Window handle broken, easy fix?

My bathroom window handle has locked shut. Can’t get at the mechanism to change the handle.
I’ve changed a UPVC rundown handle years ago and remember it being a pretty easy fix.
Is there a way to sort this too?
Cheers in advance.

Do you mean it’s locked and you don’t have the key? They are easy to replace when open, probably impossible when shut. I would focus on opening it. The lock won’t be strong, it can probably be forced with a screwdriver

A photo would help. Do mean it’s in the closed position and been locked and the key lost or do you mean the mechanism seems to have jammed.

The keys are quite generic. If not big flat bladed screwdriver into the lock and turn. Will damage the handle but at least you can replace it then. If the window licking mechanism is jammed in the frame there’s no way to get to it when the window is shut.

Edit: beaten to it.

Stick a screwdriver in the lock and twist, the lock will snap quite easily

You CAN open a PVCu window that’s jammed shut when the mechanism is broken. There are videos on Youtube. You simply have to pull out the rubber seal to make a gap then slip a hex key into the gap, rotate it 90 degrees to catch the bolt then yank the bolt back away from the catcher.

We have this issue too, so I’m reading with interest.

the window licking mechanism

Dude, you can’t say that any more.

The handle was working fine but I’ve never had the key so never locked it and now it’s ‘behaving like it’s locked.

The little button turns and the handle moves to 90 degrees but the window doesn’t open.
Looking at it now and pushing the window it’s like the top lock is Joe and the bottom is locked.

I’ve just had exactly the same problem. The handle will have sheared off inside, but the spindle is still holding it on. So just pull the handle off (away from the window, towards you). Then you’ll be able to pop the two plastic bits out and remove the rest with a phillips.

Then I guess it’s just replacing the handle. Not bought mine yet due to lockdown…

Any links?

Any links?

Screwfix?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-lh-rh-prolinea-espagnolette-window-handle-white/2599g

I’ve used a couple of these or possibly the slightly more expensive Mila ones can’t remember now. No issues with them so far.

The Mila one…

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mila-lh-rh-prolinea-espagnolette-upvc-window-handle-white/5961g

You simply have to pull out the rubber seal to make a gap then

I really wouldnt try that. Most modern windows have the gasket co-extruded onto the UPVc for a permanent bond. It might be an old school gasket that fits in a channel but probably not. Tear it of and it won’t go back on. Also bear in mind windows are supposed to secure, if it was easy to remove the gasket and access the locking mech they’d be pretty useless.

Jambourgie has the best suggestion, get the handle off and check the spindle.

Funnily enough that’s the second time today I’ve been told I can’t lick windows anymore, what gives?

The second part of this video helped me sort my window. It’s always bathroom window that go, especially ensuite as the condensation knackers the sh!tty metal the handle spindle goes into. 2 of ours have given up the ghost over the years. Easy fix if window is open, a bugger if it’s closed.

Give it a go but if it’s a co-extruded gasket you’ve just wrecked the window.

^^^^thats why the second part in the video I linked deals with co-extruded windows.

Had similar, bought a new window, probably not the most cost effective solution.

The little button turns and the handle moves to 90 degrees but the window doesn’t open.
Looking at it now and pushing the window it’s like the top lock is Joe and the bottom is locked.

When this happened to my window handle, just got a thin blade,slipped into in the gap between the handle and the part bolted to the window, slide the spring out of the way, opened the handle.

just undo the two bolts, one is probably covered, then fit a new generic handle.