Removing a lockable door chain after keys have been lost

[mike]

An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.

Loading Image...
Loading Image...

I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.

Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.

Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?

Thanks in advance.

[newshound]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

I'd have to say angle grinder. Probably try to go "under" the cylinder
but above the "flange". Alternatively grip it *very firmly* with a mole
wrench and rock backwards and forwards, to try to loosen the screws.
Provided these are not too long, you may be able to remove it without
causing damage that can't be concealed by the new one.

[Bill Wright]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

Dremel the bit of metal that's in the way with a thin cutting wheel so
it falls in half.

Bill

[dennis@home]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

I would think a big screw driver in the lock will turn it enough for the
latch to work.

[GB]

Post by ***@home
I would think a big screw driver in the lock will turn it enough for the
latch to work.

That's what I was going to suggest. Highly likely to work.

[harry]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
Loading Image...
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

Angle grinder.

[Tim+]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.

Tim

[michael adams]

Post by Tim+

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.

Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only
function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Along with the lock you get a sign to put on the wall.

"Please do not attempt to jemmy this lock off of the door
as this can damage the wood "


michael adams

...

[Tim+]

Post by michael adams

Post by Tim+
Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only
function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Um, no. The lock seems to only serve to prevent you putting the chain on,
not to

Post by michael adams
Along with the lock you get a sign to put on the wall.
"Please do not attempt to jemmy this lock off of the door
as this can damage the wood "
michael adams
...

[Tim+]

Post by Tim+

Post by michael adams

Post by Tim+
Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only
function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Um, no. The lock seems to only serve to prevent you putting the chain on,
not to

Post by michael adams
Along with the lock you get a sign to put on the wall.
"Please do not attempt to jemmy this lock off of the door
as this can damage the wood "
michael adams
...

Doh, ignore all that. Meant to cancel that post before sending. I
misinterpreted the photograph.

Tim

[michael adams]

Post by Tim+

Post by Tim+

Post by michael adams

Post by Tim+
Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only
function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Um, no. The lock seems to only serve to prevent you putting the chain on,
not to

Post by michael adams
Along with the lock you get a sign to put on the wall.
"Please do not attempt to jemmy this lock off of the door
as this can damage the wood "
michael adams
...

Doh, ignore all that. Meant to cancel that post before sending. I
misinterpreted the photograph.
Tim

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think an unfamiliarity with door
chains
and their operation is anything to be ashamed of. If people on UseNet
only ever posted on topics in which they were truly experts the place
would soon be empty, as the experts would soon get lonely.

michael adams

...

[dennis@home]

Post by Tim+

Post by michael adams

Post by Tim+
Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only
function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Um, no. The lock seems to only serve to prevent you putting the chain on,
not to

Its there so you can get in when your elderly parent has put the chain
on and gone to bed, fallen down, etc.

[michael adams]

Post by ***@home

Post by Tim+

Post by michael adams

Post by Tim+
Just curious but why on earth does it have a lock? The only function of
the lock would appear to be to stop someone (on the inside) using the chain
as a security device.
Tim

Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .

Um, no. The lock seems to only serve to prevent you putting the chain on,
not to

Its there so you can get in when your elderly parent has put the
chain on and gone to bed, fallen down, etc.

Well spotted
.
Because when the door chain is at its stretched taut enough for
somebody to
get their hand through the door they obviously can't get the chain
back
far enough to the other end of the slot to unhook it. Whereas they
should be able
to use
a key.

The fact that you're normally only supposed to put the chain on before
opening the door ( presumably ) is no guarentee of the above scenario
not happening.


michael adams

...

[Apellation Controlee]

On Mon, 3 Dec 2012 10:32:43 -0000, "michael adams"
<***@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
------------8><

Post by michael adams
Presumably to stop people who've entered the house by some other
means,
a window etc from easily exiting via the front door when carrying
bulky items .
Along with the lock you get a sign to put on the wall.
"Please do not attempt to jemmy this lock off of the door
as this can damage the wood "

Burglars really care about that sort of thing.

[Ned]

kept infirm from escapin

[michael adams]

"mike" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:940bec48-c4c3-4df9-9e0a-***@bx4g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.

http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg

I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.

Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.

Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?

Thanks in advance.


...

In picture 1, surely you only have to drill through
the part of the latch which is obscuring the screw ?
Which is presumably what's blocking off the bottom
hole.
Drilling a large enough diameter hole through the
latch will then allow you to either access the screw
with enough head left on it to turn it, or drill off the
head completely, remove the latch fill one of the
holes and reposition the latch so as to cover
the other hole still containing body of the
screw whose head you've just removed.


michael adams

...

[ss]

Post by mike
An elderly relative has a lockable door chain for which the keys have
been lost.
http://i49.tinypic.com/350ju4h.png
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gdl6e.jpg
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace the whole thing
than get replacement keys, as a new chain with two keys was only £6.
Unfortunately, when I went to remove the old one, I discovered the
latch on the end of the chain prevents access to the lower securing
screw.
Can anyone suggest a removal solution that doesn't involve drilling
out the barrel, jemmying off the old hardware or calling out a
locksmith?
Thanks in advance.
...
In picture 1, surely you only have to drill through
the part of the latch which is obscuring the screw ?
Which is presumably what's blocking off the bottom
hole.
Drilling a large enough diameter hole through the
latch will then allow you to either access the screw
with enough head left on it to turn it, or drill off the
head completely, remove the latch fill one of the
holes and reposition the latch so as to cover
the other hole still containing body of the
screw whose head you've just removed.
michael adams
...

father in law had one on his door and he used to slide the locking part
together so it was on when he was OUT the house and used the key to
re-enter, was a bit fiddly but I suppose he felt better with the extra
security, but hey a hefty kick and you would have busted it.