How to Troubleshoot the Installation of Baldwin Locks

Remove the deadbolt turn knob assembly and the lock cylinder if the deadbolt won't turn without the key in it. From the inside of the door, extend the deadbolt all the way out by turning the slotted screw in the center of the mechanism clockwise with a flat-head screwdriver. Reinstall the cylinder with the long tailpiece held vertical. Hold the cylinder in this position while you reinstall the deadbolt turn knob assembly.

Reinstall the spindle if the inside knob or lever doesn't retract the latch bolt and spins freely instead. Remove the lower handle set. The spindle is the square rod through the square hole in the latch mechanism and into the door handles. Remove and reinstall the spindle so that the short side of spindle faces the exterior of the house, and the long side of the spindle -- the side with the V groove in it -- faces the inside.

Check the position of the set screw on the knob or lever if it keeps falling off the spindle. The set screw is on the underside of the knob or lever. It should fit into the V groove in the spindle and be fully tightened. Use the Allen wrench to loosen the set screw, check the position and tighten it again.

Remove and relocate the deadbolt strike plate if the deadbolt extends when the door is open but won't extend when the door is closed. This indicates that the strike plate is not aligned properly with the deadbolt. With the door closed, look through the gap in the door and try to extend the deadbolt, noting whether the deadbolt is striking the upper or lower edge of the strike plate. Remove the strike plate and the reinforcing plate under it by removing the Phillips-head screws that hold the plates into the door. Reinstall them higher or lower on the door frame as needed.

Call Baldwin customer service if you have to turn the deadbolt knob forcefully to get it to retract all the way. This is an indication that you received the wrong lock cylinder and it may need to be replaced.