What to do if the key is stuck in the door lock? Lock jammed, key stuck? The key cannot be pulled out of the front door lock.

03.09.2016 29953

Installing a lock not only securely fixes the sash in the closed position, but also organizes a protected personal space for family members with different daily routines, habits or interests, and also prevents pets from entering unwanted areas. The presence of locks on doors is especially important for young families who do not have their own home and are forced to live with their parents. In offices and other public premises, locks on interior doors are installed primarily for the purpose of protecting against the entry of unauthorized persons.

An unexpected breakdown of the lock can lead to blocking of people inside the room. Often, time does not allow you to wait for the technician to arrive; it is even worse if the owner of the apartment is inside the room and does not have the opportunity to open it - in these cases, you have to solve the problem on your own, in the shortest possible time and with the help of available tools. Solutions largely depend on the type of lock, its internal structure and the cause of the breakdown.

Main causes of failure

To open the lock, you must first identify the cause of the breakdown. Typical reasons include:

Jamming as a result of the gradual accumulation of dirt and dust or foreign objects entering the mechanism.
The door lock mechanism is worn or damaged.
The key is stuck in (this usually happens when using a low-quality duplicate or damaged key).
The door was deformed due to moisture or warped as a result of improper installation.
The key to a closed door is lost.
The key in the lock is broken.
The door handle broke off.
The children accidentally locked themselves inside the room.
The door slammed shut from a gust of wind, and the key remained inside the room.

Depending on the reason, the design of the lock and door hinges, the availability of available means and tools, a different opening method is used in each specific situation:

Opening with an improvised master key.
Removing the door from its hinges.
or pens.
Use of physical force.

The optimal solution is to completely dismantle the lock. In this case, the door leaf remains undamaged, and the lock itself can be safely inspected, the cause of the malfunction can be identified and eliminated, cleaned, lubricated and reinstalled.

Methods for opening locks in various situations

Most models of interior doors are not structurally durable; knocking out the door leaf or breaking the lock using force in case of blocking is not difficult for an adult. However, in this case, the canvas may be seriously damaged, which will require expensive repairs or replacement of the entire structure.

If the lock on the door is broken You should not immediately use physical force - excessive load can only aggravate the problem, permanently disable the lock or lead to damage to the door leaf. All actions should be carried out carefully and without haste.

After calmly examining the situation and identifying the cause of the problems, you can try one of the following methods:

One of the most universal ways to open a door if the lock is jammed is to remove the door leaf from the hinges. This method is used for all types of breakdowns, and the possibility of application depends solely on the design of the hinges.

It is not difficult to disassemble standard overhead hinges; it is enough to select from available materials a strong cylindrical rod at least 10-15 cm long (in extreme cases, even a wooden pencil is used) and a hammer (or any other heavy object). Using a rod, a steel finger is knocked out of the fist connecting the hinges - the hinges are separated, and the canvas is easily removed.

In order to separate the screw-in structures, you need to have a gap above the upper end - by prying and lifting the leaf, the door is removed from the awnings.

It is almost impossible to remove the fabric from hidden loops.

If the key is stuck in the lock or the lock is jammed, you should clean all accessible parts with a stiff brush or brush (one of the reasons for such a breakdown may be clogging or the presence of foreign objects). After mechanical cleaning, the mechanism is lubricated with machine oil or cleaned with WD-40 aerosol.
You can pull the broken key out of the lock using pliers (if it is possible to grasp the broken area) or remove it using a bent paper clip, prying the stuck fragment by the grooves.
A common cause of a stuck tongue is a broken or weakened spring. If the tongue is jammed and turning the handle or key does not move it, use a ruler, plastic card, knife or other object. By inserting a flat object into the gap between the sash and the jamb and gently pressing on the tongue, you can open the lock. In a similar way and with the help of the same available means, an accidentally fallen latch is raised.
When slamming a lock with a rotary key, you should carefully inspect its surface - in most designs you will find a miniature, almost imperceptible hole. By inserting a knitting needle, nail or other thin metal object into the hole and pressing lightly, you can unlock the lock.
If a padlock is broken, you should unscrew the fastening bolts using a screwdriver or improvised means (coin, knife) and remove it.
If, when closing the door abruptly, the latch moves a few millimeters and part of it enters the mating part, it is enough to carefully press out the door leaf using a chisel, screwdriver or other tool.
If you lose the key, you can try to open the lock with a bent wire or paper clip, inserting it into the hole and carefully turning it at different depths. The mechanisms are not particularly complicated; this method may well lead to the desired result.
If the cylinder lock breaks down (the lock is stuck, the key cannot be removed from the hole, the cylinder does not turn even with the key), you need to remove the decorative trim and remove (knock out or drill out) the lock cylinder. After this, a metal wire is used to pry up the mechanism that controls the crossbars.
If the key remains in the lock on the back side, and the door suddenly slams shut, you can try placing a thick sheet of paper or cardboard in the gap under the door and try to push it out using any thin object. The dropped key is carefully pulled out along with the attached sheet of paper.

