Door handle hard to operate

[CoffeeCake]

Attached is a picture of external door handle which has become very hard to operate. I tried oiling the catches in the door but they have made little difference. Any ideas.

 

[crank39]

Thats a pad handle and technically shouldn't do anything when pulling down i.e. shouldn't release the latch, is it tight going down or up or both ways? Take the handles off and see if the actual handles are stiff or whether its the main gearbox. Try the inner handle on the outside, no need to fit the inner handle just poke the handle and spindle through the square hole and operate the handle, try the spindle in both holes, my guess is the inner handle uses the top hole and the outer uses the lower hole and you have 2 spindles

 

[CoffeeCake]

Thank you. It's hard going up when trying to lock it from the outside. I will send a DM with some more pictures if ok.

 

[ronniecabers]

That sounds more like adjustment... if you have the door open and operate the handle.to lock it , is it still stiff? If not the door lock is out of alignment with the keeps. Could be that the door has dropped slightly or bowed or even just expanded in the heat if its only just started to happen

 

[CoffeeCake]

Thanks Ronnie. I think you are right it's something when the door is shut because when it's open it's working fine. I will check the alignment first.