Wooden front door lock won't catch

duncan32

Hi,

Just seeing if anyone has had a similar problem or has any advice, really. Over the last few months, our wooden front door doesn't catch to lock (on the yale lock, I think it's called). So, when you shut it it appears shut but you can just open and shut it by pushing it! Dangerous, of course. There is a dead lock as well, which we can use, but it can be a bit stiff and sometimes is really tricky to open the door with. I have managed to fiddle about (technical term) with the yale lock and somehow make the door catch on it, but it only lasts a few weeks or so and then starts happening again.

I keep looking at it wondering why it is behaving like that!?

Does anyone have any suggestions, please?

Thanks,

Duncan

latecomer

Firstly I would check to see whether your door has warped. Also check the plate on the frame hasn't moved. You can also unscrew it and see if there is a little movement so you could move it out a little.

ormus

in the winter the wood will be expanding due to moisture, and the lock or the keeper will be moving. try altering the keeper further out so that the bolt engages properly.

Rikki

I have a similar problem each year with my wooden door. Its just to do with the weather and its effect on the wood.

I have filed my lock recess for both the locks to enable the yale and the bolt lock to work. You just need to file away a fraction to enable the lock to click in.

hewhoisnotintheknow

consider cutting a piece of a cornflake packet out to adjust something

gmgmgm

If your lock mechanism is stiff, use graphite powder.

It's sold in good locksmiths or else on ebay. I was amazed at how effective it was on our sticky lock.

ariba10

Check to see if the hole in the receiver (The bit on the door frame) is in line with the tongue of the lock on the door.

What tends to happen is that with expansion due to the weather they do not always line up.

You can correct it (If that is the problem) by moving the receiver Up/down/in or out.

duncan32

Thanks to all, as I seem to have fixed it (not sure how temporarily, but it does seem quite good). I went to Wickes and bought a metal file, and spent about fifteen minutes filing away. It catches nicely now and all seems well. It's just the bottom of the actual door that rubs a bit as you shut it now. It's ok when you shut it from the inside, as you can give it a kick at the bottom. When you shut it from the outside you can't do that. It means that you can't also put the dead lock on from the outside, which isn't the end of the world now that the other lock works properly. Gonna sort it though, so will I need to buy another sort of file to file away a bit off the bottom of the door? I don't suppose I should use the metal file?

Thanks again!?

Duncan

ariba10

You could, but you would be very old by the time you finish.

I would get someone to take the door off and plane the bottom of it.

ormus

if it just needs a little bit off.
then put sandpaper on the floor, stand on it, and work the door back & forth across the sandpaper.