Broken Interior Doorknob

Oct 06, 2003 Last reply: 22 years ago 3 Replies

Help, please.



I exited my bedroom to the living room closing the door behind me. Now the door won't open, and it's not locked. The hinges are on the inside.



I tried a coathanger end and a screwdriver in the center of the knob, but it meets resistance and is a dead end.



I pried off the trim plate thinking I would find screws! NO! There are two holes that look like recessed rivets, and an Allen wrench and a screw driver did not help.



The plastic center post turns just fine, and I can hear the knob turning on the other side. I can't tell if the latch is leaving the hole in the door frame though. I've tried a putty knife, a credit card, and an icing spreader to slip back the latch. No go.



Any ideas? How can I get those rivet-like things off? Do I need to call a locksmith?



Thanks!


behind me.

are on the

of the knob,

NO! There

wrench and

the knob

leaving the

a credit

go.

I need to

if ya can't handle it ? call someone that can..

no flame intended

It sounds like the latch mechanism is broken/disconnected. Try pulling the door towards you when you turn the knob or knob spindle. This will take the pressure off the latch if it's binding. Try looking in the spindle to see if you can see what's disconnected.

The most common way to deal with rivets is a drill or grinder. You could probably climb in a window and open the door from the inside.

Good luck,

Daniel

P.S. Why do people post on USenet when it's a matter of urgency? Wouldn't IRC or calling a locksmith be much more immediate and therefor appropriate?

D$

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