How to Repair a Door Knob Lock? 

When your door knob lock won’t work, it can be a frustrating experience. Luckily, there are several ways to repair your doorknob lock so you can get back in the house without calling a locksmith. 

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If your lock isn’t turning, start by checking it for loose keys and screws. These are the two most common reasons a doorknob won’t turn, and they can be fixed with simple tools. 

First, check to see if the lock has a set screw on its interior, normally found on the inside of the door. Unscrew it, and take the handle out to examine the spindle. If the shaft is threaded, twist it slightly to make space for the knob to spin correctly. Then tighten the set screw. 

Next, examine the lock for broken or missing parts. These may not seem like a big deal, but they could be causing your lock to not function properly. For instance, the latch may be split or the spindle isn’t centered with the faceplate on the door frame. 

It might be a good idea to snap a picture or draw a sketch of your lock before you do any repairs. This will help you reassemble the lock once it’s fixed. 

If your door knob is stuck in a locked position, you can try lubricating the lock. A small amount of graphite lubricant (like powdered graphite) can sometimes loosen and free the lock from its jam. 

This is a long shot, and it won’t fix every problem, but it might be able to free your lock from its stuck position. You can squirt the lubricant on the latch mechanism and the button if your lock has a thumb turn plate, but a better approach is to replace the button if it’s cracked or broken. 

Another way to lubricate your lock is to add some oil to the mechanism. WD-40 works well, but you can also use a silicone-based lubricant, such as the kind you’d spray on a car. 

Once the lubricant has worked its magic, test to see if the lock is still stuck or if it’s releasing itself. You may need to repeat this process a few times until it’s working correctly. 

If the lock is a lever style, you can test to see if it’s loosened by lining up the door handles on each side of the door and temporarily taping them in place. If you’re unsure of how to align the handles, have someone hold them while you do it. 

Then, you can use a flat-head screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding the handle to the latch assembly. This should release the entire lock from the doorframe and give you a chance to inspect the lock for any loose screws or broken components. 

Before you put your lock back into the doorframe, clean out the strike plate on the edge of the door with a wire brush to remove any dirt or residues that might cause problems when it’s in place. You might also want to coat the strike plate with a bead of thread locker, which can improve the strength of the connection between it and the doorframe.