The key is stuck or broken in the front door lock- common situation? If not, then the locking mechanism is doing its job perfectly. What if the key is stuck and does not want to move in the keyhole or, worse, is broken?

Any of these situations can throw a person off balance, because it is impossible to get into the apartment, and it is not clear what to do. Don't panic right away. Having soberly assessed the situation, you need to try to remove the stuck key yourself so as not to damage the lock mechanism. If you can’t do this carefully, you will have to dismantle the lock cylinder, but this is a last resort.

While the locking mechanism works without failure, some people have no idea what to do to open the mechanism if the key is stuck in the lock or broken. If you don’t have anyone to turn to for help, you have to rely on your own strength and life experience. Thanks to some practical tips that will help you cope with the problem that has arisen, you can remove the key from the door hole without significant damage.

Often, a key can become jammed because it is not used for its intended purpose. They cannot open a bottle of beer or drink; it is also not suitable as a screwdriver. Due to improper use, the door key bends, becomes deformed and may even break. In most cases, for this reason, the lock jams, after which it is impossible to remove the key from the door structure without special equipment or devices.

Over time, any locking mechanism wears out and dust particles get into the keyhole. If you take care of the lock in a timely manner and lubricate the rotating parts of the mechanism with oil, then such problems will not arise. It also happens that the key is stuck in the lock because it was inserted the wrong way. The owner tries to pull the key out of the lock cylinder, but nothing works: it either does not turn at all or breaks. If in the first case you can still somehow try to pull the key out of the lock, then in the second case it is unlikely to be possible to remove the broken piece without damaging the locking mechanism.

The reasons why a key may get stuck in the locking mechanism can be found in the next section.

Reasons for a key getting stuck in a door lock

There are 2 reasons why a key may get stuck in the door leaf lock and become jammed:

Using the product for purposes other than its intended purpose.

This includes various mechanical damages:

unscrewing nuts and using them as a beer or Pepsi opener;
opening the locking mechanism using brute force;
improper care of the door mechanism;
lack of timely lubrication of the inside of the lock;
opening the door leaf not with the factory key, but with a master key;
dust and other foreign objects in the turning mechanism;
a door installed not at a right angle, but with slight distortions, or a deflection of the doorway that occurred after some time;
poorly made duplicate keys.

Factory defect of the product. The owner of the apartment has nothing to do with a key made poorly at the factory. Marriage can be as follows:

spare keys are poorly cut;
the shape of the rotating mechanism may have defects;
There is a manufacturing defect in the inside of the lock (the metal is too soft, which bends over time and blocks the key from entering the keyhole).

If the situation can still be influenced in some way if the door key or the lock itself is used incorrectly, then if there is a defect at the factory, you will have to replace the lock core with a new one.

Before you begin to solve the current problem, you need to determine the exact reason that caused the lock or key to break. Then, when it becomes known what caused the door mechanism or key to fail, appropriate measures must be taken.

You can ask for help by calling emergency services specialists, or you can remove the stuck key yourself.

If you choose the second method, you can find out what actions you need to take in the next section.

What can you do?

If you decide to remove the stuck key from the locking device yourself, you can do the following.

You need to stop panicking, since the worst has already happened, and now it depends on you how soon you can get into the apartment.
Experts recommend spraying a special liquid WD-40, which consists mainly of kerosene, into the lock cylinder. It is usually released in the form of an aerosol. If you are unable to purchase the liquid, you can use a medical syringe to pour a small amount of oil into the keyhole, which is on hand. Both machine and sunflower oil are suitable for these purposes. It is capable of lubricating non-rotating and failed parts of the internal lock mechanism.
You need to wait some time for the oil to spread properly over the turning mechanism. Then you need to carefully rotate the key in both directions.
After rotating the mechanism, you need to spray it with oil again and try to pull out the key. You can twist it right and left and at the same time try to pull it out of the lock. You should not use full force, because excessive pressure may break the key. If you have pliers on hand, you can twist the key with them, but very carefully.

