Casement Window Won't Lock — Lock, Tie-Bar and Keepers Repaired
The lever flops, will not move, or throws without pulling the sash in.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
When a casement window won't lock, the lock handle, the tie-bar inside the frame, or the keepers on the sash are broken, bent or out of line. JMB Builders identifies the single-point or multipoint lock, orders the parts, replaces the handle, tie-bar and keepers, and aligns them so the sash pulls tight to the weatherstrip. Casement and awning windows across the Twin Cities metro, priced per window, quoted from photos, reply within one business day.
- Priced per window
- Single and multipoint casement locks
- Keepers aligned so the sash pulls tight
A casement or awning window locks with a handle on the frame. On smaller windows that handle turns one cam that hooks a keeper on the sash. On taller windows it drives a tie-bar, a flat steel bar hidden in the frame, that moves two or three rollers or hooks at once into keepers along the sash edge. That is a multipoint lock, and it is what pulls a tall sash tight to the weatherstrip from top to bottom.
Locks fail in a few ways. The handle breaks or its pot-metal casting cracks. The tie-bar comes off its link or a roller wears so it misses its keeper. The keepers on the sash bend or loosen, or the sash has shifted so they no longer line up. The result is the same: the lever moves but the sash is not held, or it will not move at all.
We find out which part failed before ordering. The window is identified from the sash label or glass code, the lock type and handing noted, and the handle, tie-bar or keepers ordered to match. On site the parts go in, the keepers are set where the rollers actually land, and the sash is checked to lock with normal effort and seal along the whole edge. A crank that does not pull the sash in, or hinges that let it sag, are separate repairs we check at the same time.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
What you supply
- A photo of the lock handle and a close-up of the keepers on the sash edge
- A photo of the label on the sash edge or the code etched in a corner of the glass
- What the lock does: flops, sticks, throws but does not pull in, or locks one corner only
- Your hardware finish if you want the new handle to match the others
What JMB supplies
- Identification of the lock: single cam or multipoint, handing and finish
- Replacement handle, tie-bar, rollers or keepers, ordered before the visit
- Interior cover or stop removed and reinstalled where the lock sits behind it
- New lock parts installed and the tie-bar linked and checked
- Keepers set and adjusted so the sash pulls tight along its edge
- Check of the crank and hinges so the sash reaches the lock
- Photos of the finished window in your job folder
How it is priced: per window
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- Single-point cam lock vs. multipoint lock with a tie-bar
- Handle only vs. handle, tie-bar and keepers
- Whether the maker still sells the lock or a retrofit has to fit the old holes
- A sash that has sagged and needs hinge work before it can lock
- Special-order handle finish to match the rest of the house
- Number of windows on the same visit
A close-up of the keepers on the sash edge tells us whether the lock is single or multipoint before we order.
How long it takes
Lock parts usually take one to two weeks to arrive. Once on site, most locks take under an hour per window.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Handle replacement
The lever is broken or cracked but the tie-bar and keepers are fine. A matching handle is installed and checked to throw fully.
Multipoint lock and tie-bar
Tall casements where one corner locks and the other does not. The tie-bar link or rollers are replaced and every keeper lined up so the whole edge pulls in.
Keeper alignment
The lock works but misses or barely catches. The keepers on the sash are moved or replaced so the rollers land where they pull the sash tight.
Casement Window Won't Lock — Lock, Tie-Bar and Keepers Repaired: questions, answered
Why won't my casement window lock?
Usually one of three things: the handle is broken, the tie-bar inside the frame has come off its link or a roller has worn, or the keepers on the sash are bent or out of line. A sash that sags on worn hinges can also stop short of the lock. We find which one before ordering parts.
What is a multipoint lock on a casement window?
It is a single handle that drives a hidden bar along the frame, moving two or three rollers or hooks into keepers on the sash at once. It pulls a tall sash tight to the weatherstrip at the top and bottom, not just in the middle.
Can you replace just the casement lock handle?
Yes, when the tie-bar and keepers are sound and only the handle is broken. Handles are specific to the maker and series and come in the maker's finishes. If the handle moves but the sash is not held, the problem is behind the handle and a new handle alone will not fix it.
My casement locks but there is still a draft. Why?
The lock may be catching without pulling the sash in, because the keepers are out of line or worn. The weatherstrip may also be flattened. Moving the keepers and replacing the seal together closes the gap.
Do you fix awning window locks too?
Yes. Awning windows use the same kind of locks and keepers as casements, usually on the sides of the frame near the bottom. They are matched and replaced the same way.
Is a broken casement lock a reason to replace the window?
Not by itself. Lock parts for the common series are still sold, and a retrofit lock can fit when they are not. If the glass is fogged, the sash is rotted and the lock is broken too, a new window may be the better money, and we price both.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and the builders we work with. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
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Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All windows pages
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Window Replacement & Installation near you
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