Residential & Commercial Security - Locks, Keys & Dead Bolts - Schlage deadbolt turns very hard

I have a single cylinder Schlage deadbolt which turns fine from inside or by using the inside knob device but works very hard using a key. The bolt is not rubbing the strike plate as it moves very hard using key whether or not the door is closed and deadbolt latched. Using the key, it moves very slow/hard all the time.

Does anybody have an idea about this hard working (using key only) deadolt.

Thanks

bs5

Cheap and simple place to start - spray some graphite lubricant in the keyway and the insert your key and turn it both ways a few times.

If the graphite/lubrication trick is unsuccessful.....

It might be that the screw on barrel retainer on the back of the cylinder is on too tight...

Simply back it of one hole or two...relocating the plunger...that might be the alternative...

Aside from these points of advice...which are all excellent...it could also be an installation problem where the tailpiece is not lined up correctly...and therefore causing a bind...

Is it a new installation or has it been there for a while?

Thank you both for the prompt replys. I took them in order and tried the graphite ez fix first. I sensed some easing of the lock mechanism but that didn't quite complete the fix.

On this particulat deadbolt, protruding from the rear of the cylinder is the keybar and a part that contains the pin that mates with dead bolt as well as what appears to be a plastic spacer. As I lacked the skill to remove these pieces so I could depress the lock pin and back off a bit on cylinder threaded retainer, I was not able to quite complete that suggestion. I did take a shot of WD-40 and spray the back part of the key cylinder. This improved operation of deadbolt while using key. I suspect that an even better and sustaining fix may well lie with losening this threaded cylinder ring.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. It works much better for the time being. It's a fairly new deadbolt and was rekeyed by the crew at Homedepot but worked w/o a glitch for a while after before becoming hard to key turn.

Thanks again.

bs5

I have a single cylinder Schlage deadbolt which turns fine from inside or by using the inside knob device but works very hard using a key. The bolt is not rubbing the strike plate as it moves very hard using key whether or not the door is closed and deadbolt latched. Using the key, it moves very slow/hard all the time.

Does anybody have an idea about this hard working (using key only) deadolt.

Thanks

bs5Hi bs5,

I'm guessing this is a new deadbolt? Here's something I have discovered with that style. The lock halves have to be perfectly inline with eachother or they bind. For some reason, this just is. Loosen the two main screws a bit, (just enough to where your can wiggle each half), and sighting both halves, wiggle them inlilne. I personally am not fond of this design, but such is life, and I can't change it anyway.

By the way, you have gotten some good information here. let us know how it works out.

cuedude

cuedude... could it also be a bad replica of the key?

Hi xsleeper,

Absolutely. I'm going on the assumption it is a particular style of deadbolt, however, it can be the key as well. I see poor copies of keys daily, and you are correct. Not all key machines are adjusted equally.

cuedude

Hi All. It's time for an update. You nailed the bullseye cuedude. The suggestion to check lock half alignment put the finishing touches on the final diagnosis and fix.

Sure enough! I simply losened the screws and shifted upwards and this deadbolt operates smooth as silk. Thinking back, this new lock worked fine until I happened to remove it for some reason . After reinstalling the halves, the lock was difficult to operate with a key.

Thanks to all ........you guys did it again.

bs5

Hi BS5,

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I've been really busy lately. Thanks for getting back, and for the update. Glad to have helped.

cuedude

Old thread but I've had the same experiences with Schlage deadbolts. Unless they line up perfect, they do not operate well. I have moved to Weiserlock's only.