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Hi, I'm looking for advice regarding my external door handle on my bifold door. Recently I noticed one of the screws attaching the plate was loose but no matter what I did it wouldn't grip when I tried to screw it back in. Now the other screw has come loose, and therefore the plate with attached handle has come off . There's nothing wrong with the screw and the corresponding bit that it's supposed to screw into. In fact I've take both the back and front plates off the door and tested it and the screws screw in fine. My problem is is when I'm attaching it back on the door I can't get the screws to line up to grip/attach. Sometimes I get one screw in but but never both at the same time.. Is there a trick to lining up the screws? I really don't want to pay a couple of hundred dollars to get a locksmith out just to screw in two screws. Any advice out there would be greatly appreciated....any suggestions?
Hi TedBear,
Thanks for taking interest in my post and your suggestion. I am going crazy with trying to sort this problem out. I went to Bunnings yesterday and bought a slightly longer screw and it attached immediately as I could align it better because it actually poked through the hole a bit more, unlike the original screw. The screw ended up being too long, probably by about 4 millimetres, and therefore it didn’t work. When you screw the screw in it only turns about twice and won’t go in any further even though I can see that the hole is deeper. My hope was that the longer screw would screw all the way in but unfortunately it didn’t.
So then I came up with this idea which I thought was genius and was definitely going to work. I cut up a plastic drinking straw and then cut some slits into the end of it so as I screwed the screw through it it would sort of splay out. I placed the straws in both holes, pics attached, and thought this is definitely going to work as it’s going to guide the screw into place. Well, I was jumping with joy as it seemed to work with the bottom screw but for some reason it didn’t the top so I had to pull it apart again, and since that first attempt it hasn’t worked again. I have tried a couple of differently methods now using the plastic straw idea but none are working, including attaching the straw on the threaded part and then guiding the straw onto the screw. How this isn’t working is beyond me.
I’ve tried your suggestion of using sticky tape but it doesn’t seem to be strong enough to hold the screw in place, but you are definitely correct about the screw not staying horizontally straight. That is definitely the whole problem.
I’ve attached some more pictures, in case you can think of another suggestion, of both the external door handle with the screws attached, as how it should be once installed properly, and the other door handle which can’t be removed from the door but does pop out a few millimetres. If you can think of any other suggestion I would be so grateful. There is obviously a way of doing this as someone has originally attached the door handle in the first place, and it probably took them two seconds to do it. I’m on day three now of trying to work this out.
Hi @marieneedshelp,
Thought I'd jump in to say that a screw that goes in one or two rotations and then stops is likely to be the wrong thread pattern. If you take the original screw with you into a store and ask the team member to check the thread style they should be able to find you a screw to match.
It sounds like you've already tried, but could you use a flat-bladed butter knife to lift the screws up one at a time and try to get them seated?
Mitchell
Hi MitchellMc,
I did take both the screw and door handle to the store yesterday. She definitely got the right type of screw as even the original screw only rotates two or three times then stops. I got a M5 x 50mm screw I even went back and purchased a M4 x 50 mm just in case.
Thank you about your suggestion re the butter knife but it's a bit too thick. I have used a paper clip but to no avail. Here are my last two attempts using different types of straws, one paper, one plastic. In these pics the screw is in the straw. The paper straw is moveable so the idea is it pushes in when the screw starts screwing.
Sorry @marieneedshelp, I presumed when you said the screw only went in so far but the hole was deeper, that perhaps the original screws had no issue going in fully. Must be some obstruction.
I think we're all living vicariously through you and we could really do with a Sunday afternoon win. Good luck!
Mitchell
Sorry to see your troubles - please persist - with us as well. 😁
To me and my eyes, and having had a similar experience - gravity is working against us. As that long 50mm bolt enters - it immediately drops down and it only has to be a millimetre off and the thread won't engage.
Couple of thoughts.
A bit of blue tack from the freezer (if warm - then it's too soft) and squeeze the bolt onto a Phillips head battery driver with the blue tack.
Work quickly. "Insert and engage" as quick as you can with the driver. It may take multiple attempts.
I do know (and have somewhere) they make hand held screwdrivers that 'anchor' the screw to the head with clips.
Even better, maybe a strong earth magnet (mine is from Jaycar).
The door should be mostly alloy and not affected by the magnet (theory).
Just use it as a screwdriver until the thread engages.
Good luck!
Hi Noyade,
Gravity is definitely the culprit here.
Thank you for your interest, suggestions and photos, but I think you've misunderstood my situation. I have access to the screw's head. It's when I go to put the external door handle on with its attached plate that I cannot longer see the end of the screw that needs to go into the female thread, which is on the external part of the door handle. The screw is shorter than the width of the door and drops down inside the cavity of the doo therefore I have no control or understanding of whether the screw is 1 or 5 mm out. It's very frustrating. If it was an internal door I wouldn't be as concerned but it's an external door and it's the only way I can access my backyard.
I gave up last night and just put masking tape on it for now, lol.
