Can anyone advise on this please, door handle problem quite urgent.

ThisIsWeird

Hi Tir.

Ok, you've removed the handle and spindle, and done the same on another, working, door? Ok, compare the two, in terms of how they 'feel'.

IE, reinsert the square spindles as far as they will go - there should only be an inch or so showing. Now rotate them using pliers or a spanner. How does the 'good' one 'feel'? I presume it's smooth moving with a springy resistance, and once turned through around 60 degrees, the door opens? And you cannot turn it more than this? Yes? So how does the broken one fell and behave instead?

You can get the spindle right in? Can you turn it either way? How far? Is it springy? Similar resistance? Any sense that the latch is moving at all - being retracted?

ThisIsWeird

(Don't panic too much, as the worst case should be limited damage as explained by Cymru - the 'doorstop' needs prising away to get access to the slope of the latch.)

oldernonethewiser

Have you tried taking a handle & spindle off another door (making sure it stays open) and inserting it into the broken door latch to see if that moves it?

turnitround

Thanks all for the replies. To answer the last couple. Yes I have put the spindle from the good door in and tried that. hen I try turning the spindle in the good door it is tighter and releases the catch on the door. When I turn the spindle on the locked door it has no spring to it but it is tight to turn till it stops. However there is no effect on the catch.

turnitround

Im going with cymruchris (because I like the drawing) and I'm off to get a stanley knife. Thank you all so much, I love this forum. 

diystarter7

Hi OP

Looking at the pics, just stick the handgle in again and jolt  it anticlock wise and at the same time push the door light;y - if you have those grip lippers they are the best to hold the spindle.

Looking at the pic of the other door, I'm 100% certain the latch is protruding by a 1mm or 3 - I've had it on the kitchen door years ago and did as above and thankfully it worked for me.

Let us know how you got on

 thanks

ThisIsWeird

turnitround said:

Im going with cymruchris (because I like the drawing) and I'm off to get a stanley knife. Thank you all so much, I love this forum. 

Make sure you know what you are doing! Other tools that can do this include scrapers or filling knives - they can be gently tapped in causing min damage. Often no need to remove the whole doorstep either - if you can get a flat blade (eg filling knife) in to where the doorstop sits on the frame, then there's every chance it'll go right through and even release the latch - obviously inserted at latch height. 

BUT, first worth trying DIY7's idea. Put one of the handle screws back in, grab it and gently push and pull the door - is there some 'play'? If so, try to hold the door mid-way so there's no friction on the latch. Now sharply turn the spindle as far as it goes and hold it there - see if the latch bolt has been pulled that wee bit extra. Try this a few times. Both directions.

Sarahspangles

I’m having flashbacks to exactly this happening to us.  The part of the lock set that had failed meant that the latch could not be retracted in any circs.  So removing woodwork to get to the latch to lever it back was the only solution.   I mean, a locksmith might have a fancy tool but the ‘making good’ wasn’t too onerous.

Top tip - considering replacing this part of the mechanism on your other doors, we had two go in quick succession…..

Ganga

Happened to me in Majorca ,luck had it my mobile was in my pocket ,called my wife and said " can you go to reception as i am locked in the toilet " the handle and the spindle fell out when i shut the door.

HHarry

I think those bits are metal are from the catch and without them the spindle (square shaft) is never going to open the catch.  You might be able to put a screwdriver in the hole in the catch and move the mechanism backwards (rather than a turning motion), otherwise it’s a doorstop off job as mentioned by others.