Screen/security door lock diagram?

Hi,

Well suddenly the cylinder lock on my screen/security door won't lock. The key just turns way to the left, then way to the right, but nothing goes click and the lock doesn't engage.

I bought a new cylinder, put it in, but the same thing happens....

The thing is, when I removed the old cylinder, I saw a small metal block with a tiny spring partly attached, stuck in the bottom of the door handle assembly. Obviously this is my problem, and I need to put it back in. But I have no idea where it goes or how it goes in. I've looked for a good diagram of cylinder locks, but they only show the cylinder, there's no mention of that additional little block, or where it goes. I have an idea it's part of the mechanism that allows you to lock the door with that little silver tab, but I'm just guessing.

Does anyone have a detailed diagram of this kind of lock, showing the whole assembly, (especially that tiny metal piece with the tiny spring), and how to fit it back together?

Thanks, guys.

Maybe open up the lock and post up a pic to see if someone can help you out. Very difficult to help you without seeing what is going on

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Originally Posted by Beardy

Maybe open up the lock and post up a pic to see if someone can help you out. Very difficult to help you without seeing what is going on

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I'll do that.

Didn't take a photo of the door handle mechanism, because you just see a hollow where the cylinder goes. But these two pix show the removed cylinder and the unidentified small metal piece with its spring, which was sitting loose at the bottom of the cavity of the handle. The spring sits in its own small hole in the piece, but it's not fixed, it can come out easily. I'm thinking it's going to be a b** of a job getting it back inside to wherever it came from. I'm hoping someone must recognise this gizmo, and what it's for and where it goes. :)
Attachment 535415Attachment 535416

I had trouble with one of mine. It wasn’t working properly because of a spring problem. There was a tiny spring that pushed against the latch bolt (ie. the tiny button-like thing near the main bolt). The device that causes the bolt to shoot forward when the door is closed. The spring that caused me concern looks very similar to the one you have arrowed. My spring was broken. New spring – fixed.

Of course, with mine, the spring pressure is what keeps it in place. Is there a chance that the block & spring you refer to is related to the button mechanism?

I suspect the lock is only going to lock when the bolt is fully extended, and if the button device (latch bolt) doesn’t work then it probably won’t lock.

Well, that’s my tuppence worth.

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Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Is there a chance that the block & spring you refer to is related to the button mechanism?

I suspect the lock is only going to lock when the bolt is fully extended, and if the button device (latch bolt) doesn’t work then it probably won’t lock.

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Yes, that's very likely my problem too. Unfortunately, I don't know how to go about fixing it. I can't find any diagrams online that show exactly how to put that block and spring back where it belongs. I can't take the whole mechanism off because it's been pop-rivetted to the door frame. But I'm obviously going to have to take it off to get at the inside, and replace the block and spring.

I just need to make sure that, before I take it off, I already know exactly how to replace that block. Don't want to be mucking around with an unlockable door for half the day. That's why I need diagrams and instructions.

Cheers.

Obviously different from mine. No rivets. On mine, the handles were removed, shaft withdrawn, barrel out, a few screws on the edge (above and below the bolt), and out the mechanism comes.

Good luck with that diagram. What's the bet there are none because locksmiths are expected to know what to do.

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Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Obviously different from mine. No rivets. On mine, the handles were removed, shaft withdrawn, barrel out, a few screws on the edge (above and below the bolt), and out the mechanism comes.

Good luck with that diagram. What's the bet there are none because locksmiths are expected to know what to do.

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Yeah, I might have to drill the rivets out. Hope I can find where I stored my rivet gun now so I can put it back!

All Tradies are supposed to know what to do, but we amateurs have to google it, eh. Trouble is, Google doesn't know, either.

Might go ask someone at Bunnings. Sometimes the old hands there have given me tips.

Thanks for your reply. :)

Take some photos with you. If you don’t get far at Bunnings consider going to a locksmith. I know they’re in business to make a quid, but if you go to one of the larger ones with a shopfront and lots of staff it would be nothing for them to give you a few pointers. Pick your time when they aren’t too busy. If they shoo you away then go to another locksmith. The locksmith will be well aware there’s no profit for them this day, but if wise, they’ll realise that if they keep you happy you’ll be more likely to return to them when you really do need their services, and that might be where you go without shopping around.

How much stuffing around do you want to do?

I would just take it to your local locksmith and ask: "How can we fix or replace this?"

Bunnings might want to sell you a new screen door.

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Originally Posted by GraemeCook

How much stuffing around do you want to do?

I would just take it to your local locksmith and ask: "How can we fix or replace this?"

Bunnings might want to sell you a new screen door.

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Yep, and it's a steel door, not a standard aluminium one. I don't know what they're worth to buy, but I'd say it'd be big bucks to replace.

I'd have to drill out the rivets to take the whole mechanism out of the door frame, but I just might do that. We've got a locksmith somewhere around here. The guys can sit shotgun while I'm out.

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Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Take some photos with you. If you don’t get far at Bunnings consider going to a locksmith. I know they’re in business to make a quid, but if you go to one of the larger ones with a shopfront and lots of staff it would be nothing for them to give you a few pointers. Pick your time when they aren’t too busy. If they shoo you away then go to another locksmith. The locksmith will be well aware there’s no profit for them this day, but if wise, they’ll realise that if they keep you happy you’ll be more likely to return to them when you really do need their services, and that might be where you go without shopping around.

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Good idea, I'll do that.

That's very true about the Locksmiths, or any tradie for that matter. Most locksmiths that I've noticed are one-man businesses. The one at Carindale is, at least.

Cheers.

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Originally Posted by Lumberjacko

Yep, and it's a steel door, not a standard aluminium one. I don't know what they're worth to buy, but I'd say it'd be big bucks to replace.

I'd have to drill out the rivets to take the whole mechanism out of the door frame, but I just might do that. We've got a locksmith somewhere around here. The guys can sit shotgun while I'm out.

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steel door hey? not one of them bunnings ones is it??

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Originally Posted by wozzzzza

steel door hey? not one of them bunnings ones is it??

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Dunno, Wozza, it was on the house when I bought it. Why?

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Originally Posted by Lumberjacko

Dunno, Wozza, it was on the house when I bought it. Why?

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i'm looking at building one myself as aluminium ones are crap

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Originally Posted by Lumberjacko

Yep, and it's a steel door, not a standard aluminium one. ...

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Oops! I presumed that it was aluminium.

With steel, a little more effort is probably justified.

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Originally Posted by wozzzzza

i'm looking at building one myself as aluminium ones are crap

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Yep, they're like the tabs on beer cans. Meant to be torn off.

All good now. After googling every web site and forum in the known world I discovered that nobody has ever had this problem before, thus there are no diagrams or tutes on how to fix it. I finally went to Whirlpool, (which I avoid if possible because it seems to be run by little old ladies who don't get out much), and found a thread about a similar problem. The advice given in that case was to throw away the whole door lock and get a new one.

By that time I was ready to do just that. So, foolishly optimistic, I went to Bunnings. Turns out they had one.

Long story short I installed it and it works beautifully.

Great stuff.


So, now what you need to do is carefully pull the old one apart and see if you can find out where the “small metal block with a tiny spring” are meant to go.

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Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Great stuff.


So, now what you need to do is carefully pull the old one apart and see if you can find out where the “small metal block with a tiny spring” are meant to go.

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Haha, I might just do that, too. :)