Door latch binding

[Oldlook]

When I use the push button, the latch sticks and won't engage. While ripping the guts apart and letting the door flop closed has worked fine for many years, I'd kind of like it to work again. Now that I've taken the mechanism out of the door I can see what's wrong with it, but i don't know how to fix it (aside from brute force.)

The pin on the back of the push-button arm drags all the way through the motion, and the arm sticks at the end. The pivot's not loose and the arm doesn't look bent. The rest of the latch works smoothly.

Thanks in advance!

 

[codekiddie]

Since I have recently overhauled my front door locks, I have pictures of the unit.

The circled part on yours seem to be at an angle and should be flat.

I'm inclined to think that the sticking is being caused under the circled part, rather than anything to do with the pin rubbing, although my pin does not seem to touch the rest of the unit :shock: It may be that the push button arm is finding its way under the angled part, and forcing it towards the body of the unit, causing the pin marks. Does the push button actually open the door, as I would suspect not.

 

[Oldlook]

Thank you for posting that picture. I don't have any spares to compare against without pulling apart another door. The latch part of the mechanism does look like the problem, but it's not held that way by pressure and works well when turned with the handle. I guess it shifted out of place somehow, the pushbutton arm got underneath, and levered the entire thing crooked with use. The pin does contact, you can see where it's worn on the metal, but it seems like it's just a symptom. The arm turns the latch about half as much as the handle, I don't remember if that would open the door.

It looks like your mechanism has a larger rivet holding the spring down. Wonder if that's related.

 

[Dangermouse]

Why faff about with this, there are plenty on eBay going cheap.