Replacing a Sheared Tailpiece Receiver in an Andersen Sliding Patio Door

Locks: Andersen Exterior Keyed Locks
Repair Kit: 2500707

How to Replace a sheared tailpiece receiver in an Andersen sliding patio door lock. If your lock turns freely in either direction, but doesn't actually engage and lock or unlock, there's a good possibility that the tailpiece receiver has sheared. This is what your lock should look like as installed:

1. Remove the lock from the door. You should be left with this:

Your repair kit (All About Doors & Window part #2500707) should contain a new tailpiece receiver, a right-handed large gear, a left-handed large gear, a small gear, and three screws.

The silver gear will be used for a right-handed lock and the bronze gear for a left-handed lock. They are also stamped with an "R" or "L" to indicate handing, should the colors differ.

2. Pull out the tailpiece receiver if it hasn't fallen out already. If your tailpiece receiver has sheared, you should be able to pull it out of the back of the lock.

This is what the sheared tailpiece receiver looks like next to the new one.

3. Check the handing of the lock before you disassemble it. This can easily be found by looking through the cutaway just above the receiver (the red circle on the photo).

It's hard to make out, but this lock shows "R" for right-handed.

4. Remove the three screws holding the backing plate on.

5. Replace the old gears with the new ones from the kit. Put the new receiver through the large gear before setting it in the lock in place. Make sure to use the correct handing for the large gear as indicated by the letter stamped into it. The arrow on the gear should be at 12 o'clock, pointing straight up to the top of the lock housing.

7. Set the backing plate back on and re-insert the screws. Don't over-tighten them or the lock will be hard to turn, and you very well may shear the receiver again.

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