House Door lock stuck ? my door to my basement is stuck i tried taking the hinges...
my door to my basement is stuck i tried taking the hinges bad and it won't move i tried looking on the internet for more answers but none that help my situation.i'm trying to fix it without have to pay for a lock smith. i've already gotten as far as taking the doorknob trim off and doorknob out. i tried to move the latch but it won't move terrifically far, not far enough to open the door anyways. any more suggestions? would i own to replace the lock mechinism or is there still hope for it? o and 1 more detail about this is that buildup of black powder come out of the doorknob trim when i was taking it off
Answers: i assume its an dated one,( square hole )try spraying real well near wd-40 let it soak in for awhile and try it again . how long have it been since uve opened it?
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You can use a rubber tack hammer to loosen whatever is causing it to stick. I enjoy old windows that be painted shut and this worked like a charm. Use a light stroke (not too light to not do anything, but don't pound on it either). You can also wrap the black mallet herald in an old cloth to prevent leaving rubber marks on the wood or other surfaces. Try drumbeat on the edges of the door and aroung it on the jamb as well. =]
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The black powder is normal. Dust mixed near oil and grease from working the lock. All you can do, is figure out how the locking gears works and use the handle and key to sympathetic it. Some locks have a plus sign looking thing inside a hole similar to this + that you can fit a phillips head screwdriver into and turn the mechanism. Others own a small button that slides along a curved track that locks and unlocks the bolt. If you can get it to slide back to position the door should unlock.
Good luck!
This happen to me last spring and I feel for you beside the locksmith charge. =]