Broken Door Knob with No Access! - DIY Home Improvement, Remodeling & Repair Forum

songman724 · 01-10-2009, 08:20 AM

The doorknob on my master BR closet is broken... the knob will turn but nothing happens. The door opens into the closet, so I cannot access the screws or the door hinges on the inside of the closet. The molding on the bedroom side of the door prevents me from sliding a credit card to move the latch. The knob has no lock, just a flat surface on the knob, but other bedroom doorknobs have a small access hole in middle of the knob to insert a small screwdriver or tool to open it from the outside. This knob does not, so I tapped a small hole in it & inserted a screwdriver - I can turn the mechanism inside but it won't free the latch. Tried WD40, but it didn't help either. There is also no release hole on the shaft side of the door knob to press to remove the knob.

At this point the only option I can see is to use a hacksaw to remove the door knob so I can access the hole and try to remove the parts with needle nosed pliers. I don't want to remove the molding either. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

inspectorD · 01-10-2009, 05:58 PM

Drill an access hole, then punch out the lock on the other side. Drill as far as you need to, then change the lock.

spaz2965 · 01-10-2009, 07:14 PM

you may try a piece of vinyl siding slide the whole way through above lock and work downward on a angle so the the siding on the inside of door hits latch release with a little bit of persistence you will get it, if you don't have a piece of siding find a job site and look in dumpster you may have luck there.

Richwho · 01-12-2009, 04:44 PM

Here's a real low tech solution but it only works if you have a decent gap between the door and frame. I've used two sharp objects on the actual latch where it goes in the strike plate. You simply use one object to slide the latch back into the door, the hold so the latch doesn't spring back in, then use the other sharp object to move it back a bit further, and repeat several times until the latch moves back into the door and you can pull the door open. I've also had success sing a piece of wire shaped like a boomerang, fishing it behind the latch and then pulling the two ends, one above and one below the latch, towards me to release the latch.

triple D · 01-12-2009, 07:39 PM

Its your call, when you can look in there you should see a crescent moon looking piece going through latch slide mechanism. This is where you insert a flat head screwdriver and turn clockwise. Good luck....

01-10-2009, 08:20 AM	#1
songman724 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1	Broken Door Knob with No Access! The doorknob on my master BR closet is broken... the knob will turn but nothing happens. The door opens into the closet, so I cannot access the screws or the door hinges on the inside of the closet. The molding on the bedroom side of the door prevents me from sliding a credit card to move the latch. The knob has no lock, just a flat surface on the knob, but other bedroom doorknobs have a small access hole in middle of the knob to insert a small screwdriver or tool to open it from the outside. This knob does not, so I tapped a small hole in it & inserted a screwdriver - I can turn the mechanism inside but it won't free the latch. Tried WD40, but it didn't help either. There is also no release hole on the shaft side of the door knob to press to remove the knob. At this point the only option I can see is to use a hacksaw to remove the door knob so I can access the hole and try to remove the parts with needle nosed pliers. I don't want to remove the molding either. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

01-10-2009, 05:58 PM	#2
inspectorD Housebroken Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,852	Yup Drill an access hole, then punch out the lock on the other side. Drill as far as you need to, then change the lock. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]IT IS WHAT IT IS.

01-12-2009, 07:39 PM	#5
triple D Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gold Bar, WA Posts: 284	hack or drill? Its your call, when you can look in there you should see a crescent moon looking piece going through latch slide mechanism. This is where you insert a flat head screwdriver and turn clockwise. Good luck.... __________________ See my work-Check out my album. "Git 'Er Done":D

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01-10-2009, 07:14 PM	#3
spaz2965 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PA Posts: 83	you may try a piece of vinyl siding slide the whole way through above lock and work downward on a angle so the the siding on the inside of door hits latch release with a little bit of persistence you will get it, if you don't have a piece of siding find a job site and look in dumpster you may have luck there.

01-12-2009, 04:44 PM	#4
Richwho Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 5	Here's a real low tech solution but it only works if you have a decent gap between the door and frame. I've used two sharp objects on the actual latch where it goes in the strike plate. You simply use one object to slide the latch back into the door, the hold so the latch doesn't spring back in, then use the other sharp object to move it back a bit further, and repeat several times until the latch moves back into the door and you can pull the door open. I've also had success sing a piece of wire shaped like a boomerang, fishing it behind the latch and then pulling the two ends, one above and one below the latch, towards me to release the latch.