Instead of fixing the mortise lock it can be replaced with another mortise lock.
Replacing an old mortise door lock with a modern lock.
If you have an older house with knobs that slip latches that are stuck inside the door or other minor problems then you should follow these instructions to remove the lock dis assemble it clean and perform minor repairs.
You d have to fill the mortise hole with a solid block of wood which might well entail digging out more of the door to get a good fit.
Replacing an interior mortise lock skeleton key with a modern lock with privacy latch press any key replacing an interior mortise lock skeleton key with a modern lock with privacy latch this seems to be one of the more popular posts on my blog.
The problem with replacing the mortise with a bored cylindrical lock is that the new lock is smaller than the old and really has to be in the same location on the door as it s the strongest part of the door.
Once you ve removed the door lock template you have a space perfectly primed for your new lock.
Remove the face plates prying them up with the screwdriver if needed.
Same issue exists regarding old holes in the door faces.
Pull the lock out of the edge of the door.
Remove the screws attaching the inside face plate to the edge of the door as well as the plates on the door faces.
Paint over the block to match the rest of the doorjamb.
Cleaning and repairing an antique mortise door lock.
For budget conscious people such as landlords not willing to lavish their tenants with expensive locks another choice is retrofitting the door with conventional tubular locks such as those available at big box stores.