part of key broken in lock - help please!

melb

Hi there, my daughter attempted to open the back door using the wrong key and then we couldn't get it back out (it's the non-yale type key, can't remember the name for them).

After much turning of the key backwards and forwards it eventually came out ... but without the bit that sticks down with the teeth in which is now stuck in there somewhere!

The door has a fancy wrought iron knob to open/close the door with keyhole at the side.

Does anyone have any suggestions other than call a locksmith out please? Many thanks

wealdroam

melb wrote: »

Hi there, my daughter attempted to open the back door using the wrong key and then we couldn't get it back out (it's the non-yale type key, can't remember the name for them).

After much turning of the key backwards and forwards it eventually came out ... but without the bit that sticks down with the teeth in which is now stuck in there somewhere!

The door has a fancy wrought iron knob to open/close the door with keyhole at the side.

Does anyone have any suggestions other than call a locksmith out please? Many thanks

Pictures of the lock and the broken key would help.

DTDfanBoy

What sort of lock is it, and can you operate the lock from the other side of the door.

melb

sorry don't know how to do pictures but it is a mortice lock/key and all that is left of it is the long straight bit. From the outside before it was broken off and still stuck in the lock I could get the correct key in from the outside but it wouldn't turn round. We have just discovered that the key she used is the one for the internal access to the cellar from kitchen and stupidly the only one we have.

have just thought it might be covered by our insurance as we are now looking at 2 new locks. We have a key for the external access to the cellar but that is no use as it is bolted from the inside,

molerat

Are these modernish buried inside the door locks or old fashioned fitted externally to the inner side of the door type ?

shaun_from_Africa

wealdroam wrote: »

Pictures of the lock and the broken key would help.

I'm guessing (but I'm probably wrong) that it might be this type of key:

If it is, the locks are usually fairly sloppy and taking the lock off the door (if possible) and giving it a good shake may well get the broken bit out.
If it is this type of key, there may well be a number on the round bit at the end and good lock shops may well be able to supply spare keys.

elsien

If you want to post pictures, upload them to tinypic (no registration needed) then copy and paste the URL across.

melb

thanks again for further replies. yes it is exactly like the sort of thing you have kindly put a picture of. My OH was saying that if we could get the lock off the back door and get the bit out we could maybe get another key cut as it is just a standard type of key so that would sort out the cellar door situation and then just the back door to sort out. have tried to look on my insurance policy with the policy shop and realised they have sent me lots of info but not the entire policy (it's all attachments rather than through the post) so can't see if i am covered but did notice that they have an optional extra called key care or something so i am assuming i am not!

[Deleted User]

Is it a rimlock or a mortice lock?

If it's a rimlock you can just take it off the door, open it up, and empty the broken piece out, but with a mortice lock it depends on whether the bolt has hardened steel rollers in it. If it doesn't, you can cut through the bolt with a padsaw and replace the lock once the door is open. If it has steel rollers they are in there specifically to stop burglars doing that, so you're probably going to have to cut away the door jamb and remove the striker plate. (You can see the two steel rollers on the end of the mortice lock bolt in the picture.)

shaun_from_Africa

This is a good example of the key number I mentioned earlier.

Provided you can get a number from the key handle then you should be able to get replacements fairly easily.
If you can't find a stockist locally to you, there are online places that do them:
https://www.replacementkeys.co.uk/house/mortice

melb

thank you again it is a mortice lock