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Door lock latch bolt not retracting fully

  • Last Updated:
  • Jul 20th, 2021 10:38 am
[OP]
Member
Nov 13, 2019
318 posts
104 upvotes
Toronto

Door lock latch bolt not retracting fully

Hello, so I've been noticing a problem with the latch bolt of my door lock not fully retracting when I open the door from the inside (retracts just fine when I open it from the outside, the outside uses a push button mechanism as opposed to a handle), and as a result the latch bolt sticking out clips the strike plate

I know very little about locks, is it failing? Any suggestions as to what I can do to fix this?

Thanks
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4 replies
Deal Guru
Jan 25, 2007
12407 posts
7583 upvotes
Paris
Most likely failing or not secure on the door. Try tightening screws holding it on, failing that contact manufacturer.
Deal Fanatic
Jan 21, 2018
8410 posts
9260 upvotes
Vancouver
Remove the lock set from the door and take a look what's going on inside. It's really not hard. You undo the screws holding the inside cover plate and handle to the door, and just pull it off. There's a long metal tang that goes through the door from the inner handle to the outer handle, engaging slots in the latch mechanism in the middle. The latch mechanism is a separate piece pushed in from the door edge - you don't need to remove it. Normally when the handle turns, it turns the tang and rotates the latch pull/push mechanism. Turn it with the covering plate off and and you can see what's going on with the latch.
Deal Addict
Oct 24, 2010
2760 posts
2807 upvotes
Ottawa
Take it off and see what's wrong.

This was happening to ours last year, and got worse over the course of a month. When I took it off, there was a little tab that had broken/become unwelded. I had to replace the entire unit.
Deal Fanatic
Jun 24, 2015
7824 posts
2616 upvotes
0 downvotes
is that a "mortise" lock? you normaly dont see them too much for residential, maybe some older houses though but cool
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