Check the alignment of the deadbolt against the strike on the jamb if the lock is difficult to turn when the door is closed or the door doesn t lock at all.
Jammed mortice lock back door.
The first thing you can try for opening a jammed latch is to slide a plastic card e g.
Letting the components sit fully submerged in a vinegar of about 5 acidity will do the job of separating the gunk from your metal.
When you are trying to figure out how to fix a door lock that is jammed it is necessary to stay patient to avoid causing further damage.
A credit card between the door and the frame where the latch is located.
Squeeze the bottle gently to release a few puffs of powdered graphite into the lock.
The fix in instances with a door latch stuck because it is jammed by rust and other materials it is always best to disassemble the lock and do a bit of cleaning.
Remove the cover or faceplate of your mortise lock or surface mounted rim lock to repair it.
Slide in the card forcefully and play with it a bit while shaking the door a bit too at the same time.
If you do not have a proper broken key extractor you can use a jigsaw blade or a pair of tweezers.
This will hopefully force back the latch and the door will open.
This illustrates why you shouldn t leave the key in a mortice lock.
Wiggling the door when turning the key did not work.
This illustrates why you shouldn t leave the key in a mortice lock.
Use a file to widen the hole on the strike or remove the strike with a screwdriver and reposition it on the jamb.
A broken key extractor is one of the easiest ways how to fix a door lock that is jammed in this way to open.
Soak your door lock in kerosene for 24 hours if it isn t attached to a door and has been rusted shut.