So this morning my door latch got stuck. Knob can turn but it wont open. So i try to remove the door knob. Knob can be removed but the latch is jammed. I cant slip the card. I dont know what to do. I share this in my instagram. So the language some would be in malay. But i just too lazy to snap another picture. Anyone can help?
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In addition to what @SW-User said above about trying to use pliers to manipulate the piece that sticks out... Do so carefully, because if it breaks you could be stuck having to break a lot more to get the door open. (Of course, if you're lucky, breaking that will allow the door to open; but personally, I'm never that lucky.)
If it's the sort of door handle assembly that I think it is, there should be a "slot" on the other side of that piece that extends out. If so, there will be a "tab" in the door handle that came from that side, which you can check for. (assuming you can see it, since I assume it fell to the ground.) If so, that slot / tab combo is what causes the latch to open; turning the handle causes the whole assembly to slide in, and the door opens.
To try and unstick that, if you have some WD40 (or similar lubricant) you can try spraying it into the mechanism and see if that gets things moving. You can also use a screwdriver in place of the "tab" on the door handle after you spray the WD40, and once you feel your way into the right place with your hand you can use the screwdriver to "turn" the doorknob.
You mentioned not being able to slip in a card. Do you mean using a credit card to slide into the door and push the latch? If so, that's something to keep trying [i]if[/i] the issue is just that your credit card doesn't reach. In that case, look for something equally firm but larger and see if you can manipulate that through the door crack to the latch to pop it open.
If that doesn't work, you might need to get somebody to help from the other side - either with a credit card (if it won't work from your side, it should work from the other) or to manipulate the lever. And if none of that works, you may have to resort to trying to break part of the door itself, unfortunately.
@LookingForIt987 thank you so much. I have to be honest. Actually i can already open the door after pushing the small slot like what u mention. It extends and push it in. Thus the door got open. I saw the plate and the screww. Only one screw can be removed another one giving headache... So this is when my stupidity happened. I closed the door again and it stuckkkkkk for good. I dont know what to do anymore.
@Pressygold Haha! I think we've all has those sort of "stupidity" moments. Don't sweat it. Are you actually stuck in that room, or is there another way out?
If you can safely get out of the room, try to find some WD40 or similar oil-based lubricant and spray it into the mechanism. It's almost certainly "stuck" somewhere near the slot, but if spraying in that area doesn't help, then spray closer to the door.
I have had this style of slot/tab door handle jam before, but I don't recall doing anything particularly special to get it unjammed other than continuing to try and manipulate it.
Actually, I guess one more question. Are you sure the "slot / tab" is what's jammed? So if you put the screwdriver into the slot, it doesn't turn at all? Or does it turn? I'm wondering if the screw you couldn't get out is sticking out far enough to get stuck on the "catch plate" of the door frame, rather than the mechanism being stuck?
@LookingForIt987 yes i can go out and in from that room. But there is no wd40 at the moment in this house. I figured to give up for the night and check it again tomorrow.
I am not sure actually. But the tab seems to be jammed and i cant put screwdriver on the slot.
Im not sure about the screw at the plate either. I dont have any screwdriver with me only drill to try it.
@Pressygold It looks like the screw head is stripped, which is why you had trouble getting it out. I always have a difficult time with them; none of the tricks I've ever seen really work for me.
When you get a moment, can you do a picture from the "other" side, so I can see the slot and such?