If you managed to remove the stuck key yourself, then you next need to purchase a new lock key. It must be immediately inserted in place of the damaged mechanism so that a similar situation does not happen again. If you do not do this, you will not be able to remove the key the second time using the same method. You may have to break the lock, which will cause significant financial costs.

If you can’t get the key out of the lock, what should you do? This question immediately arises in the head of the apartment owner. After all, such a situation does not occur every day, and not everyone can immediately know what to do.

To remove the cylinder lock, you need to knock it out with some special tool or heavy object so that the cylinder breaks in half. After this, use a screwdriver on the side of the door to clamp the lock plate and push the tongue inside. If everything is done correctly, the door will be able to open.

After you finally managed to open the door using the described method, immediately go to the store for a new lock so that this problem does not arise again.

What to do if the key is broken?

What to do if the key breaks in the lock, and how to get it out? The best solution would be to call a locksmith to your home, but if you are not a timid person, you can remove the broken key yourself.

You can pull out a broken key using the following “helpers”:

Pliers or tweezers. These devices can only help if at least the slightest part of the key is visible in the lock, which can be caught on.
Large and powerful magnet. This method will only work if the key is made of pure and very durable metal.
Jigsaw file. It is necessary to break the fastening part of the file at the end, point it towards the rod and turn the teeth of the jigsaw towards the broken part of the key. Then you need to drag the key fragment towards you.

This is not the entire list of tools that can be used to remove a broken key from a keyhole. You can read more about the proposed solutions to the problem in the following sections.

How to get a stuck piece out?

A piece of a key is stuck in the lock, how do I get it out? I wouldn’t like to imagine this situation, but nevertheless it can happen to literally anyone. Today there are a large number of devices and methods to solve this problem. In practice, everything is not so simple, because not every day the owner leaves the house with a grinder or a drill.

What then can you use and how to remove a broken key from a lock? You shouldn’t grieve over the broken key, feeling your own helplessness. All is not lost, there is a way out.

The fact is that the locking device is the same complex mechanism as a watch. But, if the watch is out of order, it can be taken to a watch workshop, but the lock cannot. Not every caring owner periodically lubricates the lock parts with oil for preventive purposes. Therefore, over time, particles of debris accumulate in the locking mechanism. One day, just one careless movement of your hand will cause the key in the mechanism to break. It will not be possible to pull it out without auxiliary tools. And the cause of this situation may be dust particles that create a barrier for the key.

Plumbing or electrical tools can come to the rescue. If the key breaks off quite deep in the lock, then this circumstance greatly complicates the situation. But you shouldn’t hang your nose even in this case. No more spending the night on the street, you can always come up with something.

Tools

To remove a broken key from the front door lock, you will need the following tools:

screwdriver;
pliers;
awl;
hairpin, paper clip or pin;
file with jigsaw;
nail puller or crowbar;
tweezers;
hammer;
drill or circular saw.

All these tools and devices will help you remove the broken door key from the lock.

There are 3 ways to remove a broken key from the core of a lock.

Gentle. This method will allow you to extend the service life of the old lock cylinder for some time without causing serious damage. The main goal will be to remove the broken key without interfering with the internal mechanism of the lock.
Damage to the lock. If the situation is much more serious and the key has broken off too deeply, then the only way out is to dismantle the lock. If it is done carefully, then after a series of simple actions the lock can be returned to its original place, but such cases are rare.
Rude. This method can only be used as a last resort, if the first two have no longer helped. But be prepared for the fact that after this method you will have to change not the lock, but the entire door.

Let's take a closer look at how it is possible to remove a broken key and lock mechanism from entrance doors.

