Installing a Door Lockset

Installing a lockset on a new door is requires a minimal amount of skill and tools, especially if the door is pre-drilled.  If you order a custom door, it's best to have the manufacturer pre-drill the door.  In this article we show you the steps involved to the lockset installation. 

Finished door lockset
Items needed:
Lockset
Screw driver
Sharp chisel (1/2 and 1 inch)
Screw starter
Safety Suggestions and Tips
Use a sharp chisel removing a small amount of wood at a time.
Check the latch positioning as the manufacturers are not always accurate. 
Level of difficulty


Time Required:
 1 hours

Steps

Chisel excess wood for latch
Chisel excess wood for latch

Step 1:

Slide the latch assembly into the door and mark around the edge.  The manufacturers typically machine route for this, but the corners are rounded.  Also, the depth is often too shallow.  Using a sharp 1-inch chisel and clear away excess wood. 

Adjust length of catch assemble
Adjust length of catch assemble

Step 2:

Adjust the latch assembly.  This unit adjust for 60 or 70 mm distances between the center of the door handle and the edge of the door.

Align internal handle parts
Align internal handle parts

Step 3:

Slide the handle (section with protruding catch parts) into the door, aligning the internal parts to engage.

Align cover plate and install screws
Align cover plate and install screws

Step 4:

Place cover plate and align the holes.  Install the screws, but do not tighten completely.

Start screws with starter
Start screws with starter

Step 5:

Using a screw starter or drill with pilot bit, drill the door end for the latch screws.

Screw in the latch
Screw in the latch

Step 6:

Using the wood screws provided, screw in the latch.

Using a chisel, mortise for the latch
Using a chisel, mortise for the latch

Step 7:

On the door jamb, align the latch.  Be very careful as the mortise done in the factory is not always correct. 

Additional mortise to lower the catch
Additional mortise to lower the catch

Step 8:

On our door, we found that the factory mortise was approximately 5/16" too high and the catch had to be lowered and the extra wood mortised away. 

Start screws with starter or drill
Start screws with starter or drill

Step 9:

Using a screw starter or drill, make holes for the screw.  An inexpensive doorset does not provide very long screws.  You may want to enlarge the countersink in the latch for a longer and heavier screw. 

Screw in the catch
Screw in the catch

Step 10:

Screw in the latch.  Check to see that the latch is sufficiently recessed first by test closing the door.  Also, recheck alignment of the catch and latch. 

Slide on the handle
Slide on the handle

Step 11:

Tighten the cover plate screw all the way now. Slide on the handle and cover plate. 

Depress button to get handle on
Depress button to get handle on

Step 12:

On this handle, there is a spring loaded button which must be depressed to get the handle on all the way. 

Oil the tumblers with graphite oil
Oil the tumblers with graphite oil

Step 13:

Now would be a good time to add a few drops of graphite or lock oil into the key slot.