Hi Andy. My Schlage F51 latch got stuck. It would retract when I moved the lever (all levers in our house!), but when the lever was in neutral position and I tried to close the door, the latch wouldn't budge. It should have moved in and out freely. I tried everything I could find on the internet (there wasn't much about this problem), and I finally said to myself: "I've got nothing left to lose if I try Andy's suggestion. I'll have to order a new lock anyway whether or not I break it." So I got a small hammer and started hitting the latch. After about three fairly firm hits, it slid in but tended to stick a bit. I had to hit it two more times, and now it works fine. I don't know what the problem was, but your suggestion helped. Thanks.
Andy, I am still laughing! Thank you thank you! We have had a stuck Schlage latch on our front door for months, finally took it apart to see if I could fix -- couldn't. My wife and I found and played your video, thoroughly enjoying and giggling at your choice of 4# hand sledge, say nothing of the old adage of "fixing things with a bigger hammer". This is exactly what mine needed. One whack with a 16oz hammer from the "everything" drawer. You Rock, dude.
Same problem for me after kids constantly slamming the door, it finally stuck and would not retract. So I whacked mine once and it went in half way and stopped. I hit it a second time and it went all the way in. Then it would not come back out. Took off handle and I broke a sizable chunk of metal off inside. Just ran to the store and grabbed a new latch and got it in before the wife got home so it is fixed regardless. Worth a shot, just did not work for me. I gave a thumbs up for massive respect to the method!
Andy thank you! The “big hammer” did the job. Like you I had to smack the latch a couple times to get it to work. You saved me from having to make a trip to get a new latch. Amazing. Cheers!
Thank you for making this video and sharing. I was about to go get a whole new lock. The hammer trick did the job and saved me lots of time and money 😊
Brilliant!! Andy, my wife and I cracked up when we first viewed your video. Well, we said what the heck. Let’s give it a go. Worked like a charm and saved me at least $100 on a locksmith. Can’t believe it. Bravo, Andy! Thanks for sharing.
Three cheers for you Andy! It worked like a charm. We are having 15 people over for Thanksgiving tomorrow and we didn't need this door jamming. You just saved us a bunch of trouble and $$. God Bless you and yours!
Great video. Thank you Andy. It felt really good to use the sledge hammer on the door....got out some of my negative energy. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick. The latch no longer fully closed and it locked me out. Bought Item# 61313 Triple Option Deadlatch 40-251 605 from Lowes for $11 and it did the trick. Quick installation and the door works fine now. If it matters, make sure you get the right color (gold, etc). This was the model for a locking door which is what I needed. Comes with both a rounded plate and a square plate for the inset on the door.
Thank you so much for this Andy. I hope it continues to work. Mine is just like yours and the hammer did the trick. Trying to find a replacement that will work from all the choices online is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
It worked for me too. The latch got stuck inside the housing, but I disassembled it, gave it a tap with the hammer. The latch freed up and came out. Reassembled it and it is working. Thanks
Responded earlier about attempting the "hammer fix." The result for me was the plunder becoming stuck in the cylinder inside the door. I went to Lowes today prepare to purchase a total new lock and knobs assembly. Several years ago a new lock assembly was replaced for the same problem on the same door! Today, Lowes had a "Schlage 1-in Diameter Polished Brass Door Night Latch" replacement kit for the inner door assembly, $9,97. The door latch was quickly replaced, using the original knobs, keeping the use of the original key. Schlage #P518-420, Lowes item #61313. Schlage must have learned that so many, many of us are having the non-retracting problem!
Amazing! I didn't bother to take it apart. Just read the comments after I watched Andy's TH-cam video and most of them concurred. Gave it a try. I tried tapping it at first with my small sledge hammer. Then gave it a little harder wack, several times. And instant fix! Thank you Andy!!
This really works, I took the entire latch apart, inspected the springs and other internals and still could not get it to work. Saw this video, reinstalled it and gave it some percussive persuasion and it really worked! Thanks
Four cheers for Andy. I was about to shell out $$$+ to replace the whole thing and your suggestion worked exactly on the third hit with the hammer. Thank you Andy.