Opening method	Required Tools	Options
Knock out the cylinder lock	Hammer, screwdriver	A special anti-burglar lining is removed from the outside of the door, if it is provided in the lock model. Then you need to unscrew the screws and knock out the protruding cylindrical part of the lock.
Raise the core	Awl, thin screwdriver, hairpin or tweezers	To pry off the lock cylinder, you need to use the listed tools. An awl or pin is carefully inserted into the key hole, then the bolts in the internal mechanism are lifted in order to remove the key fragment and open the apartment door. You must act with extreme care so as not to damage the fragile mechanism.
Drill out the lock		The cylindrical lock above the well is drilled using a drill. After this, you need to turn it a little and remove it from the door.
Collapse the lock	Gas key	The convex part of the cylindrical lock is unscrewed and turned 90° using a gas key, and then pulled out.
Remove the lock from the side	Screwdriver, hammer, pliers	If the key breaks in the lock before closing, you can remove the lock from the door leaf by disassembling it into parts. Then you can pull the piece out and, if possible, put the lock back in.

These methods are gentle and do not allow severe damage to the lock mechanism. For the second, rough method, you can use the suggested tools and remove the lock from the door leaf. If you cannot carefully remove the stuck key from the lock, you will need to purchase a new locking mechanism.

The rough method is a necessary measure. It is, of course, not entirely “humane,” but if there is nothing else left, then it is worth resorting to extreme measures. To do this, you need to cut off the crossbar lock with a circular saw. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the door. The crossbars should be visible between the door and the frame. Instead of a grinder, you can use a hacksaw. You can completely cut out the door lock, but then the door leaf will have to be replaced with a new one if the door is not made of metal. An insert with a new locking mechanism can be welded onto the metal structure from which the lock was cut. In this case, there will be no need to replace the door.

If for some reason the owner is not satisfied with this option, you can cut off the door hinges. Although for some modern designs this method is not suitable due to the fact that they have special anti-burglary protection. The crossbars on such doors can also be anti-removable.

If any of the proposed options does not suit a specific situation, then there is still a backup option that allows you to remove the broken piece of the key without severely damaging the door structure. We will talk about it in the next section.

Traditional methods

An equally effective way to remove a broken key from a door lock are traditional methods that have been proven over the years. They are not as destructive as the previous ones, but nevertheless require certain manipulations.

For this you will need:

Machine or sunflower oil. If you have time and do not want to spoil the lock or door, then first you need to clean the accumulated dust from the lock secret using machine oil and a syringe. To prevent your hands from slipping, you can grab the protruding piece of the key with pliers.
Pliers and self-tapping screw. This method can be used if the key fragment is quite thick. Use a drill to drill a hole in the lock and screw a self-tapping screw into it. Then you need to grab it with pliers and drag it back along with the broken key.
Vibration. This method is quite non-standard compared to all the other methods listed. It is suitable for a disc locking system. From the very beginning, you need to properly spray and treat the lock bolts with oil and place them in the same position with the broken part of the product. After this, on the other side the lock needs to be knocked down with a hammer. Due to the vibrations caused by this, a piece of the key may partially come out of the lock. This will allow you to remove the broken part with pliers.

In order not to find yourself in such a situation, you need to timely prevent the condition of the door lock and internal secret. Don’t be lazy to lubricate them with oil so that the mechanism works smoothly, like a clock. If you cannot repair minor defects in the locking mechanism, then it is better not to take risks, but to purchase a new core. You need to take care of the key no less responsibly: if the product is bent or there are cracks and breaks on it, then it is better to make a duplicate and use it.

Useful tips will help to significantly preserve the integrity of the front door locking mechanism for a long time. You just need to read the recommendations and try to follow them.

They are as follows:

there is no need to lubricate the lock secret with oil applied to cotton wool, as the fluff will get inside the mechanism;
periodically inspect the lock and check its serviceability, and if you identify the slightest defects, begin to eliminate them;
always treat door hardware with care so that such a situation does not arise;
if the lock begins to jam during opening and closing, then this is a signal that the locking mechanism needs to either be repaired or replaced;
if you doubt your competence to dismantle the door lock, it is better to entrust this work to professionals;
For each class of burglary resistance of locks, different methods are applicable, but the easiest way to deal with cylinder mechanisms;
It is better to install at least two separate locks on the entrance doors, so that if one of them fails, you can use the second mechanism.

We hope that this information was useful to you. Be careful and try not to get into such a situation.

