Thumb Latch Installation

What you will receive and some diagrams to guide you.


Handle and thumbpiece assy	Retainer(left) or retainer on plate	Keeper(top) or keeper on plate


Latch bar (top) and bar on plate	Screws (7) or (13) with b.o.p.	Rattail keeper (left) or reverse keeper


Room side view of door	Hall side view of door


Figure 1 - Regular latch bar


Figure 2 - Bar on Plate

Instructions:

1. Mount the handle on the hall side of the door. Please see door construction terms.

Cut a small slot for the thumbpiece to pass through. This is done by drilling three, 3/16" holes, one above the other. Use a thin wood chisel to remove the remaining wood from the slot. Finish the slot with a rasp.
Note: You only need a small slot for the thumbpiece to pass through. Remember the thumbpiece only needs to move about 1/2". Just enough to lift the latch bar.
Slide the thumbpiece through the slot you just made and make sure it moves freely.
Mark the holes for mounting the handle with a pencil. Predrill so you don't split the wood.
Attach the handle to the door using the six wood screws provided. Make sure the thumbpiece still operates freely.
Note: If the thumbpiece does not move freely, remove the handle and open the slot very slightly with a rasp until it does.

2. Mount the latch bar on the room side of the door. See note below for "Bar on plate."

Position the latch bar so it is resting on top of the thumbpiece protruding from the door (see Figure 1 above).
Note: Make sure the latch bar is sitting level.
Mark hole in bar with a pencil and Predrill.
Attach bar to door with wood screw.
Mark position for retainer about half way between thumbpiece and end of bar.
Predrill 1/8" holes for retainer.
Hammer retainer into door making sure that the latch bar will still move up and down freely. Clinch the ends of the retainer.
Tip: Wrap an old towel or piece of heavy cloth around a block of wood. Place this block of wood over the retainer to hammer it in. That way, you won't scratch the paint on the retainer.

3. Mount the keeper to the door casing (door jamb).

Raise the latch bar
Position the keeper on the door casing so the latch bar just clears the top of the keeper. Mark with pencil.
Predrill a 1/8" hole so you don't spit the wood.
Carefully hammer the keeper into the door casing using a block of wood so you don't mark the paint.
Note: The Rattail keeper is mounted in the same manner except for the addition of a nail or screw at the bottom of the keeper.

Note: The "Bar on plate" style of latch bar is mounted in the same manner. The difference is that you will mount everything with wood screws. See Figure 2.