"deadlatch" malfunction

The link here is a to a picture of a troublesome door latch that hoping I'm someone could advise on the approach to fix. http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...1/IMG_1000.jpg It's installed on an exterior door to a gift shop. The link here is to a parts diagram I found online of which I'm fairly certain is the particular model of Adams-Rite mechanism I'm having to deal with. http://www.adamsrite.com/media/pdf/p...700part-08.pdf What seems to be the issue is that the parts shown in the diagram called the "bolt assemblies" (part 9 and part 11 in the diagram) are failing to hold the door locked securely when the door is locked with the key. The door latch was subject to either some overuse or abuse as time has passed, and now it is possible to use a credit card to work the bigger size "bolt" open from the outside after being locked, and the smaller size bolt also doesn't seem to secure the door otherwise either, often getting stuck inside and not popping out when it should.

If the internals of the mechanism are worn or damaged I can see that it's possible to acquire an exact replacement of this make/model latch (apparently it is called a "deadlatch" mechanism). However, with no experience installing such a latch or working with a door such as this, I have two basic initial questions:

1. To replace this latch in this type of "aluminum stile" door, how does it come out anyway? I really don't see any obvious screws there which attach it, other than the screws along the stile which seem upon initial inspection to be more involved with removing the stile off of the door. Is that what it would probably entail to remove/replace this latch?

2. In the photo you can see the end of the interior "crash bar" also installed on this door. With the latch issue as described above, would it be likely that the crash bar operation is also somehow involved directly with the malfunction, even if the crash bar otherwise exhibits no sign of unusual operation?

Any suggestions/comments appreciated.

 

Basically, there are two set screws side by side which I see in your photo. Loosen, don't remove them yet,( you may not have to) and spin the lock cylindar(s) out with a screw driver (counter clockwise). It's threaded. After that's out, remove the screws on the face plate (No 6) and the screws behind it. (No 7). The assembly should slide out.

A few things to watch are: The lock cylindar threads may be different on the new assembly. Don't lose the set screws in case they don't come with the new assembly. Measure the height and width of the assembly before you place your order. If you remove the assembly before you place an order, look for the name of the company on it.

 

Thanks Pulpo, but those bright dots side by side which are even with the cylinder are not what you'd think are set screws, in fact they are just holes through the dark aluminum door edge and a solid plate behind them with no holes. I think I need try to take off the dark aluminum first to see whats going on under there, look for screws there I guess. Hopefully the cylinder will just unscrew like you said, but I have a hunch the crashbar business will be hooked in with the latch too.
The company name is visible, not really in the photo, but it is the Adams-Rite make.

 

Yes, the crash bar and the side plate will have to be removed. The contact information for Adams-Rite is below as well as their web site. Call them with all the measurements after you remove the side plate.

Corporate Information

By phone:
(909) 632-2300
(800) 87-ADAMS
(800) 872-3267
Mon-Thu: 6:00am - 4:00pm PDT
Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm PDT

 

Both of you are headed in the right direction.

Is the panic device affecting the lock? I don't think so, but I can't confirm it. I would suspect a weak or broken spring, or plain wear.

I can't tell you much about the panic device from the picture, but it must be disengaged from the lock before the lock is removed. There is a “cover plate” on the style. Remove it. Look at the parts diagram. Remove the faceplate. Remove the slotted set screws. Remove the cylinder. Remove the 10-32 screws.

General caution: disassembly is easier than assembly. There is a learning curve involved with panic hardware that cannot be learned overnight. Go to the Adams Rite website, obtain the installation instructions for the lock, and study them, before proceeding. This is generally beyond a do-it-yourself project.