Is the key stuck in the door lock - a familiar unpleasant situation? If this has not happened yet, then the locking mechanism is doing its job well. If this happens, is the key stuck and does not move in the keyhole or is it completely broken? Such situations can unsettle any person, since it is impossible to get into the apartment, and it is not clear what to do in this case. First of all, don't panic. Assess the situation soberly and try to remove the stuck key yourself, but so as not to damage the lock mechanism. We’ll look at how exactly to do this later in the article.

Why does the key get stuck in the lock?

Before you begin to take action to remove a key stuck in the lock, you need to find out the reason.

There are two main groups of factors that lead to jamming: manufacturing defects and improper operation. Let's consider each of them separately.

Incorrect operation

The main reasons why the key could be stuck in the door lock:

The key is mechanically damaged. This happens if it was not used for its intended purpose, for example, they were used to unscrew screws or open bottles. As a result of such manipulations, the key may become deformed or bent. This is what subsequently becomes the reason why the key is stuck in the lock.
Rotating the key with excessive force.
Using a locking mechanism in conditions of high humidity without taking preventive measures.
The mechanism is not lubricated.
Opening a lock with a master key.
Debris getting inside the mechanism.

Also, the reason why the key is stuck in the lock may be that the door is installed incorrectly - with a skew.

Factory defects

This group of factors lies entirely on the conscience of the manufacturer:

the lock comes with a poorly turned key;
the shape of the blank is broken;
defects directly in the mechanism itself;
the pins are made of inappropriate, softer metal, as a result of which they do not move away when pressed with the key, but block it.

If a breakdown due to improper operation in most cases can be eliminated, then if there is a factory defect, you will have to replace the core or the entire lock.

Should you remove a jammed key yourself or call a specialist?

If the key is stuck in the lock, what should you do? Should I act on my own or call a professional? It is important to consider some factors here. If the door jams when the door is open, you can try to correct the situation yourself. If this happened when the lock was closed, it is better to invite a specialist to disassemble it and fix the problem.

You will also have to use the help of a specialist if the key breaks when opening the door, and all the necessary tools are left inside.

How to remove a key that is stuck in the lock?

Got your key stuck in the door lock? What to do? First of all, pull yourself together, don’t panic and don’t increase the pulling force, since excessive mechanical force often leads to it breaking off. Then opening the door and getting into the room will be even more problematic, because the lock will need to be broken. If you do everything carefully, the key can be pulled out and at the same time preserve the mechanism itself.

One of the most common causes is rust or lack of lubrication. Therefore, you can initially spray the lock with a special kerosene-based WD-40 spray, or with kerosene itself or machine oil. You can pour it into the well with a regular syringe. This will lubricate the rusted lock mechanism. After this, after some time, you need to carefully move the key in different directions so that the liquid that gets inside is well distributed throughout the entire core. Then the procedure must be repeated again, and then wait 15-20 minutes. Next, you can try to carefully remove the key. At the same time, it can be rocked in different directions, but you should not use excessive force, as it may break off.

After the key is “freed”, it is better to disassemble the lock in order to identify the cause of the jamming and check for mechanical damage to the mechanism. Identifying the cause will help prevent the same situation in the future.

If the key got stuck in the lock before the door was closed, you can open the case and remove the “core”. Next you need to find and unscrew the fastening element that holds the cylinder. Then press on the cylindrical element and remove it. After this, you need to insert a new cylinder and secure it in the lock mechanism.

When the key bites in the door lock when turning when closing and opening the door, but the mechanism works well when the door is open, the cause is a skewed door. The tongue of the lock touches its counterpart or does not fit into it.

In this case, you need to bore the mating part with a file or drill. This situation happens quite often, especially in new buildings.

What to do if the key breaks off

A stuck key can be easily broken when pulled out, but getting a broken piece out of the lock is much more difficult. In this case, you can first try using spray, kerosene, or simply disassemble the lock. The fragment is pulled out in the same way as a whole key, but pliers or tweezers are used to grab it. If the fragment sticking out of the lock can be grabbed with a tool, then most likely everything will work out.

Preventive measures

To avoid having to pull out a jammed key or call a technician to open the door, it is necessary to periodically treat the lock - clean and lubricate the mechanism. Also, for prevention, you can hang a cover on the keyhole, which will protect against dust and debris.

You can also install two locks independent of each other, so that if the lock is not working properly, you can use a spare one. This way you won't have to use a faulty one. Otherwise, when you return, you simply won’t be able to get into the house.

