How To Repair Kwikset Door Handle

Does your door handle feel wiggly when y'all turn it to open or close the door? This is a common problem in older doors and high-traffic entryways.

The culprit is usually something equally modest as an unfastened or broken screw simply a malfunctioning lockset can also cause the knob to spin loosely on the faceplate.

The good news is with a few bones tools, you tin easily become the knob to work again. Below, nosotros'll prove you how to set a loose doorknob in a matter of minutes.

Tools for fixing a doorknob

These are the tools you will need to tighten a loose doorknob:

Phillips-head screwdriver
Pocket-sized flathead screwdriver
Allen wrench
Paperclip or thin potent wire
Small flashlight

Stride-by-Step Guide on How to Fix Loose Door Knob

How y'all set a loose doorknob will depend on the handle style and how the lock organization is fastened to the door.

Most door lock systems have exposed screws that are quite easy to remove while others take hidden or recessed fasteners that y'all can admission by taking autonomously the doorknob and faceplate.

Don't worry though—whatever the fashion of your door lock system, we'll bear witness you how to ready a jiggly knob. Follow these simple steps:

Step i. Check how the knob is fastened to the door

The almost common doorknob installations are:

Exposed screws: Nearly doors come up with knobs that accept visible screws on the faceplate.
Jump-loaded with subconscious screws: With these types of doors, the screws are hidden backside the faceplate. The knob is fastened to the spindle with a spring-loaded button known every bit a detent.
Knob with a setscrew: Here, the screws are likewise hidden behind the faceplate while the knob is affixed to the lock system with a hexagonal-shaped setscrew.
Kwikset knobs: These are less common. You'd need to remove the doorknob and twist out the faceplate to betrayal the long spiral that passes through the spindle.

Footstep 2. Tighten exposed screws

If your door lock system is the conventional type with visible screws, all you have to do to set up a wobbly knob is to spike these screws.

Locate the screws on the faceplate on the interior knob. Then, using a Philips-head screwdriver (or a screwdriver that is uniform with the screws on the faceplate), turn the loose screws clockwise to tighten them.

Step 3. Fasten knob with hidden hexagonal ready screw

To repair this type of knob, attempt tightening the hexagonal setscrew or the hidden screws on the backplate after removing the knob itself.

Locate a pocket-size circular hole, unremarkably located on the side of the shaft of the interior knob.
Utilise a flashlight to peer through the hole—y'all should see a hexagonal-shaped spiral. This screw, also known as a setscrew keeps the knob from spinning on the spindle. Tiny as it is, a setscrew can cause the knob to feel jiggly when opening and closing the door.
Using an Allen wrench, tighten the setscrew to run into if this will solve the problem. If non, yous volition take to remove the knob to expose the screws in the backplate that holds the lockset assembly together.
To remove the knob, insert an Allen wrench into the modest round hole. Twist the wrench counterclockwise to remove the setscrew. This should costless the knob.
Next, pull out the faceplate, also known as the collar or 'rose' on round-shaped door handles. This will expose a backplate held in identify by screws.
Using a screwdriver, tighten any loose screws. Replace the rose, slide the knob back onto the spindle, and fasten information technology in place by inserting and tightening the hex-spiral back in its hole.

Pro tip: Be sure not to make setscrew too tight as you might need to remove the door only if you need to remove the knob to access loose hidden screws. Tightening the setscrew too much tin too make it difficult to turn the knob when endmost or opening the door.

Pace 4. Fix a spring-loaded knob with hidden screws

Some lock systems come with a jump-loaded clip known equally a detent. Similar the setscrew, this prune keeps the knob steadily attached to the spindle. To fix this blazon of lock system, you will commencement need to remove the knob to admission the loose screws on the backplate.