Andy this is probably the first DIY video that reminded me of an SNL skit. I laughed along while doing it. I took your advice and waited until the wife was gone. And yes it worked!
Thank you Andy! you just saved me buying a new knob. i took my 2.5 lb hammer after taking all apart and wd40 worked and worked on it never could get it to work. 3 wacks with the hammer did the trick. im amazed and grateful ! Thank you sir
This actually worked and it didn't break the lock mechanism (we use the dead bolt anyways and not the door lock). I didn't hit it that hard but enough to loosen it up and get it to start working again. This saved me a trip to home depot and around $25 for a new one. Thank you! Every other video I watched said there was no other way than to replace it.
Awesome!! After taking everything apart and almost going to get a new latch I'm glad I watched this :-) Pulled out the mallet and was ready to just do more damage, but tap tap taadaaaa!! Back in business! Thanks Andy!
What in the holy hell! This was amazing and you are so adorable! My poor guy was working on this for an hour...finally said he was going to buy a part, so I googled, found your youtube, and BAM! (literally) and it's fixed! You're the man, thank you!
Ok, I had this problem but not with a Schlage brand. I watched another video first and took my door handle apart and cleaned and oiled it and reinstalled it. It did NOT solve the problem. So then I found your video and grabbed my rubber mallet and gave it a couple of good whacks and PRESTO! It worked!!! LOL. Thank you very much.
Thanks Andy. watched quite a few videos of people showing complicated ways of attempting to fix it and yours was so easy and worked so well i just wanted to say thanks!
Schlage has lifetime warranty on these latches. When the latch fails, email their warranty form in with pics. Used this hammer trick and will have a new replacement when it fails again. Thanks for the video!!!
Andy I have to share my experience with you..🤣🤣I did what you said and and it worked, I shut the door and couldn't get the bolt to retract leaving my door stuck! I laughed so hard because I had to pry the lock apart and buy a new one BUT I so appreciated your suggestion largely because my dad was hammer guy too! Anyway I got a new knob and loved trying to fix it with a hammer!!
This advise was perfect. Had taken entire mechanism apart but there were no visable parts that I could manipulate. Put in back on door and a couple of hammer taps and door would close! Thanks Andy.
I can’t believe it. Andy I really thought I’d be replacing the latch after hitting few times but damm it really worked. Then greased it and now good as new.
OMG THANK YOU! I have (had) this exact problem with this exact knob. It just started last week and it was SO annoying. I got out my hammer and pounded it a few times and it WORKED! Thank you for making this video! :D
Thank you Andy (Norm). I just tried it and it worked on the first hit. I used an old kids baseball bat to rest against the latch and hit it with a rubber mallet. I didn't want to damage my door if I missed.
I wish I had seen this video a couple days ago. Mine, out of the blue, did the exact same thing. The handle would still turn, though. So, 2 nights ago, at 1:30 in the morning I went out into the attached garage and the thing completely jammed on me and I couldn't get back in the house! Wife in bed at the opposite end of the house couldn't have heard me calling, about 40 degree temps in the garage, and I'm basically locked out of the house! Fortunately, it is a lever handle set and I was able to force the lever up enough to where the latch released, but it did ruin the latch. Lifetime warranty so Schlage is sending me a new set. I hope the new one lasts longer than only 7 years which is what this one lasted which is not very long.....
Thank you - it worked. Looks like there were two parts that were designed to slide past each other normally that became misaligned. But the hammer method worked.
WOW!!!! Just thank you! Today i disassembly the whole thing and lub with wd40 the hell of it.... it did not work anyway. after this video it took me 10 seconds and it working again! Truly grateful my friend! God bless Andy!
Hot damn it worked! Thanks! You saved me from having to wait for the mail or go to the store. I couldn't care less about that security feature (which is now "broken") as this was for an interior door with a deadbolt.
wow it worked. I did not believe at first and just laughed off but when I saw everybody appreciated and that it worked. Went and did exactly, gave two to three hits with the hammer and lo it worked.
