Slide the end of a small screwdriver into the hole in the shank.
Lever door handle wont lock.
The door latch is not extended before rotating the knob.
Being a lever handle versus a knob was irrelevant i removed the handles by removing the screws on the interior side removing the interior handle then removing the exterior mechanism.
Inspect the shank of the doorknob for a small hole or indentation.
If the levers won t turn in the cylinder or there is excess debris however you can attempt to fix it yourself.
This allowed me access to the bolt mec.
It will come in two pieces.
If there is too much debris obstructing the levers from the bit key simply clean the levers in the.
Once the door is open try to actuate the door latch with the handle.
The lock can then be dislodged from the door.
Once the lock is off the door you can see what kind of problem it is.
At this point if the damage is too bad you may have to replace the entire lock or consult a locksmith.
Tug on the knob with the screwdriver still inserted in the hole.
Remove the two screws one on either side of the handle and remove the knob.
Leave the striker bolt in place.
The handle or knob must be jiggled to unstick the latch.
Lubricate the inside of the mechanism if the lock still does not function.
More force is needed to turn the knob and unstick the latch.
Step 3 determine the problem.
Check to see that the door striker the spring loaded bolt that latches the door pushes in and springs back easily.
The knob should come right.
This is the short version of what you should attempt to do before trying anything else if the screw is loose the key will not turn all the way and the tur.