Need stiffer doorknob spring

[Bennylava]

Hi all. The wife wants this fancy doorknob installed on her craft room door. Not really a problem, except that the return spring is too weak. It won't really snap the doorknob back into position after you let go of it. Below I have linked a pic. As you can see, this doorknob will work fine with the usual guts. Just need a stronger spring. Any idea how to make that happen? They didn't sell the knob with anything else you needed. Just the knob itself. I'm trying to use the middle parts (in the bag) from another knob. Do I have to have a custom spring made? Or can I buy the right part somewhere? Thanks!

https://imgur.com/LqFLMfs

 

[nadogail]

Visit a Professional Locksmith, they can provide servises and have sources the the big box stores can't be bothered with.

 

[The Cobbler]

that vintage knob was made for a mortised latch with a much heavier spring. I suppose you might be able to rig up a spring from a newer style passage set. ( from the knob housing ) to aid in returning the knob to its position

 

[Walkers]

Just make sure there is no drags from the escutcheons on either side. If there is no other drag it will snap back just fine.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ that style latch is not designed to return the knob, it returns the latch only. the knob that came from would have had a spring on the shaft to return the knobs

 

[Bennylava]

^^^ that style latch is not designed to return the knob, it returns the latch only. the knob that came from would have had a spring on the shaft to return the knobs

Well it tries to work, and will with a bit of help. That's what made me think the spring was too weak for that knob. Do you happen to have a pic of the correct innards for that knob?

 

[BillK]

I think if you go to Home Depot and buy a new "latch" assembly it will work fine. I have replaced several of our builder grade knobs with ones like you show and have had no issues at all with them working fine. Also make sure there is no binding in the knob itself with the trim pieces.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks to me like it's a Schlage latch, hard to get much better that that ( at the price point) those latches aren't designed to return the knobs , they are designed to return the latch . the knobs will have 1 or 2 springs in them to return them .
sorry for poor quality on photos

 

[Bennylava]

I think if you go to Home Depot and buy a new "latch" assembly it will work fine. I have replaced several of our builder grade knobs with ones like you show and have had no issues at all with them working fine. Also make sure there is no binding in the knob itself with the trim pieces.

Could you elaborate a bit more on the "latch" assembly you referred to? I bet that if I go asking about the latch assembly, they'll just point me towards what I've already got. Which doesn't seem to work well with the knob. I realize you're talking about something different but it sounds like something I don't have any experience with and wouldn't recognize. Thank you