Lever style door latch spring broken?

[dtfeld]

Main bathroom door (gets a lot if use!) stopped working properly. Normally the latch would return to the 90* position and the catch would be extended. Yesterday, it seems a spring inside broke, as the lever will droop and the catch remains in the mechanism.

I don’t see any screws/mounting hardware, so not sure how to disassemble to troubleshoot.

Anybody worked on one of these door latches have any intel on how to get apart and what might be the issue? Who made the hardware?

 

[ttmott]

Hey Dave - that has happened to my head doors twice. It's obviously a spring and that spring is in the latch assembly. I took the first one apart and found a spring that was unusual in design was broken - nothing available to replace just the spring. FP Marine was my go to for replacement latch assemblies. At the time they were about $80.
It looks like the weight of the handle assemblies continuously flex the springs whilst underway and eventually causing the spring to give up the ghost. Buy two of them then you will never have another failure.... Rule of Sparing.

 

[dtfeld]

Thanks Tom. Heading to FP…

Edit #2 the latch mechanism is $85. The whole thing is $165.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I haven't taken that particular latch apart, but look for a set screw on one handle - that should allow you to remove that handle and pull the the other handle (and post) through and out. Both handles may have a set screw, but you should likely only need to remove one. Then remove the two larger screws on the latch/lockset insert and pull it out.

Try McmasterCarr for springs - I'd wager a beer they'll have a spring that will work.

 

[dtfeld]

@ttmott

I assume the handle/shaft has to be removed first? Looks like 2 small set screws, once that is out the mechanism slides out.

 

[dtfeld]

I haven't taken that particular latch apart, but look for a set screw on one handle - that should allow you to remove that handle and pull the the other handle (and post) through and out. Both handles may have a set screw, but you should likely only need to remove one. Then remove the two larger screws on the latch/lockset insert and pull it out.

Try McmasterCarr for springs - I'd wager a beer they'll have a spring that will work.

Thanks guys. @Lazy Daze Im not taking that bet. I’ve found some pretty crazy stuff at McMaster Carr! However I’ll drink a beer in your honor today!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thanks guys. @Lazy Daze Im not taking that bet. I’ve found some pretty crazy stuff at McMaster Carr! However I’ll drink a beer in your honor today!

And I will reciprocate!

 

[ttmott]

And I will reciprocate!

So will I but me and McMaster are hundreds of dollars a month bed buddys; heck I still have an account with them from business days. As I remember, that spring is a tortional spring with strange loops at the ends of the wires. I'd win the beer bet and not only share with you guys but throw a twelve pack in...

 

[Yendor]

Buy two of them then you will never have another failure.... Rule of Sparing.

I knew there had to be a name for that. Now I know. Thanks.

 

[ttmott]

@ttmott

I assume the handle/shaft has to be removed first? Looks like 2 small set screws, once that is out the mechanism slides out.

Yes remove one handle and the other and shaft slides out. Then the two wood screws and the latch assembly slides right out. I can't remember how the privacy button on the bezel gets pulled out though.

 

[Lazy Daze]

So will I but me and McMaster are hundreds of dollars a month bed buddys; heck I still have an account with them from business days. As I remember, that spring is a tortional spring with strange loops at the ends of the wires. I'd win the beer bet and not only share with you guys but throw a twelve pack in...

This is a case where I'd be HAPPY to be wrong!

Did you try contacting the manufacturer for that spring? If it's Southco, I've had good luck with getting small replacement parts from them in the past... although it's been a while.

 

[ttmott]

This is a case where I'd be HAPPY to be wrong!

Did you try contacting the manufacturer for that spring? If it's Southco, I've had good luck with getting small replacement parts from them in the past... although it's been a while.

I think they are Mobella latches. After the hardware spring searchs I talked to FP on the issue and just got a replacement latch. BTW, if you take it apart you will need eight hands to hold everything to put it back together.

 

[ttmott]

Lookee what I found -
Disassembly (embedded video)
https://fpmarine.com/mccoy-latch-engine-brass/

And the latch assembly is $84 -
https://fpmarine.com/mccoy-latch-engine-brass/

 

[Lazy Daze]

Funny... I just repaired a very similar latch assembly (although the insides are often slightly different from one manufacturer or "era" to another) on one of doors at the cottage (an old one on the coast of Maine). But in this case I had some spare parts from other latches that I could make work. It's kind of interesting working on those old latch assemblies - how they are actually quite simple and easily repairable (if you have/can get the parts, that is).

For $84, though, that's pretty much a no brainer. I'd buy a second one to have on hand, as well. If not for the "on hand, ready to go" part... then definitely for the Rule of Sparing... I had never heard that term before, but I'm certainly familiar with the concept. Now I know a new term!