Door knob too stiff to turn - what can I do?

[Batsypatsy]

I had a new bedroom door fitted, but the metal door knob is too stiff to turn. Dp can manage it but I have weak hands and wrists and am struggling. Sometimes I can manage it with a rubber glove but not always. Calling the handyman back is not am option and for financial reasons I'd like to fix it myself.

Anyone know how? Is it easy to change for another handle? We're both rubbish at diy, as in haven't a clue!

Thanks.

WD40?

I tried that, it didn't help, just made the doorknob impossibly greasy. I don't know how to get it inside the mechanics of the doorknob though ...

Normally if you open the door there will be be screws on the plate where the catch is. You can remove this.

There may also be a small Allen key holding the rod that goes through the door to both handles.

Another reason it may be stiff apart from the mechanism is the hole in the door for the connecting rod is snug making it hard to turn. This can be enlarged by using a drill.

Plenty of YouTube videos showing the process. Key thing is to check mechanism before you close it again.

Thanks. I'm worried if I unscrew it I'll not be able to put it back together properly again. I don't have a drill either ...

Damn, I'm going to need to call someone to do it aren't I?

I asked the handyman at the time and he tried it and said it was fine and would loosen with time anyway. It didn't over a year but to be fair was barely used because I daren't close the door in case I can't open it again.

It is really easy to do this yourself. Find the screw which fixes the door knob onto the spindle (underneath the knob probably.) Unscrew it, pull that handle off. Pull the other handle and this will pull out the spindle. Now you can try squuirting WD40 directly into the mechanism. If this doesn't work, then the hole in the door for the spindle is too small. As PP, unscrew and remove the latch, and use a drill to make the hole bigger.

don't lube it yet. It should not be necessary and will probably not help.

start by unscrewing the handles on both sides from the door (whenever you do this, put something like an old towel down to prevent the door shutting, and stay outside the room when you trial-close it)

The handles and spindles should now be free to move. Turn them. is it easy or hard? If hard, then the problem is in the latch. If easy, then the problem is in the handles.

Try that and report back.

please post photos of the door, latch and handles so we can progress.

Thanks. I've no access to the house at the moment as work is being carried out. I'll be there next week and will report back.

I suspect misalignment.

We'll see.

If you've workmen in they will almost certainly be happy to look at it for you at no extra charge. It's not a big job.
If you've weak hands/wrists you are better with a handle than a knob though, surely? If you go and buy a handle whoever is working on your house will very likely be happy to fit it.

Unfortunately I can't get in at the moment. The workmen are paid by the landlord and will be gone when I move back in.