UPVC Door Lock

[fattony]

My porch door lock has always been stiff but its getting worse, its difficult to insert the key and you then have to wiggle the key before it will turn. I recently had a key cut for this lock and I have an original, its the same with both keys.

I've been looking at lock cylinders and found this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Keyed-alike-E...ultDomain_3?hash=item587a646468#ht_1687wt_939

but how do I know what size lock I need?

 

[Chukka63]

ask a local window comapny,im sure your door just needs adjusting and it will work fine.all doors adjust differently .

 

[fattony]

thanks but sometimes its an effort to push the key in what adjustment could be there?

 

[Chukka63]

thought you said ya porch lock was stiff.

wd40 then

 

[djrock]

I wouldn't use wd40 on a lock cylinder. Try graphite powder or I think silicon oil or teflon based lubricants is ok.

 

[fattony]

ok will give that a try 1st

 

[HandyHands]

It's not the strike plates that are out of adjustment, and no adjustment is needed. If you are struggling to get the key into the keyway, and need to "wiggle" it before it will turn, then it's either a worn key, badly cut key, or sticking pins. As mentioned above, try a light oil (not graphite powder - you'll never get it off your carpet) - apply it onto the key and work it into the keyway. Do this to both sides.

If there's no improvement, remove the cylinder (search on here as it's been detailed many times before), and measure the distance from each end to the middle of the black cam. This will give you the split dimensions that you see quoted on websites. You'll need to check if the dimensions include the cam though, and if not - just deduct 5mm from each of your measurements. Hope that makes sense.