Hi,

I'm trying to remove a doorknob from a * closed * door. The
doorknob is a very basic brass colored noname knob. It has no keyhole
and no lock. Just a knob which used to open the latch. The knob got
harder and harder to use, then one day it refused to open the latch at
all. So I am trying to remove it so I can install a new knob, or
maybe just leave the hole there. It is a utility closet door.

I have removed the 2 screws from the accessible side of the
knob. The other half of the knob, on the other side, is still in
place, but I can push it back and let it fall down behind the door
inside the closet, and see what I can then do with the latch which
will remain in the door and the jamb (wood into which the latch
juts) .

I've tried the "credit card" trick and it doesn't work.

Removing the hinges looks like it won't work either.

The plastic part on the latch is broken, so there's no need to save
anything. I'll be tossing the knob.

If I push the other half of the knob away, can I then just wiggle the
latch out from the jamb? I know, why not just try it? But maybe it's
necessary to keep the other half of the doorknob intact to get the
latch to retract ????

Thanks

wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm trying to remove a doorknob from a * closed * door. The doorknob
is a very basic brass colored noname knob. It has no keyhole and no
lock. Just a knob which used to open the latch. The knob got
harder and harder to use, then one day it refused to open the latch at
all. So I am trying to remove it so I can install a new knob, or maybe
just leave the hole there. It is a utility closet door. I have removed
the 2 screws from the accessible side of the knob. The other half of
the knob, on the other side, is still in place, but I can push it back and
let it fall down behind the door inside the closet, and see what I can
then do with the latch which
will remain in the door and the jamb (wood into which the latch juts) .
I've tried the "credit card" trick and it doesn't work. Removing the
hinges looks like it won't work either. The plastic part on the latch is
broken, so there's no need to save anything. I'll be tossing the knob.

If I push the other half of the knob away, can I then just wiggle the
latch out from the jamb? I know, why not just try it? But maybe it's
necessary to keep the other half of the doorknob intact to get the latch
to retract ????

Thanks

When you have the knob off you should be able to see a square hole that the
doorknob's shaft goes through. Usually this hole is plastic so I'm not sure
if this is the plastic part that you refer to that is broken. Anyway, shove
a large screwdriver into that hole and rotate it to draw the latch back out
of the catch. If it's too stiff and won't turn, spray anything that moves
with a penetrating oil like 3-in-1, a jiggle to get the slightest movement
to move the parts a little and then, let it sit for an hour. If it still
won't turn, repeat the process. If it still won't budge get a bigger bar in
the hole. If you can't find one just get a pipe wrench on the shaft of the
screwdrive - maybe have someone pushing on the screwdrive so that it won't
jump out of the hole. Still nothing? I'm out of suggestions. You should
get one that works from someone else on the board who has more between the
ears than I do.
Good luck ;-)
Chuck

wrote:
Hi,

I'm trying to remove a doorknob from a * closed * door. The
doorknob is a very basic brass colored noname knob. It has no keyhole
and no lock. Just a knob which used to open the latch. The knob got
harder and harder to use, then one day it refused to open the latch at
all. So I am trying to remove it so I can install a new knob, or
maybe just leave the hole there. It is a utility closet door.

I have removed the 2 screws from the accessible side of the
knob. The other half of the knob, on the other side, is still in
place, but I can push it back and let it fall down behind the door
inside the closet, and see what I can then do with the latch which
will remain in the door and the jamb (wood into which the latch
juts) .

I've tried the "credit card" trick and it doesn't work.

Removing the hinges looks like it won't work either.

The plastic part on the latch is broken, so there's no need to save
anything. I'll be tossing the knob.

If I push the other half of the knob away, can I then just wiggle the
latch out from the jamb? I know, why not just try it? But maybe it's
necessary to keep the other half of the doorknob intact to get the
latch to retract ????


Door opens inward or outward?

If outward, ( towards you) you should be able to see the bolt. If you can
see the bolt, you can reach if with a reciprocating saw!

