Items in Lock

[Novice Hame]

Our son has taken to putting kitty litter in the lock. We don’t see him doing this (he’d get a right telling off if we did) but it’s either him or the cat that’s doing it.

Anyway, while we can get some of it out with a Hoover, there are two pieces stuck. It doesn’t seem to impede the key working, but I’d like some advice as to how we can get the rest of it out as it’s driving my other half mad.

The kitty litter seems to be stuck between the plate (if that’s the right word?) of the lock and the wood of the frame.

 

[sircerebus666]

What lock do you have?

Any chance of a pic?

 

[Novice Hame]

It’s a mortice lock and yes, I have a picture but it’s on the camera on my mobile and I can’t work out how to upload it. If you can please tell me how to upload it from the camera I will, or I’ll upload it as a file tomorrow night

 

[crank39]

Click 'upload a file' just under and to the right of the box you type your reply in

 

[Novice Hame]

Thanks very much crank39

 

[crank39]

Am I missing something? Take to 4 screws out and take the handle off , if any more have got wedged further in then remove the square spindle and undo the 2 screws on the lock and slide that out and fish out the debris

 

[Novice Hame]

If it’s that simple I’ll do it when my son isn’t around.

I asked because I don’t know anything about locks (Dad doesn’t either) and I had visions of little bits I didn’t know about falling out of the lock and it suddenly becoming a very expensive job indeed. We’ve paid £482 out this year for our elderly cat (insurance won’t cover her ailment) and need the boiler to be powerflushed which is another £400, so we’re broke.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Notch7]

If it’s that simple I’ll do it when my son isn’t around.

I asked because I don’t know anything about locks (Dad doesn’t either) and I had visions of little bits I didn’t know about falling out of the lock and it suddenly becoming a very expensive job indeed. We’ve paid £482 out this year for our elderly cat (insurance won’t cover her ailment) and need the boiler to be powerflushed which is another £400, so we’re broke.

Thanks for your help.

You are lucky.

years ago my nephew posted custard creams into the VHS recorder -it might surprise you to know it never worked again

 

[JohnD]

the lock case itself comes out in one piece, and unless you unscrew the cover plate, nothing will fall out except the spindle of the handle

example:

(click on it for full size)

the lock is held into the door with the two screws you see on the faceplate (visible when you open the door). When you undo these, the lock will slide out of the door in one piece.

and the lock case is secured with the screws you can see on the side of the lock, which hold the cover plate on. Even if you undo them (with the lock on its side on a table) it's unlikely anything will fall out.