Mort Guffman wrote:
I was at a friend's house yesterday and saw this happen.

She went into the garagefrom the house and the door closed behind her.
She couldn't get back in. The lock was unlocked but it broke. Turning
the knob wouldn't retract the bolt.

I took off the doorknobs to look but that really didn't help.

Does anyone know a way to solve this problem?

I didn't think to try prying the bolt back with a screwdriver or
credit card shaped tool at the time but it might work.

The lockset looks to be a flimsy cheapo bedroom unit. It has the
little button in the knob you turn to set the lock.

Any comments are appreciated. I do have a chainsaw by the way.

mort


Mort-

You said.....

"I took off the doorknobs to look but that really didn't help"

Did you just remove the knobs or the sharfts that the knobs fit on as
well?

Wth the door knobs removed & the trims rings as well

you should be able to see the screws (heads should be on the house
side" that hold the knob shaft assembly in the door. Remove the
screws & you'll be able to slid the shaft assembly out of the door

The only thing left now should be the bolt inb the edge of the door &
the sheet metal part that interfaces with the shaft assembly.

Stick a screwdriver into the sheet metal part attached to the bolt &
should be able to retract the bolt & open the door

Save the chainsaw for another day.

cheers
Bob