Door handle does not fully retract bolt from box in door frame

Question

When pressed fully down the door handle does not does not fully retract the bolt from the box in the door frame. The latch extends about 1/8" beyond the plate on the door. This is enough to prevent the door from opening without a very hard jerk. The problem is the same whether opening the door from the inside or the outside. Any suggestions for making the necessary adjustment.

Thanks.

Tom · Accepted Answer

It sounds like a problem with the inside mortise lock. It's possible the spring inside is broken. A good way to test this is to remove the handles from the door and then try to throw the mortise manually, like with a screwdriver. If the problem persists, then that's your culprit.