Door Handles hard to turn - Arthritis

[mike2016]

Hi - my Mum mentioned that all her interior door handles are very hard to turn. I can see what she means, she has arthritis so this is a problem for her daily. Is there any way to loosen the mechanism / spring behind the handle or does it require replacing something? If so are the door lock sets a standard size or not? Or is it just a case of trying 3 in 1 first? Thanks. 

[craig]

The simplest solution, is a door handle extender. Works on the same principle of leverage and longer gives more leverage and easier to operate. They ain't the prettiest but do work. Whether it helps your mum is a different question. You may need to buy one and try it before buying more.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=door+handle+extender&ref=nb_sb_noss

[ProDave]

N0 1 oil the door mechanisms.  they might have seized up.

 

Second, some door handles have a spring built into the handle each side.  If so try removing one or both springs.

[joe90]

Are they handles or knobs?, I avoid knobs fir this very reason, plus unless you have long mechanisms you catch your knuckles on the door frame. +1 fir oil or a spray of WD40.

[mike2016]

Thanks everyone! They are curved handles but very stiff to operate. Will take one apart and try WD40 and see what play that provides. 

[Temp]

WD40 is quite a thin oil. I think something a bit heavier or possibly even a grease might last longer?  

[mike2016]

WD40 has that lubricant w/ptfe I was going to pick up or I've also got 3in1 spray oil also to try.....

[joe90]

@mike2016, take the handle off the door and see if the handle or the latch is causing problems? Sometimes aluminium handles cause problems as they are soft metal and don’t make good “bearing” surfaces which grab each  other.

[Onoff]

You can't beat graphite lock lubricant. Often in a powder puffer. Saying that I have had a decent one in an aerosol from Lidl/Aldi.

[mike2016]

So took 'ol WD40 lubricant with PTFE to the mechanism and it's easier to use but still not as easy as I would like. 

There are springs inside the handle on either side of the door so that means to open the door you have 3 springs to work against, rather than just one. (Handle,mortice,Handle)

Is it possible to disable these or do you have to replace the whole handle/mounting on either side of the door with an exact match? That would just leave the mortice spring which would be much easier on my Mum. 

Thanks. 

 

[markc]

yes you can easily remove the springs from the handles.

use 1 handle but not screwed to door to check the latch moves freely.

assuming it does, try each handle, you will probably find one or both handles are notchy.

if both seem smooth, remove the spring from one, re assemble and try it again, remove other handle spring if necessary

[PeterW]

Just check the alignment of the handles. Sometimes one is too high and puts the bar at an angle which makes it stiff to operate. Match sticks in the holes and moving one handle up or down slightly makes it easier to use.