uPVC door lock broken and can't open to fix

GAM_2

I have a uPVC door with the lock being broken and I cannot open the door to get at the whole mechanism to undo and release the lock cylinder!
Is there a trade secret as to how I could get this lock mechanism out? Does it have to be drilled out and is best left to a professional locksmith?
Will be an expensive start to the year if that is the answer! So help would be appreciated.

pepperjulie

Hi there, the same thing happened to me last year. Unfortunately the only way is to leave it to the professionals. The guy who came to do mine had a special tool and he literally knocked the lock through (the barrell that is) so that he could open the door. Cost me £90.

thebaldwindowfitter

has the door been difficult to lock and unlock for some time?.will the key turn the barrell in the door or is it this that is jammed.if it is the locking mechanism that is jammed and not the barrel then it is possible to remove the door .is the door on butt hinges or flag hinges (these fasten over the face of the door)if its on butt hinges remove the pins and the door can be removed if flag hinges you cannot remove the door. once the door is off try the mechanism again if all works then the door needs adjusting when put back on look for marks in the keeps on the frame were the locks have been catching.usually locks catching usually means the door needs toeing and heeling.

catkins

Take the handle off and you will be left with the lock sticking out. This is assuming you have either a euro cylinder ( looks like 0= but vertical) or an oval cylinder which looks oval. Either type you get an adjustable spanner on the flats of the cylinder. Make sure it is a tight fit, then lever from side to side and the cylinder should break at the weak point which is where the screw you cannot see because the door is shut goes through the cylinder.
Remove the two broken pieces of cylinder and then look into the hole at the top you should see a bar that the cylinder key usually moves, get a small screwdriver and move this over either right or left it depends on the door. You should then be able to open the door. A new cylinder should be around the £20.00 mark. Good Luck.

thebaldwindowfitter

catkins wrote: »

Take the handle off and you will be left with the lock sticking out. This is assuming you have either a euro cylinder ( looks like 0= but vertical) or an oval cylinder which looks oval. Either type you get an adjustable spanner on the flats of the cylinder. Make sure it is a tight fit, then lever from side to side and the cylinder should break at the weak point which is where the screw you cannot see because the door is shut goes through the cylinder.
Remove the two broken pieces of cylinder and then look into the hole at the top you should see a bar that the cylinder key usually moves, get a small screwdriver and move this over either right or left it depends on the door. You should then be able to open the door. A new cylinder should be around the £20.00 mark. Good Luck.

i do think this sort of advice should be sent by pm

catkins

a6windows wrote: »

i do think this sort of advice should be sent by pm

I did think before posting this here. My decision was finally influenced by the fact a similar reply was posted on the diynot site. I would also say that to do this without taking the handle off should be nigh on impossible and most handles have the screws on the inside. I do however see your point.

thebaldwindowfitter

peka2k wrote: »

unless you break it off of of course.

:rolleyes: my point exactly

loracan1

New euro cylinder would cost approximately £10 at a local hardware shop..only found out this year how much cheaper mine is than the local diy sheds.

As for removing a broken lock from a locked door, I managed to remove mine by sheer brute force only after removing the handle from both sides. Can't quite remember how, but took ages - still cheaper than £90 from a locksmith though.

sir_locksalot

when you say its broken do you mean the key wont turn or the handles wont pull down?

oliverp_2

If someone is reading this and thinking they can now break in somewhere...with that kind of attitude I imagine they'd already have looked it up.

catkins

a6windows wrote: »

:rolleyes: my point exactly

There are easier ways of getting through a UPVC door than the way I mentioned. If someone is going to break off a handle from the outside they will make far more noise than other methods which I would never pass on. You only have to google a few select words and you have a mine of information on how to gain illegal access to a property.