Whether it’s to replace a lock with a lost key or change an old lock for a new one, removing your cylinder door locks is an easy do-it-yourself project. Cylinder locks work by means of a key which is inserted into the cylinder. As the cylinder turns, it opens and closes a latch, which secures the door.
A power drill with a Phillips bit will go a long way toward making this project easier, as cylinder door screws can sometimes be quite long. If you don’t have a power drill, a Phillips head screwdriver will work just fine (but take longer).
Before you start removing the lock, here’s a list of things you’ll need:
Follow the simple steps below to have that cylinder door lock removed in no-time!
- Open the door.
- Position yourself on the inside of the door
- Surround the lock with electric or duct tape to avoid possible scratching on the door while you remove the lock.
- Unscrew the two screws on the back of the cylinder barrel with the Phillips head screwdriver or a power drill with a Phillips bit (cylinder screws can be quite long, so make sure that they’re unscrewed all the way before removing them).
- Pull out the cylinder barrel and the flange (the metal part that surrounds the barrel) from the back of the door.
- The front side of the cylinder barrel can then be pulled out.
- Turn the door so that you are looking at the latch on the side straight on.
- Unscrew the two Phillips screws holding the latch in place.
- Remove the latch.
You’ve now successfully removed the cylinder lock from your door and it’s ready for replacement!