Front door mechanism broken

ValiantUK91

ValiantUK91

ValiantUK91

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Joined
8 Aug 2013
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2,783
Location
Stoke-On-Trent
Just came home from work opened the door and locked up as I always lock the door when im in the house and everything worked fine but as I went to leave the house just I unlocked the door and went to open it the handle just gave way. So my door is unlocked but won't open I'm guessing some part of the mechanism has broken.

How do I get the door open now? And is the mechanism easy to change myself? Is it just a bog standard replacement? or will a locksmith be required?
 
Is it a pvc door? If so it should be easy enough. Might just be the bar between the handles has sheered rather than the mech. If it is the mech then requires taking the edge off the door not hugely difficult.

Erm as for getting in not sure how without breaking something :(.

Actually when you pull the handle can you double lock it? Ie can you hear the internals moving? If so then it's not the handle and it's to do with the catch. In which case I have no clue.

Edit: since you're inside you could undo the handle and see if it has sheered.
 
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Get a lock smith out then mate. Probably going to have to either take the door off its hinges (depending on locking mechanism or snap the lock in there and try to lever back the latch bit.

Could do it yourself but probably worth spending the money on a lock smith to minimise damage and hopefully they'll be able to replace it straight away.
 
A locksmith might be the more expensive option. Might be worth asking a few small local window/door fitters whether they can have a look at it for you. Assuming you have alternative access?

You could try turning the key as far back as possible. on some locking mechanisms this will disengage the latch. Edit: yeah try unlocking the key and then once it stops try to unlock it further. This should unlock the door and disengage the latch so it opens.
 
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Just tried what you suggested with the key it won't go any further and is still locked, there's a couple of 24hr locksmiths around here but luckily with the door been shut I might leave it until tomorrow and when I get in work as a few people there who used to be builders etc see if they know anyone who will come out and have a look.
 
Funnily enough (or not) our back door did this on Tues
What I did was unlock with key then forced the handle down to open the door
In my case this worked and was able to inspect keys and lock.they were ok but mechanism is still iffy.greased all bolts /and rollers and it is locking ok ish for now, will be taking the lock out on weekend for a proper look
 
That's strange, it has always been a feature on doors I have fitted and just tested it on both my doors and it worked.

That sounds like a good plan anyway. Hopefully you will get away with just having to replace the locking mechanism, rather than the entire lock strip.
 
It rotates quarter of a turn then it will go no further and the only problem is getting the door open, if it doesn't come off the hinges I haven't got a clue how it will be opened.
 
I had this on our front door and managed with a combination of knives to "scratch" it back enough for the door to open - took about an hour of playing around to get it to work and copious amounts of swearing.
 
Landlord came around just to have a look, I didn't want to mess with the door to much without him been here, managed to get the door unlocked by putting the square rod that goes into the handles into another slot underneath which lifted the latches and rollers. So it looks like the link between them has broke.

Lock smith can't do anything until tomorrow he's locked the door for me though just hope its not possible to unlock as the handle has been removed.
 
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