Locksmith advice needed.

[Gerbil]

Ok... This is going to be fun and result in a lot of destruction and probable personal injury.

The lock on one of our spare rooms is broken and we are now locked out of it.

The lock is the typical door knob with a 'Yale key' and a button on the inside to engage the locking mechanism.

The key(s) do not work.

A locksmith has failed to pick the lock and has said the tumbler inside the lock is too stiff or broken to move.

There is no possibility of opening the door with the old card trick as the gap is too tight to get anything in.

Possibilities seem to be....

1) kicking the door in. (probable severe door and frame damage)
2) whacking the outside knob off and attempting to force the mechanism, but I think the impact will fuck up any chances of manipulating it.
3) cutting a hole through door and reaching through and opening it from the inside (new door needed)
4) use my angle grinder to cut outside knob off, then trying to force mechanism.

There is no way to get inside the room from the windows (2nd floor with security grills over them)


Any recommendations?

[Necron99]

Cut it off with the grinder, bang the centre pin out and put a new one in.
My house is the same, every fucking door keyed witha different key...
Stupid.

[Gerbil]

Ok. I feel a picture thread coming up.

[Necron99]

^ borrow LT's grinder....

[Gerbil]

^ no thanks! Going to approach this with extreme caution. I may even resort to beer and watch someone else do it, following my instructions.

[BillH52]

You have no windows in the room? Glass is cheap to replace.

[Mid]

You have no windows in the room? Glass is cheap to replace.

There is no way to get inside the room from the windows (2nd floor with security grills over them)

.....

[kingwilly]

Which side are the hinges on?

[Gerbil]

There is one additional option.... Going up into the loft space, then falling through the ceiling. While amusing, could be more painful and expensive.

[kingwilly]

Otherwise use a hammer and chisel and remove/damage the door frame. (Cheaper to replace than a door.

[Gerbil]

^^^ the inside.

[Looper]

[Bangyai]

I seem to remember having this problem once. I'm not sure ( bad memory ) but I think the collar that fits flush to the door is removable to a point. This is either by a screw thread or else it is held in place by clips on the locking mechanisms central column.

You could try jimmying a very thin and flat faced ordinary screwdriver ( not philips ) under the edge of this ring and trying to pop it loose. If succesful it will drop away from the door exposing the central column. ( cant remove it altogether on account of the handle ( nob if you prefer )

Once the central column is exposed there is sometimes a push in clip that if depressed will release the handle from the door so that you only have the shaft left. From here it might be possible to push the whole central column away from the other side of the door

I forget what comes next.

[Norton]

Drill out the lock. Then replace the door knob and lock.

[slackula]

Pull back the collar (you'll probably need to spring the clip under it) then remove any screws you can see. After that force the lock mechanism to retract with a screwdriver and then knock it through into the room.

You'll need to buy a new door handle and stuff, but that's cheaper than replacing the whole door (or frame).

[S Landreth]

I saw this

Sometimes, no matter what you do, the lock just won't budge. In that event, it's time to just remove the entire assembly. Slide a butter knife under the collar where the doorknob meets the door and pop the collar loose so you can get at the screws holding the doorknob together. Once the screws are removed, the doorknob will come apart and you'll be able to easily slide back the mechanism holding the door closed.: How to Open a Locked Interior Door When You've Lost the Key

I forget what comes next.

but thought this was a much better idea

If all else fails, there's nothing a hammer wont fix. First, give the doorknob itself several good poundings until it's good and dented. This does absolutely nothing to help unlock the door but it's a great way to get back at the lock that's giving you so much trouble.

Next, insert the claw end of the hammer underneath the top of the doorknob's collar. Put a stiff piece of cardboard where the hammer meets the door to protect the paint. Cover the knob with a thick towel in case metal parts go flying, then yank the hammer down hard. Do this a couple of times until the screws holding the doorknob together snap.

When you go to the hardware store to buy a new locking doorknob, be sure to have some spare keys made while you're there.

[Gerbil]

^^ The release pin on the shaft is only on the inside of the door (the side with the push button).

[baldrick]

put a 12 mm in your drill and drill the centre out of it

[Gerbil]

I have decided to ignore the suggestion from my wife earlier today:

"We have a gun, why don't you shoot the lock. That works in the movies."

[billy the kid]

call in the d-squad.

[BKKBILL]

Spray WD40 into the lock to free it up then use the key......

[Gerbil]

The angle grinder has been pulled out of the workshop. Got a fresh wheel for it. Decided to wait until I'm not the only one in the house before starting. (Can't find my bloody safety goggles though )

[chitown]

No, no, no

[DrAndy]

Drill out the lock. Then replace the door knob and lock.

put a 12 mm in your drill and drill the centre out of it

exactly that way

I did the same last year

door sets are cheap enough to replace

[Loy Toy]

borrow LT's grinder....

It's only good for trees and part of my fucking arm.

It's also sitting on the bottom of the klong so get a cold chisel and a big fucking hammer.