Residential & Commercial Security - Locks, Keys & Dead Bolts - Help - Broken Lock

I realise the implications of this post and am not in any way trying to illeagally open a door... but i'm really stuck.

last night i turned the key to my front door... it did nothing, turned it back, nothing... i could go on but im pretty sure you got the picture.

thankfully the door is locked shut at the moment, but is there any way of getting the lock out without me breaking the door down???? I could just about get a hacksaw blade in the gap between the door and the frame (not a very well hung door) and could cut the lock, (but would this take weeks??) or could i dismantle the mechinism some how by removing the handles??

either that or just shout get a locksmith... but any help is really appriciated.

thanks

Welcome to the forum ted ba.

Sounds like you have a disconnected tailpiece. I wonder if this is an older Schlage deadbolt?

If you remove the thumbturn, you can flip the bolt back with a screwdriver and then get the lock repaired or replaced. (Since you say front door, I assume you went through the back and are at your computer as you wrote)

Yet you say handles... is this a knob or lever lock, with a cylinder in the handle, as opposed to a deadbolt or a double cylinder deadbolt that uses a key on both sides? Single exterior cylinder? Manufacturer? Any other info would help us.

Welcome to the forum ted ba.

Sounds like you have a disconnected tailpiece. I wonder if this is an older Schlage deadbolt?

If you remove the thumbturn, you can flip the bolt back with a screwdriver and then get the lock repaired or replaced. (Since you say front door, I assume you went through the back and are at your computer as you wrote)

Yet you say handles... is this a knob or lever lock, with a cylinder in the handle, as opposed to a deadbolt or a double cylinder deadbolt that uses a key on both sides? Single exterior cylinder? Manufacturer? Any other info would help us.

unfortunately info is something i'm a little shy of. just moved into the house in april, and i'm something of a novice... lock looks very cheap and all the sets of keys we were given are unbranded.

using the back door at the moment... gonna give it a go tomorrow when i have time to get a new lock if i do manage to get the thing out.

lever lock, key in both sides... unfortunately about all i understood.

thanks

unfortunately info is something i'm a little shy of. just moved into the house in april, and i'm something of a novice... lock looks very cheap and all the sets of keys we were given are unbranded.

using the back door at the moment... gonna give it a go tomorrow when i have time to get a new lock if i do manage to get the thing out.

lever lock, key in both sides... unfortunately about all i understood.

thanks

Hi ted_ba, Welcome to the board!

I am reading you have a lever type? If so, on the inside lever handle, usually near the edge of the door, there is a small hole, or even a small flat retainer. Is it there? take something like a paper clip, or some other probe type item, and insert it through the hole, or depress the retainer. Do this while applying pressure to remove the lever. It should come off. If it does, remove the rose plate, annd this should expose 2 screws. Usually top-and-bottom, but they could be side to side. Remove them, and the lock should come out easily. If you get the lock out, can you open the door? Take a medium sized flat blade screw driver, and use it to activate the latch mechanism. This should get your door open. Try and do this without too much prying. You may be able to save your lock, and just need it repaired from here as mentioned. (That's where the locksmith comes in.)

Hope this helps get you going. Let us know how it turns out.

cuedude

If you are inside the house, the lock can very definitely be removed without a locksmith. The inside handle will come off, either with exposed screws, or by depressing a pin or lever to remove the handle, as described by cuedude.


The only possible exception is if you have a Medeco lock. That might need some special tools to be disassembled.

If you have Schlage, Kwikset, Weiser, Weslok, or any inexpensive 'generic' lock like Defiant, Shield, etc. it will come apart.

Easiest way to open it will be to pull the hinge pins and remove the door and let you get to all sides to remove what ever needs to be removed or repaired.