Anyone know about door locks?

[Taipan]

Went to fit a new cylinder to my Step Mums front door today, but hit a problem. I got the rim cylinder below, but when I took the back part of the lock off it looks like this? If that is the cylinder blade in the centre, its vertical where as the cylinder blade is horizontal and I cant see how to change it, in fact the instructions say not to take lock apart?


flip a coin

[David]

I suspect that if you remove the screws the original cylinder will come off. But does the lock need the cam to operate?

[demographic]

Those two slotted screws are the ones that fit into the two side lugs of the cylinder.
Remove those screws and you can pull the cylinder out the outside of the door.
That plate they fix through is usually separate from the latching mechanism and I've not seen one exactly like that but assuming that it worked before you started and no pingphuckets have escaped across the ba floor at Mach 2 you should be able to put those screws into the new cylinder, put the latch mechanism back on and you should be ok.

Oh and the flat bit of steel that actuates the latching mechanism is usually too long as its designed to fit a range of door thicknesses.
You usually have to cut it down or it fouls the mechanism by being too long.

[demographic]

I've not seen one with the cam thing, looks to me like its basically just a lockstop to stop the lock being turned too far and damaged.

[Taipan]

The problem is, the blade from the lock that you normally have to cut down is flat like this - so at 9-3 but the one in the middle of that cam thing is turned round and points from 12-6, iyswim?

[David]

Is there a manufacturer name on the lock? Might be best to get the appropriate cylinder or a standard yale lock.

[demographic]

The problem is, the blade from the lock that you normally have to cut down is flat like this - so at 9-3 but the one in the middle of that cam thing is turned round and points from 12-6, iyswim?

Ahh, might help if I actually read the question before answering eh?
I've never fitted one thats had the blade vertical (12-6) when the lock has been the position where I could pull the key out. All those type of locks Ive fitted have been blade horizontal (3-9) when I've been able to pull the key out of the lock.
Err, looks like you need a cylinder with a vertical blade.
IIRC the blade is held in by a circlip, you might be able to remove the circlip and move it to horizontal but I've never even looked to see if its possible as every one I've fitted has been horizontal.

[Taipan]

Is there a manufacturer name on the lock? Might be best to get the appropriate cylinder or a standard yale lock.

I'm not 100% but pretty sure its a Yale lock? Maybe i'll just get a back but to match the new cylinder?

[chillitt]

Is the slot for the key in line with the bar through the door? As far as I remember that bit turns freely until its connected to the the lock, so maybe thats just where its settled in the packaging

[Taipan]

Is the slot for the key in line with the bar through the door? As far as I remember that bit turns freely until its connected to the the lock, so maybe thats just where its settled in the packaging

No, its all in line as it should be. The inside bit of the lock that you turn to open the door does have a key slot in as well. I should have taken more notice and its over 30 mile round trip to go and have abetter look. I think i'll just order a new back bit (basket?) for it.

[demographic]

Yeah, just get a Yale night latch.
Assuming thats what it is anyway.
Be aware that theres narrow ones as well as the standard ones which are set closer to the door edge.
And auto deadlocking ones.

Can't remember the sizes cos I hardly ever fit them, they don't get used much nowadays.

[maccecht]

I assume you had the door latched open to remove the back plate so it is turned as the spring is in the latch. So remove the slotted screws rotate it to align with the new cylinder and reassemble

[Taipan]

Yeah, just get a Yale night latch.
Assuming thats what it is anyway.
Be aware that theres narrow ones as well as the standard ones which are set closer to the door edge.
And auto deadlocking ones.

Can't remember the sizes cos I hardly ever fit them, they don't get used much nowadays.

My Dad never liked plastic front doors and went for a hardwood one with frame and a yale and mortice lock combo. He's gone now and the carers never use the mortice lock, so maybe for her safety I should fit a door with multi point locking?

[Taipan]

I assume you had the door latched open to remove the back plate so it is turned as the spring is in the latch. So remove the slotted screws rotate it to align with the new cylinder and reassemble

I get what you're saying and it makes sense for it to be as you say, but when I took the handle assembly off , that's how it was and that's how it was reassembled?

[demographic]

My Dad never liked plastic front doors and went for a hardwood one with frame and a yale and mortice lock combo. He's gone now and the carers never use the mortice lock, so maybe for her safety I should fit a door with multi point locking?

I'm not right keen on placky doors myself and when it came to replace my windows I didn't mind putting plastic windows in but there was no way I was putting placky doors in so I just left the frobt doorand only recently refurbed the moldings on it to neaten it up.
I've got that same combination of night latch and mortice lock cos that was the way it was always done.

You can have the best locks in the world but a thief can still launch a plant pot through the window next to it.

If your installing a new door then yeah multipoint locking doors are often very secure, as long as no numpty bas bought a euro profile cylinder thats too long and people can get a lock snapper or even just molegrips in the end of them.

For the short term though, you can just put another nightlatch on. Well, as far as I can figure it.

[Taipan]

Is this the right nightlatch?