A customer in Feltham got in touch because the front-door handle was no longer working properly and locking or unlocking the door had become unreliable.
When I tested it on site, the handle would only partly retract the latch. Using the key to pull the latch back fully was also hit and miss, which meant somebody effectively needed to remain inside to make sure the door could still be opened.
I tried lubricating the gearbox thoroughly in case the mechanism could be revived, but it was too far gone. This particular gearbox used a double-spindle arrangement, and it was the first time I had come across that model in that configuration. I did not have the correct replacement in stock, so one had to be ordered for the following day.
I returned once the part arrived and fitted the new multipoint-lock gearbox. Fortunately, the hinges and the rest of the mechanism were already correctly aligned, so no additional door adjustment was needed. With the replacement gearbox installed, the handles, latch and key operation all worked normally again.
