Help. Front door wont lock.

[chunkolini]

Front door handle has been a bit iffy for a while. No spring action to the handle and now and again a fiddle to lock.
Now it won't lock.
I've popped the barrel thingy out and tried another one with the same result.
The barrel comes out via an m6 bolt in the edge of the door.

Just visible mid photo.


The handle is held on by two what look like self tappers. But they are just spinning in the door, won't go in or out.

My guess is get these out and the handle comes off from the inside.
And the outside handle just slides on.
I guess the handle mechanism is knackered. The screws holding it on look well abused.

Any thoughts how I change the lock?
B+Q is nearby and should have the parts.
I'm not on Town Hill but very close to it.

 

[chunkolini]

All the other bits seem to be behaving themselves
The key won't quite turn 360 degrees to make the 'paddle' thingy do it'd job inside the lock.
I think

 

[brightspark]

probably the gearbox has gone on the locking mechanism and the whole strip has to come out in the side on the door depending of the type https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=how+to+replace+upvc+door+gearbox&sxsrf=AJOqlzXGhPTlgm7Ybf5qHG7jlWU40L1d-A:1678898297632&source=hp&ei=efQRZKDUJJWS8gLfkZjYDA&iflsig=AK50M_UAAAAAZBICietBSpIiThw7oC-8H_WBrDpvr0pK&oq=plastic+door+gearbox+&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYAjIICAAQFhAeEAoyBQgAEIYDMgUIABCGAzIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDMgUIABCGAzoHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoFCAAQkQI6CAguELEDEIMBOhEILhCABBCxAxCDARDHARDRAzoICAAQgAQQsQM6DgguEIAEELEDEMcBENEDOgsILhCABBCxAxCDAToLCC4QxwEQ0QMQkQI6FAguEIAEELEDEIMBEMcBENEDENQCOgUIABCABDoICAAQgAQQyQM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOgoIABCABBAUEIcCOg4IABCABBCxAxCDARDJAzoGCAAQFhAeOggIABAWEB4QD1CaDVjFTGDee2gBcAB4AIABjAGIAbgNkgEEMTkuMpgBAKABAbABCg&sclient=gws-wiz

 

[Neilj]

The two screws on the inside handle will be something like M5 or M6 and there are tapped blind holes in the outside handle. If the screws seem like they're just turning, try pulling the inner handle away from the door face as you undo a screw, it might persuade it to come out. If the lock mechanism is the usual 'lift handle before locking' type then there is an interlock mechanism in the main lock and to get to that you need to remove the metal strip on the side of the door. To get the main lock mechanism out you need to remove the handles first.

 

[Erie Fred]

About qty (9) minutes for detailed help with links....I'd say good job all.

 

[Craig-SM]

Screwfix and Toolstation have them in stock but they come in different sizes so take the old with you to get a good match

 

[Shox Dr]

Sometimes its just a worn out lock. swap it for another and see.

 

[chunkolini]

Nice work chaps.
Ten minutes, not bad the kettle had just boiled
So get the old one off in the morning using moderate profanity and nip to screwfix.
the screws are doing nothing but spinny spinny I've slid a scraper down the back of the handle and does all move, but no joy from the screws. That should come apart with some persuasion
So screws out, handle off,then centre strip off and new bits in the lock.
Might it be worth trying a new handle before dismantling the rest of it?
I doubt it.

 

[Craig-SM]

Nice work chaps.
Ten minutes, not bad the kettle had just boiled
So get the old one off in the morning using moderate profanity and nip to screwfix.
the screws are doing nothing but spinny spinny I've slid a scraper down the back of the handle and does all move, but no joy from the screws. That should come apart with some persuasion
So screws out, handle off,then centre strip off and new bits in the lock.
Might it be worth trying a new handle before dismantling the rest of it?
I doubt it.

The handle just uses a square bar and doesn't normally wear. Bits do break off the gearbox though.

 

[chunkolini]

I think thats the case its gone all beer floppy.
Looks like a night on the landing with a bottle and my Spudgun as the Spice Zombies rampage up an down from Townhill.

 

[chunkolini]

I have a plan for the screws, a bit brutal but ......
Metal cutting blade in the multi tool, and go in from the top and bottom of the aluminium handle and lop the ends off them

 

[bricol]

~Before you get all tooled up - try lubing it.

Cured the issues with the back door locking mechanism at my mums (I had to chose the arrangement of those words carefully!)

 

[dave h 2]

~Before you get all tooled up - try lubing it.

Cured the issues with the back door locking mechanism at my mums (I had to chose the arrangement of those words carefully!)

Nope - still wrong

 

[Neilj]

Beware also there are a multitude of different gearbox dimensions such as backset and centres that you need to match up. A part number off the old one would be a good start.
I've used this place in the past, should give you an idea of how many different locks there are out there: https://www.lockshopdirect.co.uk/categories/multipoint-locks-6266

 

[piman]

Hello Chunkolini,
re the spinning screws, some doors, these screws go through the door into a female screw on theh opposite side, you need to hold the female one while turning the male one, if that makes sense? Think of them as screw headed nut and bolt.

Alec

 

[stuvy]

~Before you get all tooled up - try lubing it.

Cured the issues with the back door locking mechanism at my mums (I had to chose the arrangement of those words carefully!)

This sorted my parents front door

 

[chunkolini]

Progress report pt1
As Piman says

Hello Chunkolini,
re the spinning screws, some doors, these screws go through the door into a female screw on theh opposite side, you need to hold the female one while turning the male one, if that makes sense? Think of them as screw headed nut and bolt.

Alec

yep. Indeedy just as described but living by the sea the suckers had rusted solid and were spinning in the plastic housing thingy; so it was drill the heads off the screws.
Handle is off and some fool shut himself in the house with the handle on the outside
Ive had a tinker and used some WD40 dry lube and the door now locks. So off to town to buy a new pair of handles for starters then at least I can lock the door.
There is still no spring action to the handle.
Plan A is get it working as it is and look into that else is needed.
We have a fabulous hardware store in town. Off to visit them next.
Forum 1 Gremlins nil

 

[bricol]

Progress report pt1
As Piman says

yep. Indeedy just as described but living by the sea the suckers had rusted solid and were spinning in the plastic housing thingy; so it was drill the heads off the screws.
Handle is off and some fool shut himself in the house with the handle on the outside
Ive had a tinker and used some WD40 dry lube and the door now locks. So off to town to buy a new pair of handles for starters then at least I can lock the door.
There is still no spring action to the handle.
Plan A is get it working as it is and look into that else is needed.
We have a fabulous hardware store in town. Off to visit them next.
Forum 1 Gremlins nil

I suspect, and hope, much like I did, you will find the new handles, and the application of lubricant will sort it. Changing the handles on the back door of my mum's house, I discovered the original installers couldn't drill horizontal holes, or put holes for lock, handle or screws on the right place - everyhting was fighting each other. Some hole slotting, and it all worked so much better.

Same with UPVc windows - they don't seem to shut correctly at the hinge end - lube the slides and suddenly they shut properly.

 

[chunkolini]

All sorted.
A new handle still felt uncomfortable but would lock.
Of course the lock itself was rivetted to the strip so it was new everything but all working now.
We are lucky withhardware stores in Swansea. I showed him a photo of the end of the lock. he rattled off a bunch of numbers and sizes, told me how to measure and cut it and gave me the screws
Thanks for support

 

[Keithmac]

I did our door gearboxes a while back, the handles hold the return springs on ours.

Not a bad job really.