Broken Window Lock - DIYable?

peachyprice

I have a broken window lock on one of my windows, i was wondering if anyone had had the same problem and managed to fix it themselves.

When I try to turn the handle it just keeps clicking but not unlocking. I've taken it apart and the pin on the handle looks nice and square so I think maybe the hole in the actual lock inside the frame has rounded off over time so the pin can't grip, or the locks bits have seized and the pin can't get enough grip in the hole to open it.

The problem is it's locked shut so I can't even WD40 all the lock bits around the window to try to free them or to get the lock out.

Any suggestions? Or is it a locksmith job?

Annie1960

I replaced the handle/lock on my window, and I know nothing about such things.

Look on Youtube for helpful videos.

I then took a photo on my camera and brought this to local locksmith shop where they sold me a new handle/lock for about £10.

It was fairly easy to fit with no previous experience. The hardest part was screwing in the screws as it was an upstairs window, so nobody outside to push it against me. Once the screws started to go in it was easy.

peachyprice

It's not the handle Annie, I already took a handle off a different window to see if it would work but it's the bit inside that the handle goes in to, the actual mechanism, that's being troublesome.

But thanks anway.

Aylesbury_Duck

Has the mechanism shifted in the frame? I had a similar situation where it had shifted deeper and the square shaft wasn't quite long enough to slot in properly, so it behaved as you've described. Take the handle off again. Can you wedge a flat blade screwdriver diagonally into the square hole? If so, are you able to turn it? If you can, it sounds like you need a handle with a slightly longer shaft on it. Or having used the screwdriver to open the window, you now have the option to replace the entire lock and handle. If it won't turn, it's jammed and yes, you will probably need a window fitter to come and free it for you.

peachyprice

It could have, it's on the wonk now so the pin won't go in square, it may well have pushed back too, I'll give that a go now. thanks

peachyprice

Ah. It's not what I thought it was then. I tried the screwdriver, but it was turning, I could see the square that the pin goes into moving but it was clicking somewhere inside the frame and not unlocking. Seems like something is broken inside. Poop.

Aylesbury_Duck

On mine there are metal rods connected to the central bit that operate side shoot-bolts. Sounds like one or both of those has become disconnected. If you (gently) try and prise the window open on each side from the outside, does one give and the other not? If so, one of the rods has become disconnected and the side bolt is stuck in place.

Jackmydad

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

On mine there are metal rods connected to the central bit that operate side shoot-bolts. Sounds like one or both of those has become disconnected. If you (gently) try and prise the window open on each side from the outside, does one give and the other not? If so, one of the rods has become disconnected and the side bolt is stuck in place.

Mine's similar. The "gear box" in the centre breaks, and as you say the bolts no longer retract.
The fix is a new mechanism.
With mine you can, as said above, carefully push the opening part over far enough to disengage the bolts after some fiddling. To do it properly, you really need to remove the glass. It's easy then.

peachyprice

Yes, sounds like it could be that. It's an upstairs window, so a bit difficult to do from the outside, I'm not good with ladders. I'll get OH do look at it over the weekend I think, or wait until it's warmer

Thanks for all your suggestions.

MerlinMags

I have had this exact same problem on six of my windows now. The handle is fine, the problem is the connection between the handle mechanism and the flat bars which extend to either end of the window to move the bolts in and out. There is slippage between the two, and in the end you are turning the handle but the bolts are not withdrawing enough to release the window.

In one case I was able to force the window open from the inside, first by pushing with my arm (bolts had disengaged on one side only), then wedging larger blocks of wood in the gap, and finally levering with a claw hammer. In another case I used a crowbar from outside to make a little gap, then was able to poke a screwdriver up against the bolts and hit them back into the frame (need window handle removed for this).

If you can just get the damn thing open, then the mechanism is not too hard to fix. You can remove the lot with a crosshead screwdriver in two minutes. Going up a ladder repeatedly is a pain. Definitely get two of you for an upstairs window; one inside, one out.

You can simply re-assemble the mechanism, choosing the right mating point between the flat bar and the handle, or you can try to be clever and stop the problem happening again, by bonding the two parts together to stop all slippage. I drilled holes and tied the two bits together with thin wire. However, this has since failed as one of my windows is on the verge of breaking again. Very annoying.