The purpose of this document is to provide additional best practice tips to ensure proper door prep, installation and lock functionality.
Double Check Template Alignment
Before marking and drilling the additional through holes needed to install your lock, take the time to ensure that your template is perfectly aligned. Misalignment can lead to faulty lock operation.
You can view the template from the opposite side of the door as well to ensure precise alignment.
Drill Half-way Through Each Side of the Door
When drilling the door, do not drill all the way through the door from one side. Drill half way through on the first side, then the remainder of the way through on the second side. This has two benefits; (1) this reduces the impact of crooked drilling and (2) it prevents “blow out” or door damage when the drill breaks through the backside of the door.
When completing the second side, smooth out any alignment issues by drilling all the way through the door.
Note: It is always a good idea, prior to drilling, to have the floor around the door covered with a drop cloth, newspapers; and a shop vac ready to vacuum up any shavings that miss the coverings.
Do Not Use a Power Drill to Tighten Screws
Over-tightening screws can lead to stripped threads and improperly functioning locks. For example, you may notice that the latch or handle does not return to the neutral position. This is a common result of overnighting.
Only use a hand screwdriver when tightening any of the screws during installation.
Check Latch and Lever Operation
Before calling the installation complete, test the lock to ensure that both the levers and latch return to their neutral positions with ease. If there is any resistance that causes the lever not to easily return to the horizontal position, the alignment of the lock and tightness of the front-to-back screws needs to be checked. Sometimes the issue can be so pronounced that the latch will remain retracted and will not spring back, or the lever will stay almost completely in the vertical position after pulling it down to open the door.
Lock misalignment due to poor door prep (usually from drilling outside of the exact template position) can lead to pressure on the spindle that goes through the latch.
Issues with misalignment can be exacerbated by over-tightening the screws connecting the two sides of the lock through the door. Sometimes when loosening the screws, the latch will pop back out and smooth operation is regained. However, if this leaves the screws too loose, the door prep may need to be corrected.
This can usually be achieved by widening the holes that were drilled through the door to allow for proper alignment.
Do Not Forget the Spindle Spring!
Without the spindle spring, the spindle can lose contact with the front of the lock. This disables the ability to open the door from the outside by any means (even a key override).
Deadlatch Alignment
Ensure that your strike plate is properly aligned so that the deadlatch does not fall into the strike pocket. The deadlatch button prevents the latch from being forced open with a knife or credit card. However, the deadlatch must remain depressed in order to provide this protection.
Loctite on Latch Support Post Threads & Other Screws
For doors that may tend to slam shut or take extra abuse, it can be a good idea to apply Loctite to the screw threads to ensure that they do not unscrew over time.
