"mm" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 07:03:37 GMT, "
wrote:

How do we flip a left-hand Kwikset lock so it works on a right-hand door?

I bought a set of Kwikset Security locks which advertise "Fits All Doors"
&
"Easy Installation". The Kwikset lock package contained two left-hand
keyed
knobs and two deadbolts.

The problem is there is NOTHING on the package that indicates the two
keyed
knobs are set up for left-handed doors (those with the hinge on the
left).
My outside doors are right-hand doors (they have the hinge on the right).

You just want the key to be "right side" up? How do you know which
side is the right side?

Why can't you just rotate the whole lock 180 degrees?

Because it will then be backwards with respect to the latch mechanism.


Every second house in my n'hood has a door that swings one way, and
every first and third house, the door swings the other way. (or opens
from the other side, depending on how you phrase it.) And I'm sure
they all have Kwikset locks like I do. Do you want me to check which
side of the keyhole goes up in my neighbors' locks?

For me, I think the key's teeth point up. Is that good or bad?

It's good and reversing the lock cylinder is a 30 second operation if you
know how so it's not that big a deal for anybody who does many of them.

It's crazy to me that Kwikset doesn't even SAY on the package that all my
lock cylinders will be upside down unless I can figure out how to switch
the Kwikset lock from being a left-hand knob to a right-hand knob.

Where is it written what is up and what is down?

The pins are supposed to be up. It's been discussed to death already but the
short answer is if they are down they will collect debris. A broken spring
will also cause a lockout. In practice it will work for a long time pins
down backwards or not and if the OP hasn't figured out how to reverse it yet
they should just leave it like that.