My UPVC front door has a 3-point multilock: 2 hooks and a latch & deadbolt split spindle gearbox.
On three occasions in one month I have been locked out of my home because the key refused to turn all the way. The deadbolt would retract but I believe one or more of the hooks wouldn't. My door lock seems to work the rest of the time except on those three occasions. A handyman came around each time I was locked out and let me in using a toilet flush pipe of all things, but he did not fix the underlying problem.
Finally, a specialist came around 2 days ago to do an initial assessment of my door lock. This specialist says that he has to convert my lock from a split spindle operation to single spindle for it to work without hiccup ever again. Is that correct? He said that key-turning alone wasn't providing enough torque to open my lock, but if he installed a lever handle on the outside of my front door it would ensure that there would always be enough torque to open my door.
However I prefer split spindle operation as I am disabled and have problems with memory and concentration and I am certain I will forget to deadbolt my door from the inside and outside sometimes. The specialist has temporarily taped back my door hooks until he returns so that I won't get locked out again, and so far in 2 days I haven't been locked out. My front door opens and closes very easily without any friction, and as far as I can tell with my amateur eye the hooks and the latch are not catching in their keeps, so what could be wrong with my door lock and is there an alternative I could suggest to the specialist so that I can keep the split spindle operation on my lock? I have a feeling the specialist is just offering me the solution that is easiest for him but not the one that would fit my needs.
Thank you if you can help.
On three occasions in one month I have been locked out of my home because the key refused to turn all the way. The deadbolt would retract but I believe one or more of the hooks wouldn't. My door lock seems to work the rest of the time except on those three occasions. A handyman came around each time I was locked out and let me in using a toilet flush pipe of all things, but he did not fix the underlying problem.
Finally, a specialist came around 2 days ago to do an initial assessment of my door lock. This specialist says that he has to convert my lock from a split spindle operation to single spindle for it to work without hiccup ever again. Is that correct? He said that key-turning alone wasn't providing enough torque to open my lock, but if he installed a lever handle on the outside of my front door it would ensure that there would always be enough torque to open my door.
However I prefer split spindle operation as I am disabled and have problems with memory and concentration and I am certain I will forget to deadbolt my door from the inside and outside sometimes. The specialist has temporarily taped back my door hooks until he returns so that I won't get locked out again, and so far in 2 days I haven't been locked out. My front door opens and closes very easily without any friction, and as far as I can tell with my amateur eye the hooks and the latch are not catching in their keeps, so what could be wrong with my door lock and is there an alternative I could suggest to the specialist so that I can keep the split spindle operation on my lock? I have a feeling the specialist is just offering me the solution that is easiest for him but not the one that would fit my needs.
Thank you if you can help.
