How To Change An Antique Door Lock

Remove the interior knob and thumb turn lock hardware to expose the holes in the door.

How to change an antique door lock. This mortise lock set is installed in a 1930 colonial in the boston area. Door locks and knobs are full of moving metal parts that need to be kept lubricated to work properly. Without proper lubrication locks. It is only when antique locks are falling apart due to a separate issue.

In most cases you will be able to solve the issue by tightening up the connections. Rekeying involves realigning the pins and springs in the inner workings of the lock in. Meet the mortise lock and door knobs. Paint over the block to match the rest of the doorjamb.

In apartment complexes this is now the most common way of changing locks on a door. How to repair an old fashioned door lock mechanism. Tightening connections is the most simple solution to fix a broken lock and it is a likely answer to this type of old door knob repair. Notice the set screw on the base of the knob on the right.

Install your new lock then the doorknob and mark on the doorjamb where your matching strike plate should go so it will perfectly line up with the new lock on the door. Install the door plate with two screws and test the lock to make sure it works. Most locksmiths can also cut antique keys to fit the old lock you are having restored or repaired. For antique vintage locks find a locksmith in your area.

On a replacement set with a one piece exterior escutcheon that holds both the lock cylinder and latch the spread must match the holes exactly. I decided to replace all the inferior knobs with schlage locks and have them all keyed to match our front door schlage handleset. Measure from the center of the knob hole to the center of the lock hole to determine the spread. All i had to do was either bring the key with the new locks to the locksmith or bring the existing lock and new locks to the locksmith and have them make keys and match all the locks.