Working on a 40 story building in Chicago changed how I check door locks

I was doing a full inspection on a bank of six elevators. On the 35th floor, a tenant held the door open for a delivery and the car tried to move. The door lock was worn just enough to let it slip. Now I carry a 0.015 inch feeler gauge in my kit. I check every single lock roller for that exact gap before I sign off on a job. It adds maybe 10 minutes per car but it's worth it. What's your go-to check for door lock safety that you added after a close call?

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3 Comments

alice_wilson736mo ago

That's a good check, but I worry about just one number. Wear patterns can be tricky. I'd rather feel for any play in the whole mechanism, not just measure one gap.

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samward6mo ago

But what if your feel is wrong?

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wren_thomas166mo ago

Wait, so you're saying @alice_wilson73 measures with just a feel? That's wild.

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