On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:25:31 UTC, "John Chapman"
wrote:

Can anyone please advise best course of action when a mortice lock fails in
the locked position ?
Have a 5 lever ERA mortice lock on front door in addition to standard Yale
rimlock.
Locked the front door behind me this morning and it seemed a bit stiff and
tonight it will not reopen. However hard I turn the key the bolt will not
return and so door is effectively permanently locked. Have gained access to
house and tried all spare keys including almost brand new spare ones with no
success.

Any tips on how to retract the bolt ?

Worth trying, since you have time...

It may be that one of the pins has stuck in the 'up position (above its
'unlocked' position) and was pushed there as you withdrew the key last
time. You could try some powdered graphite puffed into the lock, then
move the key rapidly in and out and hope the pin drops back.


--
Bob Eager
rde at tavi.co.uk
PC Server 325*4; PS/2s 9585, 8595, 9595*2, 8580*3,
P70...