upvc door locking mechanism not working properly

B0bbyEwing

So reasonably recently my handle went kaput so I replaced it. Then at the weekend I couldn't 'latch' the door (lift the handle up). I finally was able to do it after squirting the hell out of it with WD40 & forcing the handle up but then the door wouldn't actually lock - I'd turn the key but it just wouldn't lock it at all. 

I then did some Googling & read about using grease so I squirted the white lithium grease I have on the moving components of the door & the holes in the mechanism (took the handles off) & was eventually able to lock it.

What is likely going on with this thing & how can I get it sorted?

Mr.Generous

I had one just like this, the multi point had a shoot bolt top and bottom as well as the usual side locking points. The hole in the frame at the bottom where the shoot bolt goes into had become clogged up with muck so the bolt couldn't fully go down. Cleared the hole out and it worked fine.

badmemory

I have one that goes funny when it has had the sun on it & works fine as soon as it cools a little.

housebuyer143

If it's in direct sun then it will expand and it can cause it not to latch properly or lock. I always raise the handle when the door is closed too ensure it doesn't expand so much it no longer shuts. Gets hard to open though on hot days. 

daivid

Does it latch and lock when the door is open? If so the door and frame could be out of alignment, if not the problem is with the lock and/or multi point mechanism. My front door would periodically get difficult to lock, undoing then re screwing the lock cylinder would sort it. After a few cycles of this I noticed a key was bent, which I think was pushing the lock out of alignment as since replacing it there has been no reoccurrence.

B0bbyEwing

For the record I'd been out the door (locked) then back in (unlocked - obviously), locked the door while I was in & then realised as my OH was due home I best get it unlocked so did. 
When OH came in, door handle went up to latch it but that's when the issue was noticed. 

Door does get the full force of the sun, yes, as it spends most of the day beating down on the front of the house, however it's had this in the nearly 10 years we've been in the house plus however many years before that that this door was in place.

daivid said:

Does it latch and lock when the door is open? If so the door and frame could be out of alignment, if not the problem is with the lock and/or multi point mechanism. My front door would periodically get difficult to lock, undoing then re screwing the lock cylinder would sort it. After a few cycles of this I noticed a key was bent, which I think was pushing the lock out of alignment as since replacing it there has been no reoccurrence.

No it wasn't latching or locking when the door was open. It was like something was stopping it from latching up properly. 
Only after I'd hit it with WD40 (even then it didn't do it), totally forced the handle because I was getting Pd off & sprayed the grease did the latching actually work. 

Locks/keys are those ABS locks. I'm not saying these are damage-proof but they're a bit more sturdy than wafer thin keys. 

rob7475

Sometimes the latch mechanisms do fail over time. We had one fail whilst the door was closed so we were unable to open it.

If the grease is not helping, it may be time to change the mechanism which is fairly straight forward if you are able to open the door.

As for the lock itself. If that's sticking, grease isn't a good idea here as it'll trap dirt in the lock. You need a dry lube like graphite powder. It comes in little bottles with a nozzle. Squirt a bit in the barrel and then a bit on the key itself. Insert and remove the key in both sides of the lock and repeat a few times.

B0bbyEwing

Is it as simple as going online and ordering a upvc door lock mechanism or are there different sorts where I could end up ordering the wrong one?

I don't really want to phone a company out to sort it if it's literally just a case of giving it a wipe down or something equally as daft. Likewise I don't want to start tackling it & end up being unable to lock it again because then we're in bother. 

daivid

B0bbyEwing said:

Is it as simple as going online and ordering a upvc door lock mechanism or are there different sorts where I could end up ordering the wrong one?

I don't really want to phone a company out to sort it if it's literally just a case of giving it a wipe down or something equally as daft. Likewise I don't want to start tackling it & end up being unable to lock it again because then we're in bother. 

Different sorts, though hopefully if you take it out you can find a name and part number. Googling these got me the right gearbox mechanism for my door after the linkage failed so the handle wasn’t releasing the latch.

bjorn_toby_wilde

There are lots of different types, but some are more commonly used than others. If you’re lucky the manufacturer’s name and part number may be stamped on it in a visible place.

Try calling one of the online suppliers or UPVC Hardware have a guide on their website to help you identify it.

Before you order a new one, check the alignment. Are any of the rollers or the slots that they engage with particularly worn? If so, it could be an alignment problem. My dad’s garage door wouldn’t lock for example. I checked and the door had dropped slightly over the years. By adjusting the hinges (again lots of guides online) I was able to get it to lock just fine.

Lorian

You said you replace the handle because it want working? 

Before you go buying a new mechanism take the handle back off both sides  and make sure there is no broken spring mechanism stuck in there either side.