On Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:35:16 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
wrote:

MY 6-year-old Larson storm dooor latch mechanism died today. I went
out to get the newspaper and the storm door wouldn't open when I tried
to get back in the house. I had to ring the doorbell to get my wife
to open the garage door so I could get back in. Fotunately, the
weather was good.

After considerable prying weith knives and putty knives, I was aboe to
get the door open. WHat happened was that the latch mechanism had
disconneted itself from the bars that retract it from the outward
position where it rests against the striker plate. There is one spot
where the metal cross-section is only about 1/8" square, and that is
where the mechanism broke.

Went to the Larson web site, they would sell a complete new latch
assembly for $45 or so. Called their hotline phone, after the web
site said it was open Monday thru Saturday (today is Saturday in the
Chicago area), only to get the message that they are only open Mon -
Friday. Their wab site needs fixing.

Went to our local Menards where the door was purchased 6 years ago.
They had a replacement door latch kit for only $35. Bought it and
came home to install. I discovered that the latch assembly would not
work on my Larson door because the handle assembly sould not reach the
outside lever/doorknob. Also, the replacement was a totally different
locking schemeee, with a key and turn the center of the knob like in
residential interior doors.

I was able to remove the handle from one side of the replacement
assembly and use it and the new latching mechanism to restore the
door. The only difference is there is now no way to lock the storm
door, but we haven't used that feature of the door more than 4 times
in six years, so that is ok. The new "brass" color is different from
the old doorr, but that is only visible when you look at both the
inside and outside knobs/levers at the same time, which is also pretty
infrequently.

So, I ended up spending $39.50 including tax, to replace the latching
assembly because Larson used such a cheap piece of potting metal on a
strategic piece of their door. I never buy Larson again!!!!!


I have Emco storm doors. One door has been replaced twice, free of
charge, my labor. These doors are sold as "Forever Doors" and their
claim is that you will buy their door only ONE time. Home Depot
sells them.

I would expect Larson would send you a free replacement. Let us know
what they said after you call the hotline on Monday.