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mahatmacat1

Schlage cylinder broken?

18 years ago

All of a sudden today, our probably lowest-HD-level front door lock (PO installed it before selling) stopped working. I put the key in and while the key turns, the locking mechanism remains unaffected. Nothing changes when I turn the key.

Is there a way to fix this? Or is there a way just to replace the cylinder without having to buy the whole handleset? I've never experienced this before...money is a bit tight right now so we'd like to fix it ourselves; I've installed handlesets before, including an exterior one in our old house, but never looked into replacing just a cylinder. Thanks very much for any help/leads etc...

Comments (14)

  • 18 years ago

    It's probably not the cylinder. My guess would be that a piece of hardware connecting the cylinder to the latching mechanism failed.
    I'd trash the cheapo and get a higher quality lock.

  • 18 years ago

    randy, thanks...that makes sense, unfortunately. I'm *really* not wanting to get a new handleset etc. right now...do you have any idea (or does anyone else) what brands are the biggest functional bang for the buck, i.e. best functioning mechanisms at not an exorbitant price? I just wanted to keep it working for a while longer until money got better (*several* unanticipated expenses have hit us in the past couple of months) and then we could trade it out for something more permanent...

  • 18 years ago

    I agree; it is probably the thin little piece of metal that connects the cylinder mechanism to the bolt/latch mechanism. In Schlage locks they all break eventually. You have to find a replacement but it is easy to install.

    They break so frequently that I will not allow Schlage on any of my projects and replace them wherever I run into them. They are simply unacceptable locks.

  • 18 years ago

    O.K, thanks, mighty...I get the message...it's just really *really* bad timing. But we need to get a new handleset, then, I guess.

    What brands/levels are recommended? We aren't in an incredibly high-end house, but not a "first home" either. Guess it's a "step up" house or whatever the category is. Modern lines are preferred. I'm completely at sea. We're also in a very low-crime area, but I'd like to feel safer than I ever did with the Schlage. I'd like it to be work for the nefarious evildoer, at least :)

  • 18 years ago

    I did some more researching yesterday, and how is Baldwin Images, specifically the Soho? I know it's not Baldwin Estate, but this house isn't an estate...is the Images line acceptable in terms of quality of construction/dependability?

    Thanks again!

  • 18 years ago

    Some ( maybe all?) of the high end hardware makers buy the lock cylinders and some of the working mechanism from Schlage. I have Emtek handle sets and the lock cylinders and latches are Schlage. Schlage probably makes different quality parts, but I would expect a high end schlage to have the same mechanism as my Emtek.

    Locks are not hard to work on. Take it apart and see what's broken or loose. May be just a piece came unscrewed.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks, qwertyui (fun to type :)).

    I doubt this is a high-end Schlage :) but you turned out to be right about your second paragraph!

    My DH took the inside knob off and lo and behold there was a tiny screw lying inside the cylinder. It attached back up in the back on the middle-top area, holding something back under considerable pressure. When he screwed it in, the lock and handle began working again.

    Phew.

    An odd thing: when we took the screw out of the cylinder with our magnetic screwdriver, there were metal filings *all over* the screwdriver head. We're wondering if that could mean that something doesn't fit right and that's what caused the screw to pop out over time? He wants maybe to consider locktite to make the screw stay put but I'm afraid that would make the lock impossible to get out later when we can upgrade.

  • 18 years ago

    That has been my experience with Schlage too...if something can come unscrewed it eventually will. I kept a secrwdriver on a window stool next to my back door until I finally bought a Baldwin set. When my wife lost her key and called a locksmith he destroyed the door trying to get in and refused to pay for the damage. So I guess in the end it would have been cheaper to have kept the Schlage.

  • 18 years ago

    If you use the correct type of Loctite you will be able to remove the screw if you need to.
    Use a 'threadlocker' or 'staking' grade and you will need to use a soldering iron to free the screw.

  • 18 years ago

    mightyanvil, LOL! We'll save up for the Baldwin, and put aside some $$ for an extra door just in case :). At least we can keep our Schlage for now, though...

    And brickeyee, that's great info. I will pass that on to my DH. Really helps. Thanks.

  • 18 years ago

    I would wholeheartedly agree with Brickeyee, whenever you have a screw in a high vibration application definitely use a thread lock. The "locktight" he listed is without a doubt one of the best I have ever used however, in a pinch, put a drop of ordinary ladies nail polish on the threads before screwing the screw in and it will work fine...(PS-the color don't matter LOL)

  • 18 years ago

    Where does Baldwin buy thier lock cylinders and latches?
    Just curious?

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks, lazypup. I actually don't have any nail polish but we do have loctite--I'll have to check on the correct formulation, though :)

    And if anyone knows the answer to qwertyui's question, please post--and associated with it, are the high-end Schlage locks better than this lock that we're dealing with here? I read that there's a kind called "Primus" that is in a league by itself, but suppose we were to get a Baldwin Images Soho handleset--would it be a Schlage lock like this? Or is there a Baldwin lock and Emtek just happens to get its locks from Schlage?

    Thanks for so much good info!

  • 14 years ago

    classroom locking lever handle schlage. The inside handle opposite the outside locking handle just hangs down with no tension to it .The outside handle still seems to work & push the plunger in & out to open the door.Canthe inside handle be repaired?