An old fellow in a headlamp fixing something around his house and finally saying… I just need a bigger hammer! It is myself in 20 years… THANK YOU ANDY!!!
I hit mine headon with a hammer twice. It worked in the sense it retracts now and doesn't bang when I close it Another TH-camr cut a few latches open and demonstrated the deadlatch is broken internally. Hopefully I won't have a complete failure before a new latch I ordered arrives in a few days.
Before you celebrate this working, make sure you have not just broken the safety mechanism. The half round peice of metal that sticks out along side the latch is there to prevent someone from sliding something in to open the lock. When it is depressed the latch should not push in. If you are ok with making your door less secure, ok. But you are not fixing it by doing this, you are permentently breaking a feature that is there to keep your family safe.
Thanks for this tip. I tried it with a smaller hammer and it worked perfectly after about three or four hits. My wife said if it didn’t work I would be the next one to get hit. Only kidding she’s a sweetheart wouldn’t do that😀
This worked great, the door now closes on it's own. It's a little sticky now, but serviceable, and buys me some time to grab an extra lock from home depot...
Andy, you're a genius. Using a rubber mallet I gave it three whacks and it worked! Hot Damn! Thanks!
Worked like a charm on a Schlage lever model, about 8 years old. Two wraps with a similar hammer and all fixed!
I feel like the ghost of Norm Macdonald just saved my day!! Thanks Norm....err Andy! Brilliant!
Hi Andy. My Schlage F51 latch got stuck. It would retract when I moved the lever (all levers in our house!), but when the lever was in neutral position and I tried to close the door, the latch wouldn't budge. It should have moved in and out freely. I tried everything I could find on the internet (there wasn't much about this problem), and I finally said to myself: "I've got nothing left to lose if I try Andy's suggestion. I'll have to order a new lock anyway whether or not I break it." So I got a small hammer and started hitting the latch. After about three fairly firm hits, it slid in but tended to stick a bit. I had to hit it two more times, and now it works fine. I don't know what the problem was, but your suggestion helped. Thanks.
Andy, I am still laughing! Thank you thank you! We have had a stuck Schlage latch on our front door for months, finally took it apart to see if I could fix -- couldn't. My wife and I found and played your video, thoroughly enjoying and giggling at your choice of 4# hand sledge, say nothing of the old adage of "fixing things with a bigger hammer". This is exactly what mine needed. One whack with a 16oz hammer from the "everything" drawer. You Rock, dude.
Same problem for me after kids constantly slamming the door, it finally stuck and would not retract. So I whacked mine once and it went in half way and stopped. I hit it a second time and it went all the way in. Then it would not come back out. Took off handle and I broke a sizable chunk of metal off inside. Just ran to the store and grabbed a new latch and got it in before the wife got home so it is fixed regardless. Worth a shot, just did not work for me. I gave a thumbs up for massive respect to the method!
I did the same and it is not coming back out any more . Looks like I have to put a new one in.
Andy thank you! The “big hammer” did the job. Like you I had to smack the latch a couple times to get it to work. You saved me from having to make a trip to get a new latch. Amazing. Cheers!
I tried this on my AirPods when they weren’t syncing to my phone. The sledgehammer trick worked! Nice save, Andy!
too funny
Thank you for making this video and sharing. I was about to go get a whole new lock. The hammer trick did the job and saved me lots of time and money 😊
Brilliant!! Andy, my wife and I cracked up when we first viewed your video. Well, we said what the heck. Let’s give it a go. Worked like a charm and saved me at least $100 on a locksmith. Can’t believe it. Bravo, Andy! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Andy. I watched about half an hour's worth of videos to try to fix that latch, and your video was the first one that worked.
I did exactly the same thing as you. This is the first video I saw where they had the same problem as me AND the solution to fix it.
Three cheers for you Andy! It worked like a charm. We are having 15 people over for Thanksgiving tomorrow and we didn't need this door jamming. You just saved us a bunch of trouble and $$. God Bless you and yours!
YEP. Two whacks and good as new.
