Residential & Commercial Security - Locks, Keys & Dead Bolts - Key broke off in Schlage deadbolt - and its locked!!!

Should I call a locksmith? I've read the related threads...but I'm not sure on the best course of action....

Over the last few months its been getting harder to remove the key from the lock...so we've just left it in and continued to happily use the lock. Just before Christmas, I tried to lock the door and it got very hard to turn. Here's where I went 'dumb' and used plier to turn it closed. The result? It locked - and broke the key with very little protruding from the keyhole.

Even if I get that key piece removed..this lock seems to have problems.

Should I just call a locksmith and be done with it...or should I remove the face plate, and get the pieces out of there? Can I even do that and hope to get the deadbolt out?

I think it would be cheaper to just replace the lock alltogether than calling a locksmith, and I don't care to have the same keyset...but if professional help is required here, just let me know. Thank you!

I'm going to try and take it off tonight and bring it down to our hardware store. He said is should be easily removed and only be a $10 repair. I'll follow up.

Hi deckgrasshopper;

Sorry for the delay in response, but work always seems to get in the way of leisure time.

It sounds like your deadbolt needs some lubrication to help smooth things out.
Winter weather dries out a lock and the result is often what you describe.

Another thing to check, is whether the bolt is binding while trying to engage the frame strikeplate. If the bolt throws freely while the door is open but not while closed then I'd suspect mis-allignment with the frame. That's another thing the colder weather does to locks and doors.

If you can remove the deadbolt from the door, then removing the broken key is a fairly simple operation.
With the cylinder in hand, you'd need to remove the tail piece then carefully push the broken key out using a pin or something similar. Just be sure to go slow and watch that the plug(the part that is holding the key) does'nt come out of the cylinder housing as well.
Before you reinstall the lock, lubricate the bolt linkage as well as every other moving part.

Let us know how you made out either way.

Regards

Hi Deckgrasshopper,

I too have to say sorry for the delay in replying, and for the very same reason. As WGW said, removing the key from the back of the cylilnder is much simpler than trying to do it from the front. One thing I might add to his post is to use some sort of sprey such as WD-40 or CRC to help free the pins a bit. The lock can be properly lubed when you take it in. Here in the salt air of Key West, we use alot of this type sprey. Salt is an enemy of most locks, so this is how we combat it. (Especially when a storm is headed our way).

cuedude

Hey - your replies were fast..no need to apologize. I just wanted to get it done - so I took it to the hardware store and for $8.48 he removed the key and cut me a new one. He said there was some metal in there, indicating misalignment in the original installation. (I hired a handyman to put it in two years ago - not a locksmith - mistake!)

It did come off very easily and the bolt moves smoothly and easily with a screwdriver turning it.

Anyway, his advice was to reinstall it without the metal ring that sits under the golden faceplate on the inside of the door. This would give it an extra 1/4 inch of play and prevent that metal-to-metal transfer that was causing the shavings and locking up the key. Funny - I noticed a good deal of black powder when I removed the lock.

Anyway- as always, this is a great website and thanks so much for your advice!

Thanks for sharing your results deckgrasshopper.

For $8.48, it sounds like you deal with a very fair hardware store.

"Funny - I noticed a good deal of black powder when I removed the lock"

That could be from over use of graphite for lubrication, and that is the main reason I don't usually recommend its use to customers. People tend to puff way too much of it into the lock and it can sometimes end up caking in the keyway and causing even more trouble.

Regards

Thanks for sharing your results deckgrasshopper.

For $8.48, it sounds like you deal with a very fair hardware store.

"Funny - I noticed a good deal of black powder when I removed the lock"

That could be from over use of graphite for lubrication, and that is the main reason I don't usually recommend its use to customers. People tend to puff way too much of it into the lock and it can sometimes end up caking in the keyway and causing even more trouble.

Regards

I agree with not recommending graphite use to customers.....but man is it funny when they take it uppon themselves and make a horrible mess, I have had two good laughes with that... :blah:

I got robbed because I installed my own locks. I had Schlage locks. A deadbolt on one door. The deadbolt was installed improperly. The front door lock was not installed properly. A thief could rock the door and it would eventually open.

It cost me $350 (Canadian) to have a locksmith install two high quality deadbolts and and two unlocked door knobs. Included labour and the new locksets.

I would pay a locksmith to replace your locks. I decided to be cheap and do it myself. Thieves look for poorly installed locks. I lost some items I cannot get replaced. My insurance rates go up if I make a claim.

Hi payneg, sorry for your loss. If I can add something, not all locksmiths are created equally. There are many specialities out there. ie: automotive; residential; commercial; safes; safe deposit boxes; installation; keys; etc. There is alot to being a locksmith. And today, the manufacturers have added electricity, and technology. I recommend everyone do some local research and see what others think about different locksmiths, their prices, (are they competitive), and who they would recommend. It's worth all the trouble.

Thinking of deadbolts, the strangest thing I've seen done to a deadbolt in a breakin, was the removal of the bolt. It was taken right out of the bolts case. I never did figure it out as the lock was complete, except for the missing bolt.

And something else, while it's on my mind. I do not recommend taking the collar out of the case of a deadbolt. This takes away your protection for the lock. If it is not installed properly, try and correct the problem. Redrill if necessary. It's worth the effort.

cuedude