Conservatory UPVC patio door problem

jsmith9

Hello I have a UPVC conservatory with double patio doors to the garden. They lock in the standard manner ie pull both handles up then use the Euro cylinder key lock under each handle.

About a month ago one of the cylinder locks would not turn with the key. I could lift the handle to 'lock' the door, but couldn't then turn the key. I don't think it was an adjustment problem. Anyway, took the handles off, 'snapped' the cylinder lock to remove it, replaced it with a new one from Homebase and all was well. Everything worked as normal and I could lock the door with the key.

Today, exactly the same problem has occurred ie cannot turn the key it seems jammed pretty solid (a few degrees of rotation). Does anyone have an idea why this should happen twice. Could some party of the locking mechanism be damaging the cylinder lock?

Jeepers_Creepers

As you say, twice is strange.

What's a way of determining whether it could be a case of poor door alignment? Does the lock operate smoothly when you try it with the door open?! Lift handle UP fully, turn the key - what happens?

jsmith9

If I open the door the handle lifts perfectly to the locked position - all the bolts come out etc the key still will not turn more than a few degrees just like last time  - it is as if the lock cylinder is jammed.

Last time I replaced at the cylinder and it worked for a couple of weeks or so and now it has done it again

victor2

Take the cylinder out. If it operates correctly out of the door, then the cylinder is fine and the problem will be somewhere within the handle or door mechanism. They are replaceable, but you might have to get a locksmith out to do so, as there are many different types and it can be difficult finding a matching one.

In my experience, it has been the handles that failed. One broke in the locked position. Took a locksmith about 5 minutes to open it with no visible damage!

jsmith9

Thanks for the help unfortunately I cannot take the cylinder out of the door without 'snapping' it as it appears to be jammed on place and this happened last time


 what I did did was get a pair of mole wrench and wiggle the cylinder up and down until it snapped in the middle ( frighteningly easy to do do a burglar would have a field Day!).  I could then remove it

the same thing appears to have happened again i e the key won't turn much and the cylinder won't come out even if I remove the locking screw

 I could obviously snap it again but will probably get a locksmith out as you suggest thank you very much

Jeepers_Creepers

I think you need to insert the key and turn it to a certain position before the cylinder will withdraw. Essentially, until the 'tang' from the cylinder goes back in. It's not at obvious vertical or horizontal key positions, but part in between. Insert key and turn slightly until the key can't be withdrawn, then keep pulling on it as you slowly turn the key to all positions - hopefully it'll pop out.

(Years ago - but that rings a bell).

jsmith9

I think what has happened is that the 'tang' has jammed so that I am unable to rotate the key at all - that seems to be what happened last time and was why I had to split the cylinder to get it out. Either that or the locking mechanism pins in the cylinder have failed which means that is what is stopping me rotating the key

the original cylinder had lasted about 15 years and so I was not surprised to have to replace it but I am surprised that exactly the same thing has happened a couple of weeks later and wondered if anybody else had come across the same problem. thanks for your help