How to Adjust the Lock in a Side Frame Door

Open the door, extend the lock bolt by turning the key and start to close the door. The bolt must line up with the metal strike plate on the frame of the door if it is to work correctly. Remove the screws holding the strike plate to the door frame and pry it off. Move the strike plate up or down, depending on the position of the lock bolt. You might have to chisel away some of the wood to raise or lower the strike plate. Screw it into its new position and test the lock again. The bolt should enter the strike plate without touching the sides.

Spray a little graphite powder into the keyhole if the lock is stiff or difficult to turn. Unlike oils or other lubricants, graphite powder lubricates delicate moving parts such as those found in locks and watches without accumulating gunk. Graphite powder is available from most hardware stores; look for the product in a spray or squirt container to make it easier to apply the product. Move the key in and out a few times and turn the lock to work the powder into the mechanism. After a few uses the lock should feel smoother.

Tighten up the screws on the side of the door holding the bolt in place. If these are left loose the lock mechanism could shift around inside the door. Make sure the screws holding the handles in position, located on the inside handle, are tight, too.

Look in the hole of the strike plate and you might see a metal tab extending backwards into the hole in the frame. Bend the tab forward to reduce the amount of space available for the locking bolt in the strike plate. Too much room causes the door to rattle around in the wind. Bend the tab a little at a time until you find a position that keeps the door still. Not all strike plates have this tab.