I've looked at over 40 websites about a storm door not latching and all offered solutions to misaligned latches. This isn't the problem.

When the door was new and latched the handle was perpendicular to the door frame. Now, the handle droops down slightly pulling the latch back into the lock mechanism. This causes the door not to latch. If I pull the handle up so it's perpendicular to the door frame, the latch is full extended until I let go of the handle.

Are there springs inside the lock that pull the handle back up into position after opening the door and releasing the handle? Can I buy those springs or is a whole replacement lock needed?

Thanks!

 

There are no replacement parts for those mortise latches, so if it's drooping it's an internal problem that requires complete replacement. Course there are several types of latches, so without more info we are just guessing what you have.

 

 

Thanks for the info. Here's what the lock looks like. Any suggestions on a replacement? Thanks again.

 

The "mortise latch" is the part I would have liked to have seen. That is old enough that you will probably need to order it through the Larson website. Use the numbers on your sticker. I doubt they will sell just the mortise latch as that is an old style. So you will probably need a whole new handleset.

You could probably also replace it with one from a box store and it would probably work.

 

Thanks XSleeper. This was my first post here and you quickly answered my question. Have a great week!

 

Larson may have replacement lock bodies (chassis) available, but the cost may be more than half the cost of a new complete lock. I'd get the whole lock, and you'll have nice new levers as well.