How to remove a key from a padlock

If the door is locked with a padlock and the key is stuck in it, there are two options. The first - radical - cut the bow or hinged part with a hacksaw. If you don’t want to spoil the lock and don’t have a hacksaw at hand, you can try to do everything that was done with a mortise lock, since their internal mechanism is practically no different and the reasons for biting the key are the same.

If the key gets jammed in the lock before hanging it on the door, you can use the following options:

soak the entire lock in kerosene or coat it well with anti-rust liquid;
heat the castle thoroughly;
replace the cylinder (cylinder part) in it.

So, we looked at how to remove a key stuck in a lock. If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better not to try to do it yourself, so as not to break it. Invite a master to help you enter the house.

Remember, careful handling of the lock and keys will prevent such force majeure situations, and you will not have to spend time near a closed apartment.

Key stuck in ignition

If the problem is locking, you need to find the optimal position of the steering wheel so that the column is unlocked.

Often the key cannot be removed from the ignition switch due to contamination. In this case, you need to remove the mechanism and clean it. In emergency cases, you can try to solve this problem on the spot by using WD-40 liquid.

If the problem is the ignition switch freezing, then you can try to warm it up. For example, use a hair dryer, a defrosting agent, or heat the key with a lighter and insert it into the lock.

If the ignition key does not turn due to wear, it must be replaced with a new one. The same applies to the ignition switch itself.

If the key breaks in the ignition switch, you need to remove the mechanism and remove it.

Returning home after a hard day at work, dreaming of relaxing and unwinding, you suddenly discover that it is impossible to open the lock of the front door for unknown reasons. The situation when you cannot enter your home because the lock on the door is broken, jammed, or the key simply won’t turn is, unfortunately, quite common.

Where to run and what to do in this situation? To begin with, do not rush to break down the iron door and call “specialists”; perhaps you will be able to open a broken or jammed lock yourself and avoid damaging the door. The reasons and nature of the breakdown will tell you what tactics to follow in this situation.

There are actually a lot of reasons why the front door jams and the lock fails, regardless of its quality, cost and design features. Unfortunately, we have not yet managed to invent a lock of perfect design and perfect operation.

Any mechanism sooner or later begins to “warn” the owner before breaking down. It may jam today, and tomorrow the key will stop turning - these are the first signals that you should think about changing the lock soon, otherwise one fine day you will not be able to close or open the jammed locking mechanism and only expensive specialists will save you.

To avoid jamming of the lock, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the most common reasons for its malfunction:

An attempt to open the lock by manipulation;
Entry of foreign objects into the well (for example, a piece of a “native key”);
Contamination of the well with dust or metal shavings (in the case of using a cylindrical lock);
Irregular maintenance of the mechanism (lubrication and washing);
Swelling of the wooden door leaf as a result of increased humidity;
Using the unlocking device for purposes other than its intended purpose (for example, opening bottles, opening packages, etc.);
Strong slamming of a metal or wooden door;
Use of excessive force when operating the door and manipulating the lock;
Warp door leaf;
Using a low-quality duplicate key;
The pins fall out of the mechanism and the tip gets blocked;
Manufacturing defects.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to damage a door lock, and if these preventive measures are not followed, avoiding the lock from jamming will be a miracle.

What to do if it gets stuck?

If the lock is jammed or broken due to mechanical external interventions or as a result of a manufacturing defect, there is universal advice: do not use excessive force. If it does not open with a standard force, then even more so a stronger one will not be able to open it. As a result, you will only make the problem worse!

When the lock on an iron door breaks and you need to understand what to do, start from the type of lock.

Cylinder lock failure

If a door with a cylinder (cylinder) lock is jammed, there are several options for the development of events:

inability to remove the key;
difficulty in turning the mechanism;
creaking mechanism during revolutions.

If the lock cylinder jams or the key gets stuck while opening the door, only a professional can remove it without damaging the lock and door. What to do at home when the mechanism breaks down?

First, clean the door and lock slots with a stiff brush; the cause may be dust or peeling paint. Next, try lubricating the door lock with machine oil, WD-40 or kerosene and turning the key. If the lock still sticks after the previous steps, try to pull out the key with pliers, and if this fails, you will have to drill out the lock cylinder and replace it with a new one.

But do not forget to exclude shrinkage or skewed position of the canvas, damage to loops, etc., as one of the causes of jamming. In this situation, get a wedge; a strong flat-head screwdriver or chisel will also work.

