Sliding patio door lock questions that have been sent to me over the years. I hope you can find help for your own problem by skimming through these examples.
Have
a vinyl glass patio frame and mortise lock broken. Original handle
mounting holes and keyway hole are drilled through inner metal frame to
deep for a universal replacement to be installed easily. Do I need to
remount and re-drill all the hardware?
The easiest fix would be to attach a surface mount patio door lock. These can be adapted to just about any patio panel.
The C1000, C1105 and C1216 lock on my surface mount locks page would work.
The
only trick would be adapting the lock keeper to mount on the casing on
the side door jamb. Call me or contact me using the numbers on the home
page if you need more help.
By J.R.
Stockton, CA
by Ashley K.
(Charleston, SC)
Dimensions for Anderson mortise lock cutout. The extra round holes allow for the mortise lock lock to be flipped over as a way to accomodate left or right hand doors.
Our sliding glass door has been broken since the first week we moved into our home 7 years ago.
I
tried and tried back then to figure out a remedy, but in the end I
eventually settled with cutting a space two-by-four to act as a security
brace.
Now we are selling our home and I can't ignore the sliding glass door any longer.
Basically,
the panel is missing the mortise lock hardware and the handle. Using my
handy calipers, I measured the holes that were cut for the handle and
the mortise lock, and since then I've been searching for suitable
replacement parts.
I don't have any idea who manufactured the
panel, but I have managed to put together a 1:1 scale diagram of the
door's hole placements.
I'm getting desperate to find a working
solution. We need to put the house on the market within the week, and
souring the net for a sure solution is wearing me down.
Please help!
I
converted my cutout diagram to a jpg and did my best to preserve the
scale. As long as the server doesn't resample my image, everything
should line up correctly.
Hi Ashley;
After a lot
of searching this looks to me like an Anderson panel. Their old mortise
lock design certainly fits the mortise drawing you have provided.
The
hole 2-9/16 hole centers on the Anderson lock dont match up though. I
think you are going to have to drill at least one extra hole through the
door to get an Anderson handle set to fit.
This shouldnt be a huge big deal since the holes will all be covered up by the handle set.
by Chris
(Bend, Oregon)
I
have a nice, double paned, Guardian sliding glass door circa 1992 and
the mortise latch needs to be replaced for the exact reason you mention:
the latch has become very loose and it typically stays inside the lock
and won't extend when we want to latch the door.
The problem I've
run into is that it doesn't appear that I'm going to be able to remove
the worn out mortise latch as the hole in the door is too small for it to
be removed (see photos). It appears that Guardian manufactured the
mortise latch inside frame before completing the assembly of the door.
Since the corner joints of the vinyl door are welded together, I don't
appear to have access to the latch from the back side either.
My
question is, what can be done at this point? I really don't want to have
to replace the entire door as this is far more costly than just
replacing the latch. Do you know what can be done in this case? Thank you
for any advise or help you can provide.
Hi Chris;
Normally
the mortise latch comes out through the oval shaped hole it is mounted
into. First use a pin or small screwdriver to hook out the broken latch
hasp and then clamp some locking pliers onto it so the latch does not
fall back inside the door.
You already have the handle removed
which is the first step. Then remove the screws on the top and bottom of
the oval shaped hole. The lock will now be free to move.
You
need to keep a good grip on the latch hasp yet have enough room to push
the latch backwards and tilt it until the top edge starts to come through
the oval shaped hole.
You could also wrap a piece of wire around
the hasp and tie it off. Lots of ways to prevent the latch from
dissapearing inside the door. If it does fall in you will have to use a
magnet on the end of a long thin stick or take the door off and remove
the bottom to get it out.
Comment:
I affixed my vice-grips
to the latch like you suggested and it came right out. I thought
everything I was seeing that was metal was supposed to come through the
hole, including the cage in which the removable part rests. Yes, I feel
silly. But I bought a replacement at the hardware store and for just
over fourteen bucks, my door is finally fixed. It's been years. Thanks
for your help!
Awesome ! Glad to hear it worked out for you !
by Justine O.
(Atlanta, GA)
I
have been back and forth to Lowes and Home Depot here in Metro Atlanta
trying to obtain the correct part to fix the latch on my sliding glass
patio door.
I happened across your site after asking a locksmith
who was at my workplace, and he had no clue what the thing was. (Oddly
enough, I had the part in my purse because I had stopped at a hardware
store this morning).
You site showed clear pictures of the
mortise latch, explained the differences between the 2013 and 2014, and I
know what I need now!!
You have been a lifesaver for this single
woman who is trying to do it herself and not pay a service man hundreds
of dollars for a part that is less than $20.
Thank You Thank You Thank You.
(PS.. I need the 2014.. the keyway is 45 degrees)
Thanks so much for the kind words Justine !
Helping people save money on repairs is exactly why I put this site together.
It's
fine to have big box stores but all to often the staff dont know what
they are selling. I like to bring the atmosphere of the old time
hardware store to the web.
I dont sell a lot of stuff but I do know my products inside out and backwards.
If you need the E2014 lock I have plenty in stock, just order it off the sliding door locks page
Happy to hear that I was able to help out!
Hello,
My patio door is Guardian. I found the door handles
but cannot find anyone selling the mortise latch. How can i check
exactly which mortise latch would fit my door ?
By Jeff
I
have an older patio panel, with a Truth Entry Gard Handle/Lock. Recently
it became harder to lock. There is an external key lock and an inside
sliding lock. It has gotten to the point, where it will not lock at all.
I
have cleaned the tracks, tried graphite and lubricant in the lock.
Where the lock meets the frame it is smooth with no mechanical
parts to connect to the frame.
On the upper and lower track there is a metal frame where their is a grove for something to come out of the door and slide into.
Is there some easy procedure to solve this problem or what other ideas would you suggest.
Anytime a patio door lock does not latch I start with chcking the alignment of the door.
When the door is closed is the door in line with the jamb ? When you just open it 1 inch, can you see a larger gap at the top or the bottom ?
The gap should be the same all the way down.
It if is not, adjust the door rollers at the bottom of the door to get it lined up.
If that does not get the door locking again, try marking the location of the hasp with a piece of masking tape then open the lock and close the door slowly.
The masking tape hangin out when the door is almost closed allows you to see where the lock is in relation to the hasp.
If it is too high or too low there are usually slots and screws in the hasp that allow you to adjust the height using a screwdriver.
You can also adjust the height of the door by raising or lowering the rollers