Doesn’t Need Me, Still Letting Me Hang Around

 

Doesn’t Need Me, Still Letting Me Hang Around

My most recent post had me secure in my relationship with Mrs. Cranky because she needed me.  She needed me to open our front door which had a sticky lock.  The bolt gets difficult to move every winter.  At 60 degrees it seems to work.  Apparently, she only needs me in the Winter, but that makes her keep me around during the warmer seasons.  Until now.

Mrs. C wanted to just get a new lock.  I didn’t think that would make a difference.  I was convinced the issue was between the bolt and the door plate.

I thought about chiseling out the door and moving the plate a fraction of an inch so the bolt would not stick.  I had second thoughts.  Maybe my adjustment would make the door have a jiggly fit when the weather warmed up.

We called our friendly contractor Frank, who has done so many jobs for us that he gives advice for free…also he has friends in common with Mrs. C from way back.

Frank had a job nearby and offered to come around and take a look.

After about thirty seconds of examining the issue he asked if I had some two inch screws.  I managed to dig out several from my trusty jar of mish-mashed nuts, bolts and screws that I have saved from left over job for sixty years.

Frank replaced the screws in the doors top hinge.  Apparently the door was out of plumb by a tiny bit due to the door hinge 1 1/2 inch screws being imperceptibly loose.

With the door back in plumb the door lock engages and disengages like butter.

I guess I better be on my best behavior for a while.