Hello, The deadbolt on my front door would not line up so I tried tighting the hinges. The top hinge had a thingy on it that prevented the door from opening too far. I forgot it was adjusted by a screw and I took the whole pin out. Now I can't get the pin back in because the hinge doesn't quite line up. I am a 72 yr old woman who is not very strong. Can you help? I would be ever so gratefull. Thanks, Joyce

 

Try tapping the hinge around with a hammer. The pin will go back in but it might take some persuading
A stiff putty knife between the hinge and the door casing might also help.

 

Joycy, as Marksr said tap on the hinge, but tap on the top of the highest one. That should bring it back in line. Once you get it all together, let's fix the thing. Do you have a strong drill, and can you put a 3 1/2" screw in the top hinge screw nearest the stop molding all the way into the supporting lumber? It may help bring the door back into line where your deadbolt may work better. Let us know how things are going. We're here.

 

I tried the hammer and the putty knife but neither worked. Any other suggestions - I have alredy tried crying. Joyce

 

Try loosening the screws on the hinge plate just enough so you can slide that side of the hinge around to line it up. Slide the pin in or use the hammer to persuade it. After you get the pin in, tighten up the screws. They should be able to guide the plate back to where it needs to be. If the screws are brass, be careful with them so they don't snap.

 

If you have a wonder bar, lay it under the bottom edge of the door directly under the door knob- imagine the door is on the right of the picture shown below.

image credit: home depot dot com

Next, raise the top end of the wonder bar (in yellow), and place something thick under the opposite end- right next to the door, like a block of wood or a small book. The idea is to use something narrow that will act like a fulcrum. (like the center point on a teeter-totter).

Once you do that, you should be able to use your foot to step on the wonderbar, which you have placed under the bottom edge of the door (directly below the doorknob).

This will allow you to raise the door, enabling you to line up the barrels of the hinge. You will need to tap the hinge pin in with a hammer as suggested as you step up and down on the wonder bar.

You can try it with the door open, or door closed and figure out which works best.

Alternatively, just ask a friendly neighbor for some help.

 

Ouch! That sounds like a bommer hinge, self-closing. Almost impossible to put back in without relieving the tension spring with a nailset and the little steel rod/pin. If that is it.
Need to turn the spring clock-wise to loosen using the pin at each segment.

Gary

 

Gary, I got the impression that the "thingy" she was talking about one of these, along with a standard hinge pin on a standard hinge.



image credit: wildwesthardware dot com

 

That was my impression also.

We used to take doors down all the time in the course of painting new homes. It isn't uncommon to run into doors that didn't want to be rehung. Usually positioning the door in place with a putty knife works along with a hammer.... but we never had any difficulty in man handling the doors

I think either drooplug or XSleeper's method should do well - or even a combination of the two.

She could also enlist the help of a younger neighbor/relative.

 

Thank you! I only had a small crow bar but I used it the way You said to use a 'wonder bar' and it WORKED. The tingy was the same as pictured, I don't know what it is called. It is wonderful the way all of you responded.