Hey everyone! I have this closet door that completely stopped opening, which I suspect is due to a broken mortise lock mechanism since the doorknobs are quite old. I tried to remove the knob to mess with it, but the part that holds the knob fell inside the closet, leaving me with no way to access it.
So, I decided to take the whole door off to fix the mechanism. I successfully removed the hinge pins, but the door won't budge at all. It closes inward, and something seems to be blocking it from pulling out. The fit between the door and the striker plate is way too tight for any tool to fit through.
Any advice on how to get this door off? I really don't want to call a locksmith since I've already complicated things a bit!
1 Answer
It sounds like the door might just be stuck in place due to tightness. Have you tried using a flat pry bar with a goose neck? If you can slide the curved end under the door, yanking it might help pull the hinge side out. If that doesn’t work, running a screw into the edge near the hinge and using a pry bar could do the trick, especially if it’s a solid door. Just be cautious about the wood since you might end up with a hole to patch later!
Yeah, it’s definitely tight and now that the handle is off, I’ve got nothing to grip. It’s a solid wood door, but soft too, so trying to wedge something in has just been squishing it. Looks like I’ll have to keep at it! Thanks for the tips!