Stuck door latch
Mr. Perfect
Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
A couple weeks ago, the latch on the door in my hall closet broke. The handle would still turn, but it didn't retract the door latch. Ordinarily that wouldn't be a big issue, I'd just remove the handle and work the latch, but in this case the screws for the handle were on the inside of the closet. I looked for any tips on how to open it on the Youtube but found virtually nothing save for one advertisement for an emergency tool you can pack with you to help open, for example, a broken hotel door latch. Sure. Whatever.
In any case, the tool looked right for my task and so I ordered it.
While I waited and waited and waited for it to arrive, I tried all manner of credit card jimmys, and shims. The latch didn't like Visa or Mastercard. And my homemade shims didn't work either. This thing was STUCk!
Not wanting to wait for the tool to arrive and seeing that it had shipped almost immediately but still wasn't here two weeks later (coming USPS from PA), I resorted finally to drilling the old handle until the thing fell apart. I was in! Finally.
Well, today, the tool I ordered finally came, and what do you know, it opened the newly replaced latch first go with no issue. Other than the long wait for the product to ship, I highly recommend this tool (and perhaps some of their similar other ones) for just such a task. It's known as the Sparrow Hall pass:
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Comments
I have used a knife to work the latch back and a cc to finish open the door
But I would have went with the drill if the cc trick failed good choice
Yep, I even tried a knife... no go. 🤷
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Simple, just pup up / remove the hinge pins and pry out the door from the hinge side 😊. But that won't work on a in-swing door 😉
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
It will work better if you use 2 knives. One on top of the plunger and one underneath. Alternate using the knife's blades against the plunger to push it back using the other to hold it there until you can use the first one to move it again.
Joe
"But that won't work on a in-swing door "
Most likely, if that widget worked, it was an 'in-swing' door . Can't "card" a latch going the other way.
Part of the problem for the knife scenario was that the gap between the door and the frame was a bit too tight. I could get a flatware knife in there, but there really was no manipulating of anything.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I tried that first thing, but the door frame around the door was just too tight to get the door to come out.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
"I tried that first thing, but the door frame around the door was just too tight to get the door to come out."
Hold on there, Tex. You're saying you were on the hinge side of the door?
Yessir. That door wasn't coming open without the latch moving.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
The door:
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlsxskkUXb4
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Credit card on the latch.
Shame, shame. Always leave disassembly screws on most accessible side.
This works also if crack between door and jam is not real tight. Two small picks I have with stainless very sharp needles in them. Bite into latch with pick and move latch slightly. Then freeze latch with other pick. Repeat process and soon you are at the end of internal latch. Viola, you are in.
If latch is broken and frozen in sleeve this won't work. Did you know, no need to buy a new lock set if internal latch is broken. Schlage and Kwikset both make new repair latches. I paid $8.00 today at HD with my Vet Disc for Schlage Deadlatch for keyed entry locks.----Ray
This is why God made the Sawzall. The Master Key. Instead of cutting the framing nails, cut the tongue of the latch (or stick your finger in the gap and push the tongue in).
Yep
Yes, I could have just pulled the trim off, but that's pretty messy and then I'd have had to repair it. I had considered that as an option.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Not only did I consider that, I tried it multiple ways and it didn't work. You must have missed that by not reading exactly any of my OP.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
When I installed the new handle, I did just that. The original installers were lazy because you actually have to reverse the handles to install it screws out and they didn't do that. I should have fixed it when I refinished the door months ago but neglected to do that. In any case, I had a similar failure on another door that I was able to shim open, so it shouldn't have been a big deal. This one was just STUCK!
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Glad you prevailed! Nice doors BTW.
Mr.P, another trick if facing hinge pins on outside. Pop the pins and use small Z bars to pry out door. Protect trim with piece of cereal box. Door will pop right out even if locked. Be careful and don't damage that trim.-------------------Ray
PS: Sorry, think this process already mentioned. Topic is moving faster than i can type!
I think that in many cases that works great. It did not work for this door. Cheers.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I found your problem, you put your doors on sideways.
So how come gravity didn't pull that pin down?
Sawzall take no prisoners
I bought a motorcycle that the owner had lost the key.He called the motorcycle dealer to see if they could make a key they said no.He called a locksmith and got the same answer.When I bought it I called a local locksmith and he told me to bring in the switch and he would make a key for it.The problem was the switch had to be unlocked to come out.I ordered a set of lock picks.I had never used picks but I read the instructions and had the motorcycle unlocked in 5 minutes.The locksmith charged 24 bucks to make 2 keys.
Door hardware can get expensive. Shoulda just opened up the wall next to the door..........
I've used milk jug plastic before. Its both rigid and flexible. And you can cut it to the shape you need to go in and hook the latch. Then lever it downward and force the latch.
NOW we’re getting somewhere.
damn.............you stole my thunder
Sorry Mate, these unfortunate men that have never felt the raw power of God’s Own Sawzall in their hands just need a little... nudge.
It’s all wood chips and sawdust from here on out.
unless the wife or dog were in the closet, I would have left it alone......
And the dog would have been happy to see you, wife, maybe not so much.