I'm having trouble with a bolt inside my door knob. I've tried looking at the other side of the door, but it's the exterior side and I can't seem to loosen the plate. It looks like the bolt might have a stripped square drive. Is there a specific bit I should use to get it out? I've got a picture of the bolt here: https://imgur.com/a/if1kwWL.
3 Answers
If the knob is stuck tight and you can't get it loose, the opposite side might have normal screws. But since you mentioned the plate is pretty aged, that could be part of the issue! Sometimes a little penetrating oil can help loosen it up.
It seems like you're dealing with a stripped-out square drive bolt. A neat trick is to use a latex glove for extra grip between the bit and the screw to help unwind it. Once you’ve got it out, make sure to swing by a hardware store to grab a replacement—don't lose track of that bolt!
From what I see, it looks like you might need a Tri-Wing bit, but it could also be a square bit that's seen better days. Definitely check if those three tabs are for releasing the knob; if you're just trying to tighten it, you might need to push those tabs in.