DIY repair of Chinese locks

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of Chinese 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 a door lock of such a plan can only be repaired 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.

Almost all models of steel entrance doors produced by enterprises from China have a non-separable structure. Of course, this causes a number of additional problems, in addition to those that are standard for such products and are associated with their low cost. In particular, it is often required to replace the lock in a Chinese door, which in some cases is quite difficult to produce.

The desire of homeowners to save money, which is expressed in the purchase of cheaper entrance structures, often turns into problems in the course of their subsequent operation. Therefore, the urgency of the question of whether it is possible to replace the lock in a Chinese metal door is not surprising, the answer to which worries a considerable number of owners of such products. In order to understand the problem, it is necessary to take into account a number of important points:

in most cases, it is quite possible to perform work on replacing the locking device, and on your own. However, this will require a "native" Chinese-made lock, similar in size and other parameters;
replacing the lock in the Chinese front door with a locking device made in Turkey or in one of the European countries is possible, but for this it is necessary to find a mechanism that is completely identical in size to the structure, which is not always possible to do;
often, to restore the operability of the locking device, it is enough to replace the larva, which concerns, first of all, cylindrical locks. This will cost the home owner less, and the work is done quickly and without any major problems.

As a conclusion, it should be noted: in order to successfully change the lock in a Chinese front door, you must first determine the type of device, and then find a mechanism of a similar size, it does not matter, "native" or produced by a third-party manufacturer. The work is carried out as follows:

The bolts fixing the plate are removed, which are located on the panels with door handles;
The panel is dismantled, after which the square handle mechanism and the latch axis are taken out;
The bolts are removed, which are located at the end of the sash in the upper and lower parts of the lock plate;
Using a screwdriver placed between the curtain and the end panel of the locking device, remove the lock;
Install a new mechanism in reverse order.

As can be seen from the described sequence of actions, the procedure for replacing the locking device in the inlet structure, manufactured at one of the Chinese enterprises, is not difficult. The main thing is to find a suitable lock to replace the old one.

One of the most common types of locking devices that are installed on Chinese metal entrance doors is a cylinder lock. The advantages of its use are obvious and lie in the optimal combination of the level of secrecy of such a device and its low cost. An important additional advantage is the fact that in case of failure as a result of a breakdown, in most cases it is enough to replace the larva in the Chinese door, and not to dismantle and install the whole locking device.

The works are carried out in the following sequence. First, the cover plates with the door handles are dismantled, for which the bolts located above and below and the rotary handle are unscrewed. Then you need to remove the long bolt, which is attached to the end of the sash slightly above the fixing screws. After that, a key is inserted into the well of the cylinder, by turning which the lock cylinder is removed. A new one is installed in its place. This also requires turning the key. At the end of the work, the fasteners removed at the previous stages are installed.

In recent years, the so-called crab lock has gained serious popularity, which many manufacturers from China began to install on their products. It may seem that replacing such a locking device, which provides for a visually complex system of movement of the crossbars in different directions, is a complex undertaking. However, with a competent approach to the organization of work, their implementation does not present any particular difficulties.

First, as in the situations described above, the fastening elements of the door broach linings and the panel located at the end of the sash are removed. After that, the old lock is simply enough to remove by protruding outward. It is somewhat more difficult to install a new locking mechanism in its place, which requires a certain skill and dexterity. They are necessary in order to guide the guides of the crab lock on the hooks specially provided for by its design, after which you can start tightening the overlays, end panel, bolts and other fasteners removed at the stage of dismantling.

The main advantage of metal Chinese doors is obvious - it's affordable cost.However, such a competitive advantage often leads to the appearance of quite serious problems associated with the operation of steel products. As a result, the homeowner has to repair the Chinese door, and often already in the second or third year of its use.

Among the features of entrance doors from Chinese manufacturers are the simplicity of their design, the use of traditional materials and, as a result, low cost. It is quite natural that it is quite illogical to expect a high level of strength and reliability from a product made of steel with a thickness of 0.5 or 0.8 mm. It should be noted that most of the components and accessories used in the manufacture of the structures under consideration belong to the budget price group.

That is why in most situations when the repair of Chinese entrance doors is required, we are talking mainly about replacing or eliminating malfunctions associated with the operation of locking devices, hinges or loose fit of the sash and frame. In this case, an obvious advantage is the fact that almost all of the listed work can be performed by the owner of the home independently, that is, without the invitation of expensive specialists.

