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Privacy door knob broken and cannot remove

dragon

Please help, privacy door knob set is broken inside & locked out of the loo.

There are no screws or holes to get knob off.

have tried plastic to try to unlatch the tongue with no luck.

Community manager's note: Check out How to replace a door knob for expert advice.

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EricL

Hello @dragon

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining us and sharing your question about your broken door knob.

I'm sorry to hear that the door know has malfunctioned. Would it be possible for you to post a photo of the doorknob? This will allow us to identify it and give you a comprehensive recommendation on how to open it. Please keep us updated, we look forward to seeing the photos.

Eric

dragon

Thanks for replying Eric.

i can't seem to get an image to work, ph might be too old?

EricL

Hello @dragon

You can email the photos to workshop@bunnings.com.au and I can have a look at them from there. In the meantime, I suggest trying to investigate if the handle is loose or has come off. I recommend trying these methods. Push the handle towards the door and try and twist the knob to see if it will still engage the barrel mechanism. Most privacy locks have an emergency feature that you can use to open the door if accidentally locked from the inside. Let me investigate my doorknob here at home and see if I can assist you.

Eric

Brad

If you have something like this you can use a screwdriver in the slot to open it.

dragon

Have sent 2 Eeic

dragon

Thanks Brad, tried that one first, no go, fairly sure whatever's broken inside is the part to retract the tongue

Brad

Was worth a try will wait on photo from Eric.

EricL

Hello @dragon

Thank you for sending the photo. I suggest screwing the cover flange back on. Look carefully at the axle assembly of the doorknob. You will see an access hole. Using a sharp object, I suggest pressing the release latch on the hole. This will allow you to remove the front doorknob. Often times if the emergency release does not work the spindle connecting it is broken.

Once you have the doorknob removed you can use 200mm Long Nose Pliers to twist the locking spindle and open the door. I've placed your photo and a diagram below to indicate where to look. If there is no access hole, the only option I see is to remove the doorknob by force to access the lock.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

dragon knob.jpg dragon knob 1.jpg

dragon

There is no hole Eric, I suspect it's on the inside.

How would you suggest getting knob off?

Id thought of tying to saw it off, not sure if a fret saw would work, limited space & strength on my part.

EricL

Hello @dragon

I recommend using a Trojan 300mm Tubular Hack Saw or the Trojan 300mm Mini Hack Saw. These saws should make short work of your doorknob. I recommend cutting the knob from right to left allowing you maximum room to use the Hack Saw. You will notice that when you're halfway through the knob is actually made of very thin steel and you should be able to tear it off with a bit of effort. Please keep us updated, we look forward to seeing the doorknob removed.

Let me tag our experienced members @tom_builds and @TedBear for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

dragon

Ok, I'll get to Bunnings & get a saw & have a go. So just go through the softer part not the thicker threaded bit?

EricL

Hi @dragon

Yes, see if you can cut through the soft part if you can reach it with your Hack Saw. Cutting through the soft part should make it easier for you to access the locking mechanism from the center of the lock. While at the store I suggest replacing your doorknob with a Syneco Brushed Nickel Ruby Privacy Set. It is fully adjustable and will work with your current door.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

TedBear

Hi @dragon I hope @EricL 's suggestions do the trick. One other cause of such doors locking shut is if one of the side screws that hold the lock mechanism into the door, works loose and protrudes out the side, jamming it shut. I hope that's not the problem, but if it seems like a possibility, you would have to use the plastic card through the slot trick, except push it in higher and slide it downwards to try to get the screw back in enough. If that doesn't do it, try going lower than the lock and sliding the card upwards. If you have an old dog or cat cone (aka Elizabethan Collar), the plastic cut from those makes an excellent tool for this. It is strong, fairly thin and more flexible than a credit card.

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