Deadbolts from Hell...

[Mr Ed]

Hi. I've got seven deadbolts with weird fasteners and need some guidance. These are old Schlage locks, probably installed in 1966. One has hex heads; no issues. The others, however, have some sort of steel plug where the hex hole should be; some have round holes. I've uploaded a picture of each of these types -- https://imgur.com/a/hsisYE9

Anybody familiar with these deadbolts, and have advice on how I should go about removing them?

Absent a better Idea, I'll have to try prising the plugs hoping to find a hex head underneath. The ones with round holes, maybe try a screw extractor.

[Raymond]

Looks like someone 'made' security screws by drilling out the Phillips slots. Try drilling straight in with a small bit and gently hammer a corresponding size Torx driver into the hole. Schlage does use little plugs to fill in the screw holes. Tap one corner with a sharp ice pick to tilt it and then pry it out.

[billdeserthills]

I like to use an automatic center punch to get those screws started unscrewing, after that you can remove them with your fingers. I expect you'll wanna replace those old deadbolts because they only extend a half-inch & today's standard is a one inch extension. You can also simply replace the old style latch with a newer style to get a one-inch extension--don't forget to drill your deadbolt strikes in one inch also


Automatic center punch
https://www.zoro.com/starrett-automatic ... 0302008005

[YouLuckyFox]

Good point about 1 inch extension. Also might as well share my favorite deadbolt reinforcment:
https://youtu.be/nE9BSGGQOYY

[cledry]

Just drill the heads off and replace.