what is the purpose of the little push in thing that sits on top of the latch on a lockset? it goes in by itself and it goes in with the latch when you turn the knob. i found out that it shouldn’t fall into the strike hole but only the latch should. just curious.
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Freddy - It prevents the latch from being pushed back (by a tool or credit card slipped between the edge of the door and the jamb) so the locking action is a little more secure. You can test this with the door open, press the "little" latch in and hold it there, then try to depress the latch, it shouldn't move. BUIC
thanx for the reply. i guess you only need the little thing when using a lockset on an outswinging door because a person could try the credit card thing. its not needed on inswinging doors. right?
It is a security function called an anti-pick device or latch. You need it whether the door swings in or out.
Like the man said it keeps someone from sliding or jamming a thin pick, credit card, or slim jim, between the door and the jamb and "sweeping" the latch out of the catch.
Cork in Chicago
No it is needed on inswing doors.
Look at the way that the plunger is tapered to go into the strike. From the outside you would be working on that tapered edge with a "credit card".
BTW, I found out the hard way that if the strike is mis adjusted and lets that anti-pick plunger part the way into the strike plate that the latch will wearout and break.
I had one on my front door do that. I could not get the plumger retracted even after I do the knobset off and tried to work it directly.
had to take the pins ouf the door to get it open and remove the plunger.
When I took the old one to the locksmith he knew immediately by the wear patterns what happened.