Great video. Thank you Andy. It felt really good to use the sledge hammer on the door....got out some of my negative energy. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick. The latch no longer fully closed and it locked me out. Bought Item# 61313 Triple Option Deadlatch 40-251 605 from Lowes for $11 and it did the trick. Quick installation and the door works fine now. If it matters, make sure you get the right color (gold, etc). This was the model for a locking door which is what I needed. Comes with both a rounded plate and a square plate for the inset on the door.
Tried this and hit the latch about 5 times and finally it have way and works perfectly now!!! Thank you soooo much!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you so much for this Andy. I hope it continues to work. Mine is just like yours and the hammer did the trick. Trying to find a replacement that will work from all the choices online is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
It worked for me too. The latch got stuck inside the housing, but I disassembled it, gave it a tap with the hammer. The latch freed up and came out. Reassembled it and it is working. Thanks
Responded earlier about attempting the "hammer fix." The result for me was the plunder becoming stuck in the cylinder inside the door. I went to Lowes today prepare to purchase a total new lock and knobs assembly. Several years ago a new lock assembly was replaced for the same problem on the same door! Today, Lowes had a "Schlage 1-in Diameter Polished Brass Door Night Latch" replacement kit for the inner door assembly, $9,97. The door latch was quickly replaced, using the original knobs, keeping the use of the original key. Schlage #P518-420, Lowes item #61313. Schlage must have learned that so many, many of us are having the non-retracting problem!
Thank you for this info.
I was about to replace entire Schlage lock, but when I saw this video I gave it a try. AND IT WORKED!!! Thank you Andy!
Worked like a charm after having to replace once/yr for the last 5 yrs. Thanks Andy!!!!!!!!
It worked. Took about 10 seconds. Thanks Norm.
Amazing! I didn't bother to take it apart. Just read the comments after I watched Andy's TH-cam video and most of them concurred. Gave it a try. I tried tapping it at first with my small sledge hammer. Then gave it a little harder wack, several times. And instant fix! Thank you Andy!!
OMG!!! This really worked! I had two door knobs that have been like this for YEARS! The hammer tip worked on both! I am sooooooo happy!
This really works, I took the entire latch apart, inspected the springs and other internals and still could not get it to work. Saw this video, reinstalled it and gave it some percussive persuasion and it really worked! Thanks
Four cheers for Andy. I was about to shell out $$$+ to replace the whole thing and your suggestion worked exactly on the third hit with the hammer. Thank you Andy.
Andy this is probably the first DIY video that reminded me of an SNL skit. I laughed along while doing it. I took your advice and waited until the wife was gone. And yes it worked!
Thank you Andy! you just saved me buying a new knob. i took my 2.5 lb hammer after taking all apart and wd40 worked and worked on it never could get it to work. 3 wacks with the hammer did the trick. im amazed and grateful ! Thank you sir
Well my goodness, best DIY video on TH-cam! Same problem, same solution...works like new. Thank you!
This actually worked and it didn't break the lock mechanism (we use the dead bolt anyways and not the door lock). I didn't hit it that hard but enough to loosen it up and get it to start working again. This saved me a trip to home depot and around $25 for a new one. Thank you! Every other video I watched said there was no other way than to replace it.
Awesome!! After taking everything apart and almost going to get a new latch I'm glad I watched this :-) Pulled out the mallet and was ready to just do more damage, but tap tap taadaaaa!! Back in business! Thanks Andy!
Exact problem, exact lock - perfect solution! Thanks Andy!!
What in the holy hell! This was amazing and you are so adorable! My poor guy was working on this for an hour...finally said he was going to buy a part, so I googled, found your youtube, and BAM! (literally) and it's fixed! You're the man, thank you!
your welcome.
I’m glad this worked for a lot of you however this ended up breaking my latch entirely. Off to Lowe’s to buy a new assembly. Worth a shot though!
Thanks a bunch Andy!! Fixed my mother's Schage door latch with a soft blow mallet and 4-5 good whacks. Thank you for the video!
Ok, I had this problem but not with a Schlage brand. I watched another video first and took my door handle apart and cleaned and oiled it and reinstalled it. It did NOT solve the problem. So then I found your video and grabbed my rubber mallet and gave it a couple of good whacks and PRESTO! It worked!!! LOL. Thank you very much.
