Things You'll Need:
- Screwdriver Or Allen (hex) Wrench
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Step 1
If you have a modern cylindrical or tubular lock set with a loose knob, see How to Troubleshoot Lock Problems. These knobs either snap onto a cylinder or are integrated into the lock set, so you need to tighten the lock set itself.
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Step 2
If you have a mortise-style lock and lock set (see illustration), follow these steps. These lock sets (both interior and entry models), once the standard, are now rarely used. The knobs thread onto the ends of a square spindle with rounded, threaded corners. A setscrew, located in the knob's sleeve, tightens down on the square face of the spindle, preventing the knob from turning on the spindle when operated.
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Step 3
Loosen the setscrew in the sleeve of one knob with a standard screwdriver or in some cases an Allen (hex) wrench.
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Step 4
Unscrew the knob to expose the spindle and access the setscrew on the other knob. Make sure the setscrew is very tight.
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Step 5
Turn the knob until one of the spindle's flat sides is directly on top. Press the knob toward the door and hold it tightly against the trim (the rose) as you thread the other knob onto the spindle.
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Step 6
Make sure the knob is contacting the trim, but is not tight; then turn the knob slightly one way or the other as needed to align the setscrew with any flat face of the spindle. Then screw in the setscrew until it's very tight.
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Step 7
Test the knob's operation. It should turn freely but not loosely. To adjust the position of the knob, repeat the above procedure as needed, turning the knob onto the spindle more or less.
Comments
nlaasadiq said
on 5/30/2009 My lock doesn't open from the inside. How can I fix it?
peyton585 said
on 11/11/2007 my door knob has no outside screw.....how do i tighten it?
Anonymous said
on 12/19/2005 Sometimes you are not able to tighten the screw down because the threads on the screw are rusted. In this case, take the screw out and use the screwdriver to scrap away rust. Maybe you could oil the screw, but that might mean that the screw would just come out more often. So, I'd stick with just trying to scrap away the excess rust. Worked for me anyway.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 We had an entry knob that kept binding. The plate was loose, and it would catch to the bolt when it tried to throw closed. Upon examination, the wood was stripped out, so that only one would turn freely, not binding into anything. As it turned out, someone had replaced it with a smaller size (10 threads vs 8 as the other had). It seems that the screw that comes with most lock sets (such as Schlage) is not a standard wood screw. I wanted to replace both with new screws, but the trip to to the hardware store found that these are not available separately. I found that the same style (a wood screw with the threads extending all the way to the thread instead of the unthreaded shank) is used in hinge sets, so I bought a 3 inch hinge. From what I found in stock, this appeared to be the cheapest way to get the same size screw. They did have the same diameter and thread in a one inch, but I didn't want to oversize it from the 3/4 inch, for when the set is replaced. So, now I have the screw. Then, I got a kit with the locktite "Titen" thread mender to fill in the threads. It was a brand new package, but the stuff was already heavily congealed, so it required some coaxing from the tube, but I was finally able to gloop enough out to fill the hole, although this required taking apart the lock set and getting access behind the plate (not as easy as the package recommended when it said "just squirt it in"). This seemed to fix the problem for now. I wish there was a better way. It's the first time I have attempted this, so we'll see how it goes.