drill, but provided there is no protection against drilling. After that, the lock will open with a flat screwdriver.
In case of a critical malfunction of the lock or loss of the key, bend a minus thick screwdriver in the shape of the letter G and drive this roll into the keyhole. The door will open in several turns.The interior of the lever lock - view without the case coverLever type locks can be both overhead and mortise, but in any case, the repair of the front door door lock requires removal and disassembly. For the overhead version, it is enough to unscrew the self-tapping screws that fix it to the canvas, and for the internal one, you will need to remove the end clamping bar, and in some models also the handle when a latch is provided there. Then the housing cover is unscrewed, and when you open it, sometimes the problem of breakage is immediately visible, too - most often, it is a loose thrust spring on the levers.But sometimes you have to clean or wash all the parts of the mechanism with white spirit, and the difficulty here is not that they cannot be removed, but that it is problematic to remember the order of the arrangement of the plates (levers). Some locksmiths simply number each plate, scratching a number on it with a scribe, since the marker will not hold, because all the parts will need to be cleaned, washed and lubricated. By the way, in such situations, it is best to use fatty or synthetic grease for lubrication, where the operating temperature is up to 70⁰C. But then, when the door goes out into the street and the castle area is very hot from the sun's rays, then Tosol-OIZ (cutting fluid) is perfect. Machine oil will certainly make sliding of moving parts easier, but not for long, as it will simply drain and be used only for CIP lubrication.Below you can watch an instructional video about disassembling and assembling a lever lock.

If you understand the device of a modern product, then you can repair the door lock yourself. When the lock is out of order, this is stress for all household members. Suddenly you have to do something, look for the phones of the masters who can quickly come running and repair, go to the store for a new lock, in general, solve all possible problems in such a situation. But you can do it on your own and repair the broken lock. Such knowledge is very useful in everyday life.

First you need to figure out what kind of entrance lock you have to deal with. Usually, door mechanisms are classified into four groups, which differ in their device and mechanism of action. The peculiarities of the internal structure are what determines the further principles of repair.

To figure out which locks you can fix with your own hands, and which ones require the attention of a specialist, you need to decide on their varieties

Types of lock mechanism:

Cylinder - it is opened with a small key, which is equipped with notches and protrusions;
Suvaldny - in the kit it usually comes with keys on a long leg with side protrusions;
Cruciform - it is opened with a key similar to a Phillips screwdriver;
Disk - it is used together with a small semicircular key with notches.

A sweat-type design locks are overhead and mortise. Repair of a patch lock is usually straightforward, because the patch is simply removed to access the mechanism. You will have to tinker with a mortise lock a little longer.

It would also be nice to establish the reasons why the lock breaks. Some are so simple that it takes five minutes to fix. And it happens that the lock has broken completely, it is easier to install a new one.

Wear of mechanism parts is the most common root cause of door lock failure.

What leads to the breakage of the lock:

Small dimensions of the mating hole;
The skew of the door frame itself during long-term use, which is why the tongue does not slam;
Clogged lock mechanism or, as often happens, displacement of some of its parts;
Breakage of the larva, which leads to the fact that the lock is seized, the mechanism is jammed.

It is possible that a simple factory defect led to the breakdown of the lock, or you bought a conditionally called Chinese model, fragile and imperfect. And sometimes the lock is injured during the installation process, the spring breaks or the tongue does not work well.In any case, the lock must be disassembled, the cause must be found and eliminated.

Very often, the main component in the lock breaks - the larva. In a metal door, this element is the most vulnerable, and it breaks down more often than others. And if this core is broken, then the master repairs it, or you - it doesn't matter, it is wiser to change it for a new one. Installing a new core is quite simple.

The larva is a cylinder mechanism or, as it is also called, a secret element.

Door lock cylinder assembly:

The end decorative plate is removed from the lock;
The main screw is unscrewed with a screwdriver;
Take the key that is inserted into the cylinder, pull it out of the lock (sometimes a drill with a drill is used instead of a key);
Then a new larva is inserted, and it is fixed with a fastening screw;
The end plate is put back on, fixed.

If the larva is damaged very seriously, and you just can't get it, then you should drill the lock cylinder with a drill, then knock out the core, and then insert a new larva.

It happens that the key is scrolled, and the case is either in the key or in the maggot. If all the keys of the batch are scrolled, the lock must be disassembled. If the mechanism itself is fragile, repairing it may not help; it will simply crumble.

Sometimes it is not the core that is injured, but the lock case. Then you can solve the problem with a simple screwdriver. First, the screws that secure the case are unscrewed. Then the broken lock box is carefully removed. Then a new case is placed, fasteners are screwed into place. But this algorithm works only if the lock is padded or overhead.

If your lock case is broken, then you will need a screwdriver, only with it can you get your lock out of the door

For mortise locks, the instructions are different:

The fixing screws are unscrewed;
All parts are removed, after which the lock is removed from the pocket;
The box is laid on a flat surface, the screws are unscrewed;
The broken case is removed, a new one is installed, which is fastened with screws;
The box is mounted in a door pocket, fixed with screws.

Remember that if the parts of the lock are badly damaged, then the "disassemble-assemble" scheme may be just a waste of work. In case of significant damage, as well as the loss of important parts, the lock must be changed. And you should choose a quality mechanism from a manufacturer with a proven reputation.

The interior door is usually equipped with a handle-lock. It breaks down for various reasons - it can be problems with the door leaf itself, and the fact that the lock mechanism is dusty or rusted, and simply breakdown of the mechanism. Entrance doors can deform over time, and such distortions and changes in the geometry of the door will easily entail displacement of the lock bolts relative to the strike plate.

Unlike locking devices for the front door, interior structures have a simple mechanism, and you can repair it yourself

If the lock is dusty, it must be disassembled and cleaned. But it is not recommended to decide on your own which lubricant to use. It is wiser to go to a specialized store, indicate the model of the lock and choose the right lubricant. If the lock is rusted, it may be easier to change the design.

Cheap handles-locks fail quite quickly. They are fragile in appearance, lightweight, their structure is very simple and, correctly, does not inspire confidence. If possible, you need to spend money on the lock, but install one that you can forget about repairing for many years.

Video (click to play).

Fixing the lock on the door is a skill that will not be superfluous not only for the strong half of the family. It's useful, practical, and not too difficult. And it’s also saving the family budget.