Broken lock knob, screws for handle won't come out

Question

Hi!

This knob fell off our door and is broken. I tried to get the screws out of the door handle to see if anything else was broken and they just spin in place. Would we only need the knob part or is more likely broken? Not sure how we can get the handle off since the screws won't loosen or tighten.

Tom · Accepted Answer

Concerning the knob, I recommend the 82-107. You can use this to repair your handle, though you will need to take the handle off to get it on there. That seems to be an issue, but I'm not sure what to recommend. It sounds like the screw bosses on the exterior handle may have come loose, or may even be broken. When you turn the screw, you might be turning the whole boss instead of the screw inside the boss. You'll want to press down on them with your fingers while you turn the screw to keep them in place.

Keep in mind that this is just an educated guess. I don't know for sure that this is the problem, but it's the only thing I can think of.

As for whether anything else is broken, you may have an issue with the mortise. I recommend trying to flip it manually with a screwdriver. That should tell you for sure if it needs replacing or not. If it activates normally, great. If it hangs up then you need a new one. I can help with that, too, but I need to see.