Locate a tiny slot along the shaft of the interior knob. Then, while holding the knob, insert a paperclip, firm wire, or pocket-sized flathead screwdriver through the hole and press briefly to spring the knob.
Pry out the knob and slide information technology out of the spindle. Take out the rose collar to expose the backplate and screws attaching the lockset mechanism to the door. If these fasteners are loose, it could be the reason why the doorknob itself is loose.
Using a screwdriver, tighten the loose screws. Then, replace the rose collar and turn it clockwise to fasten it in place.
Slide the knob back into the leap-loaded spindle and turn it clockwise to snap it back into its original position.

Step 5. Fix a loose Kwikset door knob

Kwikset lock systems were one time quite popular but they were kind of phased out and are not too common in many homes today.

If you take this type of lock arrangement (check the latch plate forth the edge of the door for the 'Kwikset' brand proper noun) you are not alone if y'all are having a hard time figuring out how to disassemble the system to tighten the loose mounting screws.

Unlike the other types of locks where small screws hold the unabridged organization together, Kwikset features characteristically long screws that become through the spindle that connects the exterior and interior knobs. Loose screws tin can crusade the handles to wobble.

Step vi. Disassemble the Kwikset doorknob

To prepare a loose Kwikset knob, you will demand to access the long screws in the spindle. But, outset, y'all will have to remove the knob.

Grab the rose and slightly twist it to divide it from the door. This volition expose a backplate that holds together the entire lock assembly.
Locate a thin slot on the side where the backplate meets the door. You lot will detect a small arrow inside the slot.
Using a pocket-size flathead screwdriver, slide the arrow upwards. Employ minimal forcefulness while doing this to avert any damages to the lockset. Sliding the arrow upward should release the knob and expose the backplate.
Slide the knob off the spindle to expose the long screws that run through the spindle and connect the interior and outside doorknobs.
Take a screwdriver to the long screws and tighten them to fix the rattling lockset assembly.
Replace the doorknob and twist it to the left to lock it into the spindle. The small arrow that you pushed up before will come downwards. Next, twist the rose once to lock the unabridged knob assembly in identify.

Congratulations! You've successfully repaired your loose doorknob. As yous can run into, you simply need basic DIY skills and a pinch of patience to resolve a mutual problem with door handles.

Extended Tips on how to tighten a door knob

Below are boosted recommendations for door lock maintenance and other smart things you lot can do to make this project a success:

Lubricate your lockset

Now that you lot accept disassembled the knob organisation, this is a good time to lubricate the inner parts including the spindle, screws, and backplate. Spray a tiny corporeality of silicone-based lubricant to keep rust abroad and prolong the life of your door lockset.

Repair the set screw using a thread locker

Sometimes, the set screw might come loose again, a short fourth dimension after tightening it, causing the knob to spin on the spindle. If this is the case, it is probable that the threads on the setscrew have lost their grip and are unable to go along the knob firmly secured to the spindle.

To resolve this, try applying a medium strength thread locker on the setscrew. The thread locker volition increase the setscrew'southward grip, ensuring that the knob firmly attaches to the spindle and is not wobbly. You can buy a tube of thread locker from your local hardware store.

When applying the thread locker to the setscrew, the tip of the thread locker should not touch the setscrew.

Replace the screws where possible

As you have seen, loose screws are usually the cause of a wobbly doorknob. Rust and age tin can break or wear out the screws, requiring them to be replaced.

Audit the mounting screws and setscrew—if they are lost or damaged, your best bet is to replace them. For a lost or damaged setscrew, remove the knob and take it to the hardware store to buy the correct fit replacement. If the mounting screws are cleaved or worn out bring one of them to the store to purchase the correct size.

Quickly repair a loose doorknob on your own and relieve money

When your doorknob starts to rattle, it can exist quite hard to figure out the cause, especially on lock systems without visible screws.

But, as nosotros've shown you, the culprit is usually loose screws either on the doorknob itself or on the subconscious backplate that holds the lockset together.

Once you locate the screws, information technology is just a matter of tightening them upward and your one time jiggly knob will be every bit adept as new.

Practise you take any questions or comments on fixing doorknob problems? Delight leave them below—we'd be happy to hear from you!

Source: https://www.wcmanet.org/how-to-fix-a-loose-door-knob/

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