House Door lock stuck ?

Question

my door to my basement is stuck i tried taking the hinges off and it won't move i tried looking on the internet for more answers but none that help my situation.i'm trying to fix it without having to pay for a lock smith. i've already gotten as far as taking the doorknob trim off and doorknob out. i tried to move the latch but it won't move very far, not far enough to open the door anyways. any more suggestions? would i have to replace the lock mechinism or is there still hope for it? o and 1 more detail about this is that buildup of black powder came out of the doorknob trim when i was taking it off

Answer 1

******NEW PART******

You can use a rubber mallet to loosen whatever is causing it to stick.  I have old windows that were painted shut and this worked like a charm.  Use a light tap (not too light to not do anything, but don't pound on it either).  You can also wrap the black mallet head in an old rag to prevent leaving rubber marks on the wood or other surfaces.  Try tapping on the edges of the door and aroung it on the jamb as well.  =]

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The black powder is normal.  Dust mixed with oil and grease from working the lock.  All you can do, is figure out how the locking mechanism works and use the handle and key to open it.  Some locks have a plus sign looking thing inside a hole like this + that you can fit a phillips head screwdriver into and turn the mechanism.  Others have a small button that slides along a curved track that locks and unlocks the bolt.  If you can get it to slide back to position the door should unlock.

Good luck!

This happened to me last spring and I feel for you with the locksmith charge.  =]

Answer 2

i assume its an old one,( square hole )try spraying real well with wd-40 let it soak in for awhile and try it again . how long has it been since uve opened it?