Thanks Andy. watched quite a few videos of people showing complicated ways of attempting to fix it and yours was so easy and worked so well i just wanted to say thanks!
Schlage has lifetime warranty on these latches. When the latch fails, email their warranty form in with pics. Used this hammer trick and will have a new replacement when it fails again. Thanks for the video!!!
Thank you so much
Andy I have to share my experience with you..🤣🤣I did what you said and and it worked, I shut the door and couldn't get the bolt to retract leaving my door stuck! I laughed so hard because I had to pry the lock apart and buy a new one BUT I so appreciated your suggestion largely because my dad was hammer guy too! Anyway I got a new knob and loved trying to fix it with a hammer!!
Thank you Andy! I first tried taking it all apart and spraying it with 10w40 and that didn't work. So simple a few taps with a hammer! :)
Thanks Andy! It worked perfectly with a couple of gentle taps.
This advise was perfect. Had taken entire mechanism apart but there were no visable parts that I could manipulate. Put in back on door and a couple of hammer taps and door would close! Thanks Andy.
I can’t believe it. Andy I really thought I’d be replacing the latch after hitting few times but damm it really worked. Then greased it and now good as new.
Normally I wouldn't associate hammering something with fixing it, but it worked! Thanks Andy!
Thank you Andy! It worked. Had to hit it three times. My thought was It can't hurt to try and it worked!
Hey it worked! My Schlage latch just started acting up; ready to go buy a replacement but decided to check out you tube. Glad I did. Thank you Andy.🙂
After a ton of troubleshooting, I stumbled across your video. BAM! Doorknob fixed! Thank you :)
Worked like a charm. Thank you so much Andy. You remind me of Norm McDonald, your voice and demeanor is just funny, in the best of ways. Thank you,
Thanks Andy worked great. Our hotel is now operational again!
I thought it was a joke but I read the comments and it made me try it
I must say I was very doubtful this would work, but it did! Thanks Andy!
OMG THANK YOU! I have (had) this exact problem with this exact knob. It just started last week and it was SO annoying. I got out my hammer and pounded it a few times and it WORKED! Thank you for making this video! :D
Thank you Andy (Norm). I just tried it and it worked on the first hit. I used an old kids baseball bat to rest against the latch and hit it with a rubber mallet. I didn't want to damage my door if I missed.
I wish I had seen this video a couple days ago. Mine, out of the blue, did the exact same thing. The handle would still turn, though. So, 2 nights ago, at 1:30 in the morning I went out into the attached garage and the thing completely jammed on me and I couldn't get back in the house! Wife in bed at the opposite end of the house couldn't have heard me calling, about 40 degree temps in the garage, and I'm basically locked out of the house! Fortunately, it is a lever handle set and I was able to force the lever up enough to where the latch released, but it did ruin the latch. Lifetime warranty so Schlage is sending me a new set. I hope the new one lasts longer than only 7 years which is what this one lasted which is not very long.....
Worked like a charm! Only two fairly light knocks and it's all fixed. Fantastic!
OMG! My hubby had his hammer out and then we watched your video! So he tried the hammer again and it worked! Thank you thank you!!!
Worked! I used a rubber mallet. Mine is a Schlage digital keypad type.
Thank you - it worked. Looks like there were two parts that were designed to slide past each other normally that became misaligned. But the hammer method worked.
Son of a gun! Took it apart, fiddled with it for half hour, sprayed WD40, nothing.
Watched your vid, whacked it 3x w hammer and now it works!
Thanks! Exactly what I needed, worked like a charm after 2 light/medium hammer blows.
Husband just hammered it and it worked! Thank you Andy😁
It's 2024 and you're the only one I could find to solve my issue! It worked! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, three cheers for Andy. I should have googled on TH-cam before taking it apart but a happy ending. Much appreciated.
WOW!!!! Just thank you! Today i disassembly the whole thing and lub with wd40 the hell of it.... it did not work anyway. after this video it took me 10 seconds and it working again! Truly grateful my friend! God bless Andy!