Actually, if the bolt has a "feeler" on it, a half-round smaller pin that
senses when the door is closed and locks the bolt in place, you could saw or
bend that "feeler" to allow the bolt to move.

A hole saw the same diameter of the existing hole - and made for metal -
could be used to eviscerate all the innard's working parts.

As a last resort, take comfort that interior doors don't cost much.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

More info : Yes, the door opens towards me. I can see a
semicircular shaft poking straight out from what remains of the knob.
The plastic part which used to be on the left of the shaft is gone
(broke off). I can see some metal inside the right half of this
plastic piece. I'm thinking I can push on the metal with a screwdriver
and get the latch to retract. Hard to figure out how this thing works.

I'm afraid to spray any lube on it yet, since that would make it
harder to get a grip on anything.

Every time I try something, something else breaks off !

Since I can actually see the inside of this plastic part, should I not
be able to manipulate the latch mechanism somehow to get it to
retract ?

Thanks

With the knobs off, use a screwdriver and/or pliers to pry the guts out of
the latch.

Be sure to pry in such a way as you only trash the latch without busting up
the door. Once the guts of the latch come out the door will open and then
you can remove the latch and replace it.

Your local locksmith will probably have replacement latches available.

--
Roger Shoaf
If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent.


wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm trying to remove a doorknob from a * closed * door. The
doorknob is a very basic brass colored noname knob. It has no keyhole
and no lock. Just a knob which used to open the latch. The knob got
harder and harder to use, then one day it refused to open the latch at
all. So I am trying to remove it so I can install a new knob, or
maybe just leave the hole there. It is a utility closet door.

I have removed the 2 screws from the accessible side of the
knob. The other half of the knob, on the other side, is still in
place, but I can push it back and let it fall down behind the door
inside the closet, and see what I can then do with the latch which
will remain in the door and the jamb (wood into which the latch
juts) .

I've tried the "credit card" trick and it doesn't work.

Removing the hinges looks like it won't work either.

The plastic part on the latch is broken, so there's no need to save
anything. I'll be tossing the knob.

If I push the other half of the knob away, can I then just wiggle the
latch out from the jamb? I know, why not just try it? But maybe it's
necessary to keep the other half of the doorknob intact to get the
latch to retract ????

Thanks

On Mar 23, 8:09 am, N8N wrote:
On Mar 23, 11:30 am, wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

More info : Yes, the door opens towards me.

Can't you just knock the pins out of the hinges and then remove the
door that way, then just remove the whole latch assembly and replace?

I agree that you ought to be able to push the shaft through to the
other side and then manipulate the latch through the door knob hole to
allow the door to open, but if all else fails the above should be plan
B.

good luck

nate

N8N, I haven't actually tried it yet, but it looks like part A of
the hinge is going to get in the way of part B after I get the pin
out. But, haven't tried it yet !

I should add that the latch is springloaded, keeping it extended.
Thanks for the help.

wrote in message
...

I should add that the latch is springloaded, keeping it extended.
Thanks for the help.

I realize it is spring loaded, but it will not be when you remove the spring
from the backside.

The cause of this problem is that the internal parts in the latch break,
(Usually due to improper installation, causing undue stress on things.) and
jam up.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

wrote in message
...
On Mar 23, 8:09 am, N8N wrote:
On Mar 23, 11:30 am, wrote:

Hi,
snip

good luck

nate

N8N, I haven't actually tried it yet, but it looks like part A of
the hinge is going to get in the way of part B after I get the pin
out. But, haven't tried it yet !

You won't know if you don't try. If it doesn't work you just put the pins
back in.

Update . I got the latch out. I inadvertently ended up using the
Roger Shoaf method (thanks, RS) since every time I tried to finesse
the latch out, another part of the latch self-destructed. Yes, the
spring eventually appeared, and I removed it, and yes, I was able to
pull the latch out with a needle nosed pliers.

Also, I removed the the hinge pins, and no, the door would not come
off the hinges.



But yes, I got the latch out ! Yay. Thanks for the help.