Drive the tool into the place where the door overlaps the frame. As soon as you manage to at least slightly drive the wedge into the gap, try to move the structure into place, using the wedge as a lever. At the same moment, pull the handle to open the iron door.

Damage to a lever-type lock

If an incident occurs with a lever lock, it is jammed and after trying to make three turns, the fourth is difficult or even impossible to do, grinding off the longitudinal protrusions will prevent the key from being inserted incorrectly.

How to remove a key that is stuck?

The cause of the malfunction, when the key gets stuck in the hole, may be one of those that is involved in the jamming of the lock. Do not forget that any mechanism, after a long period of operation, loses its original appearance and its functions weaken.

What to do first? Treat the mechanism with silicone spray and carefully, gradually remove the key. If you remove it yourself, so that history does not repeat itself, replacing the lock or its cylinder will be the optimal solution.

It often happens that the door lock works quite well when the door is open, but as soon as you try to close it, the key starts to get stuck after a few turns. In this case, boring the door frame using a file, drill or grinder will help.

A jamming lock on a metal door and a key jamming at the wrong time does not seem like a serious problem to many people - until the front door stops opening and blocks access to the apartment.

The main reasons for lock breakdowns are the incorrect use of the lock mechanism: forceful methods when opening and closing, slamming the door, careless handling of the key (cutting packaging, opening a bottle).

What to do if the lock on an iron door is jammed?

Alas, even the most modern and reliable locking mechanisms tend to break. Breakdowns of door locks are always associated with mechanical damage occurring externally or internally, jam the lock on the door maybe from time or a hidden manufacturing defect.

If you can't open a jammed lock on a metal entrance door, applying a standard force to the key will not work even with the help of force. Locks are quite complex mechanisms, the operating principle of which is not known to the average person, but is definitely known to a specialist. Are you interested in knowing what you can do if the door lock is jammed and you need to get into your apartment immediately?

How to open a jammed lock on the front door yourself?

If an unpleasant situation has occurred with the lever lock, the key is jammed after three turns, but the fourth does not turn, then you can try to grind off the longitudinal protrusions that prevent the key from being inserted incorrectly. Then insert the key with the other side and open the lock. In principle, if there is nothing to grind off the protrusions, you can simply press the keyhole a little and insert the key upside down.

What to do if the cylinder or cylinder lock is jammed?

If, when opening the door, the lock cylinder is jammed, the key is stuck and cannot be pulled out, then only a professional can pull out the key without damaging the lock. In everyday life, even if you manage to get the key by accident, it is not recommended to use this mechanism, due to the fact that the situation may repeat itself.

So what should you do to remove the key and open the door?

First, take pliers and forcefully pull out the key. If it doesn’t work, then use a drill to drill out the lock cylinder and replace it with a new one. The reason for jamming of the lock cylinder is that the internal pins (which are pressed in only at the factory) fall out and grab the key blade.

What to do if the key is stuck in the door lock and won’t turn?

To resolve the problem, you must first determine the cause of the key getting stuck. If the door lock works clearly when the door is open, but when closing the key gets stuck on one of the turns, then it is necessary to bore the door frame. This action can be performed with a file, drill or grinder.

Possible reasons why the key is stuck in the door lock:

Poor quality duplicate key
Curved blank geometry
The pins fell out and blocked the key tip
Warping or shrinkage of the door leaf
Garbage in the keyhole
The “tendril” on the safe key broke off

The situation when key stuck in door lock quite common. It is unlikely that you will be able to use force and pull it out without damaging the lock. Most likely, the spring in the cylinder under one of the pins has broken, jammed the pins and prevents them from going down.

Tip: what to do to remove a stuck key

First of all, we remember that all mechanisms become obsolete and wear out over time. Therefore, it is necessary to spray the stuck key and jammed mechanism with WD-40 spray. You should wait a little and try moving the key in different directions.

Pour the spray again and slowly shake and vibrate the key and carefully pull it out towards you. If you manage to pull out the key, then in order to avoid repeating history, you should replace the lock cylinder.

The specialists of the Zamki-SAO company are ready to help you in each of the above cases, since we solve these situations every day and around the clock. Highly qualified specialists who will eliminate and prevent possible problems and breakdowns associated with the operation of locks are a guarantee of the reliability and safety of your doors.