A fairly common malfunction that may require the repair of a Chinese metal door is incomplete operation or jamming of the lock latch. In such a situation, it is necessary to dismantle the body of the locking device. It is quite simple to do this, sequentially perform the following operations:

first, the lining with door handles are unscrewed and removed;
after that, the screws installed from the end and securing the plate with the crossbars located on it are dismantled;
then you should remove the filling of the lock from the canvas;
The device case is securely fastened with 5 or 6 screws installed around the perimeter. Removing them will expose the insides of the locking device;
the place where the latch is located during operation is quite often covered with dust, grease residues and black bloom. Naturally, it is necessary to carefully remove all accumulated dirt with a rag soaked in solvent. After that, the moving mechanisms of the lock should be lubricated again;
The dismantled parts and parts of the locking device are installed in reverse order.

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When repairing a Chinese door with your own hands, if it touches the lock, you need to understand that if you need to replace it, you should very carefully purchase a new locking device. The fact is that in the overwhelming majority of cases it is possible to mount only a "native" product, completely identical in size and type of mechanism to that which has become unusable.

Often, the need to repair a Chinese door arises when a creak or other unpleasant sounds appear during its operation, and the hinges are skewed. In a similar situation, work can also be done on our own. This requires the following operations.

The sash opens at a 90 degree angle first. Then it is slightly raised and fixed in this position with a wooden block placed underneath. As a result, the hidden loops of the entrance structure become visible. They must be carefully and thoroughly lubricated, for example, with grease.

In the event of a skew, with the same raised position of the sash, loosen the hex screws that secure the door hinge plates. After that, the canvas must be moved towards the correct location. Then the hardware is re-fixed. If necessary, the described operations can be repeated as many times as needed.

During the operation of Chinese entrance doors, another unpleasant situation often arises when they need to be repaired. It is connected with the fact that over time the sash ceases to adhere tightly and tightly to the box. This can lead to drafts and even freezing of the steel structure.

The easiest repair option in such a situation is to replace the seal, which is located around the perimeter of the box or canvas with a new one. There are a large number of similar materials on the market today. The best quality is deservedly considered rubber and polymer profile or tubular seals.

When performing work, the old gasket is dismantled first. A knife is usually used for this, however, care should be taken in the process. The new seal is attached either to a special self-adhesive layer or using glue. If the design allows two layers of spacer to be placed, it is advisable to do so.

According to users, a metal entrance door should serve for decades and reliably prevent unauthorized access to a home. And since no product lasts forever, the structure must be repairable: it is possible to replace fittings, adjust and install new hinges, install a new lock, and so on.

Repairing a Chinese front door excludes most of these possibilities.

The iron Chinese door continues to attract consumers with its unmatched low price. No matter how many and what reviews the owners and builders leave on the forums, the products are popular and the issue of eliminating defects remains relevant all the time. The photo shows the entrance door structure.

Alas, most of the problems arising during the operation of the product cannot be solved: repairing a Chinese metal door is almost the same impossible thing as the safety class indicated by unscrupulous sellers.

Door hinges - hidden door awnings are installed on Chinese doors, which cannot be cut from the outside, which, of course, is a plus. The downside is the non-standard nature of such parts and the complete impossibility of replacing them - they are not sold as spare parts. In extreme cases, restoration with hand-fitted hinges from other manufacturers is possible. Moreover, fastening is possible only with screws.
Lock - models from China are equipped with factory mechanisms, as a rule, two - main and additional. Usually, locks are associated with deviators, which makes it practically impossible to repair the lock of a Chinese metal door with your own hands: it is necessary to dismantle the rods, which is difficult to do.

The main mechanism cannot be replaced at all. In some cases, it is possible to install a new larva if it is possible to choose a secret with suitable parameters. And most of the models on Chinese doors have non-standard parameters. If we are talking about a lever device, then repairing the lock of a Chinese metal door is impossible.

It is impossible to strengthen the canvas or at least the locking mechanism: it is impossible to weld on such a thin sheet of metal, and another method of installation is impossible.

Door hardware is perhaps the only defect that can really be eliminated, and with your own hands.

Constructions from China must be completed with handles. For the owner, this is quite convenient, but it only reduces the overall strength of the constipation. In addition, the vast majority of them are made of silumin, a cheap and soft alloy, so that damage to fittings is a common phenomenon.

Unscrew the fastening bolts - usually there are 2 of them.
Takes out the square pin on which the elements are mounted. If the pin is the same length in the new kit, it does not need to be changed.
Attach the inner linings.
Plastic or rubber gaskets are pushed onto the handle and pushed onto the pin.
The bar is installed so that the latch snaps into place.
The product is attached with bolts.

Do-it-yourself repair of Chinese doors is covered in detail in the video.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 angle, 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 lid is unscrewed, and when you open it, sometimes the problem of breakage is immediately visible - most often, it is a flying 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 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 outside and the castle area is very hot from the sun's rays, then Tosol-OIZ (cutting fluid) is perfect. The machine oil will certainly make the sliding of moving parts easier, but not for long, since it will simply drain and be used only for CIP lubrication.