Hey guys,
Tapping the wealth of info once more. I just finished a remodel on a house, and in the course replaced all of the entry doors and hardware. The customer picked out the entry locksets which were Schlage, knob style single cylinder handsets with thumbturn interior locking buttons. The problem is when you lock the door, the interior knob still turns freely, while the outside remains locked. I know I have seen these before, but was wondering if there is an adjustment that would correct it. Of course I properly disposed of all of the instructions without reading them and before attempting to install these locksets. Any ideas would be appreciaated.
Thanks ,
Cole
Cole Dean
Dean Contracting
Replies
Not sure I understand what exactly you are trying to correct. The lockset is designed to operate just that way, allowing the door to be opened from the inside without having to unlock it.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Schlage has a couple kinds of entry locksets. One is like on Motels. Unless you actively turn the gear on the inside, it remains always locked. You can and will open from the inside and find yourself locked out. With the other type, you turn it to open from either side and the lock button pops out so it is unlocked intiol you lock it again.
Is this the trouble?
Thanks, Piffin. That's good info to have. I've only ever encountered the "lock yourself out unwittingly" style from Schlage and so I always bring this feature to the client's attention before any locksets are purchased and installed. Had a client choose the "potential trouble" variety because they said it didn't matter and then found themselves locked out at -10°F upon exiting the spa. The husband had to run naked around the front of the house, only to be greeted by the motion sensor lights as the next door neighbor’s visitors got into their cars to go home. They’ve since placed a hidden spare key out back to that door. Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
chuckles...Excellence is its own reward!
our last house, we put in a new front door with schlage hw. had a separate deadbolt, and the handle that you press down you thumb on, so it is a different beast, however there was a weird bit to the instructions, if i recall it was something like this. please note that my knowledge of the terminology is pretty slim, but : when assembling the lockset, it seemed to me that you had to rotate the square shaft 90 deg before putting it through the bolt. or make sure the bolt was all the way out or all the way in or something odd that seemed wacky at the time. our carpenter did not do so, and the door would open from one side but not the other. i discreetly pointed this step out to him after his third try, and everything worked fine.
i realise you are dealing with a different lockset, but i would suggest finding a set of instructions, and checking for a similar step. logically, it made no sense to me, but it solved our problem, which is kinda vaguely in a way almost sort of not really but maybe like kinda nearly similar to yours in a weird way if you think about it.
i figure, the more answers you get, the more likely it is that one of them will help. the old "shotgun" approach.
Thanks for the help,
Yes the problem is the unwittingly locking of oneself out. I will try to dig up some instructions and correct the problem. Thanks for the help.
ColeCole Dean
Dean Contracting
An advantage of being able to bail out of a door without unlocking it first is in the case of emergencies, like fire. Some jurisdictions require such an entry set.
I've installed several exit doors from bedrooms for elderly (lever handle) for emergency egress out of the building.
Lock functions in general are not something you change in the field. You buy the lock with the function you want.
Schlage makes two different "entrance locks". One entrance lock is the turn button lock. From the inside you turn the button to lock the lock. Entrance may now be gained with the key but, to truly unlock the lock you must turn the button.
The other entrance lock has a push and or turn button. You can lock this lock by either pushing the button in or by pushing it in and turning it. When turned it functions like the lock described above. When simply pushed in it unlocks with key and it would also unlock when the knob is turned. I.E. if you just push it in it will not be locked behind you after you turn the knob to exit.
Neither lock is ever going to lock you in.
There is also an "entrance/office lock" it has push button only and is much harder to inadverdantly lock yourself out with.
Not all lock models may be available in all of these styles.
There are several other lock functions as well more commonly used in commercial applications.
joe d
Edited 9/26/2002 11:29:20 AM ET by joe d
Good reply. You need to look at the lock function. You can also get a store room function that is always locked from the outside and free to open from the inside. I just replaced my back door lockset and was surprised that when I used the key to open the door the door was then unlocked until you turned the button on the inside to lock it. The original lock stayed locked if you used a key. Took awhile to remember to turn the button.
Guess what...the instructions don't tell you anything but how to install the lockset. I just checked mine. I do know what you are talking about since I locked myself out this afternoon. It might not have been the first time. Luckily I have a keybox attached to the wall near my garage door. I think it is just how the locks function!