Front Door Thumb Latch Stuck

If door latch doesn t align adjust the position of the strike plate.

Front door thumb latch stuck.

On the kwikset locks this looks like two little teeth that the cylinder pushes back. Sometimes the lock button being stuck is endemic of the latch bolt freezing so you might not be able to take advantage of spring loaded latch through the gap between the door and the frame. Taking the lock of the door is often simpler than it would be to take a deadbolt or exterior door knob lock of the door. Filing the strike 1.

Open the door wide and put on a pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes. A sticking door latch might require some lubrication or it might be jamming against the. You can see where the cylinder entered the dead latch mechanism and pulled the latch back. The knob will not turn to retract the stuck door latch.

The handle or knob must be jiggled to unstick the latch. More force is needed to turn the knob and unstick the latch. If this works then you can open the door and it s time to replace the dead latch. How to fix a latch that sticks in a door knob identifying a sticking door.

For less than a 1 8 inch misalignment of the latch bolt and strike plate file the inside edges of the plate to enlarge the opening. You may want to spray wd40 or other lubricant on the lock mechanism. To take yours out just use your phillips screw driver again to take out the two screws in the face plate. Unscrew the thumblatch off the door.

Disassembling the door knob. When possible it s easiest to file the slot in the strike plate a little bit so that it will receive the latch. Equip a rotary tool with a carbide tip bit. Inspect the strike plate on the edge of the door frame.

Insert the tip into the latch. This will probably require an 1 8 allen wrench for the interior knob or lever. A latch bolt that sticks in the strike often leave tell tale. You ll have to unscrew it to reveal the bolt head.

Once the door is open try to actuate the door latch with the handle. Remove the two screws on the inside door knob faceplate with a phillips screwdriver.