Morning all - My back door is a double glazed upvc job. Since we've been here we have never been able to turn the key fully and remove it, at least not while locked. We can lock the door and rotate the key to about 8 o'clock but it won't turn any further or remove. It does this from both sides of the door. It will turn back to 12 and the key can be removed but then the door's open. Lifting the handle operates the locking pins/bars but as there's no key action to lock it into that position it's useless. So we constantly leave the key in the back door - it's the only way of "locking" the door as such.

It's almost if we have a turnbuckle lock but with keys - is that possible?

What's the solution? Sack it off and replace? Difficult/easy job?

Thanks everyone

Michael

if it's the same as mine, it should be easy

there's a screw on the edge of the door that goes into the lock unit, maybe 4mm 5mm remove that, turn the key about 1/3rd towards unlock and the whole lock unit should slide out, seem to remember it cost me about £25 for lock and 4 keys

Hi there.
I am in the process of changing our locks for more secure items.
Research on the net revealed how woefully insecure standard cylinder locks are. They can usually be opened in seconds by a technique known as "bumping". Even many supposedly secure locks are seemingly vulnerable.
Make sure that any replacement lock that you buy are truly "anti-bump".
There's plenty of info on the net regarding measuring your existing locks so as to buy correct replacements should you wish to go that way.

Geoff.

Thanks guys! Sorry about the delay, on hols sans Web access!