Hi Andy, thanks for this video. It is fun to do and simple to fix. It works on my Schlage lock.
Hot damn it worked! Thanks! You saved me from having to wait for the mail or go to the store. I couldn't care less about that security feature (which is now "broken") as this was for an interior door with a deadbolt.
Thanks! This worked for me too. After taking it off the door and applying lubricant it still was stuck. Saved me the research time.
You the man. This actually worked for me. I thought I was off to Home Cheapo.
I resent that TH-cam added advertisements at the start of my video without my permission. .
They did the same to me
I think that's how you get money
Worked like a charm! One quick smack and it was fixed. I have the electronic keypad version. Boy was that satisfying. :)
Just whacked my Schlage lock.........took 5 light whacks with a 16 oz framing hammer. Works like a charm. Thanks.
Thank You Handy Andy !
Thanks Andy! I think this is the solution to ALL of my problems.
GREAT!! Thanks Much!! I just changed the latch then I watched your Video... But will still take a Hammer to it and out back as spare
holy crap i just tried it and it worked. It took 4 good whacks and it worked.
Haha, YES! I cannot believe that worked! And SO happy I didn’t have to run to Lowes late on a Sunday night.
Hammer still works! Thanks Andy
Thanks for the video Andy! A good ole whack worked like a charm. Three cheers for percusive maintenance.
Thank you so much for making this video. I had the same issue and same results! Thanks again you saved me some $$
Wow, I can’t believe that worked. I had to put a little WD40 into the mechanism as well, but the hammer along with lube worked great!
wow it worked. I did not believe at first and just laughed off but when I saw everybody appreciated and that it worked. Went and did exactly, gave two to three hits with the hammer and lo it worked.
2 taps and one a little harder … worked … Thank you for posting.
Holy smokes it works! I tried this before I knew it was actually a thing, but I was using too small a hammer!
Took mine apart and couldn’t fix it. Your video did the trick, thanks!!!
Andy Saves my thanksgiving!
Holy cow, i didn't think this would work, but it did! Andy's Norm MacDonald voice was a bonus :-)
Your the 2nd person to say I sound kinda like Norm McDonald. I didn't know who he was , but i do now.
An old fellow in a headlamp fixing something around his house and finally saying… I just need a bigger hammer! It is myself in 20 years… THANK YOU ANDY!!!
I hit mine headon with a hammer twice. It worked in the sense it retracts now and doesn't bang when I close it Another TH-camr cut a few latches open and demonstrated the deadlatch is broken internally. Hopefully I won't have a complete failure before a new latch I ordered arrives in a few days.
Worked like a charm Andy. Thanks!
I can't believe it. I thought it was a BS video but I hit it 3 times and it worked. I could believe it. I told
the wife and she laughed.
Worked in 3 hits! Saved me a trip to Home Depot and a few bucks!
Before you celebrate this working, make sure you have not just broken the safety mechanism. The half round peice of metal that sticks out along side the latch is there to prevent someone from sliding something in to open the lock. When it is depressed the latch should not push in. If you are ok with making your door less secure, ok. But you are not fixing it by doing this, you are permentently breaking a feature that is there to keep your family safe.
yes, good advice. We always lock our door with a deadbolt . .
This worked great! Thank you!
Wow, this worked. We are laughing!! Thank you!
Amazing. It actually worked! Thank you, Andy.
Praise the Lord!! It worked! Thanks, Andy!
Thanks Andy! Problem solved. (I didn't think your strategy would work, but it did!)
Used a rubber mallet. It worked fine. Thanks Andy!
Thanks for this tip. I tried it with a smaller hammer and it worked perfectly after about three or four hits. My wife said if it didn’t work I would be the next one to get hit. Only kidding she’s a sweetheart wouldn’t do that😀
So initially I hit it and the latch got stuck in the door so I hit it a few more times and it came out and now it’s like brand new. Perfect.
Worked for me as well. Third tap with 3lb sledge did the trick, thanks!
This worked great, the door now closes on it's own. It's a little sticky now, but serviceable, and buys me some time to grab an extra lock from home depot...
Another success with this approach. Thanks!