Keyed entry lever set, Grade 2

Grade 2 is the residential standard that means something: 400,000 cycles, 150 ft-lb of impact, and a solid brass cylinder rather than a zinc one. Most lever sets sold at this price are ungraded, which is a way of saying they were never tested.

Adjustable 2-3/8 to 2-3/4 inch backset, fits standard 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inch doors, and reversible for either hand. Pair it with the Grade 1 deadbolt on an entry door; the lever holds the door closed, the deadbolt holds it shut.

Fitting and care. Measure the backset before ordering: the distance from the door edge to the centre of the bore is either 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches and this set adjusts to both, but the cross bore must be 2-1/8 inches. Do not over-tighten the through bolts — a lever that binds is nearly always a lock pulled out of square rather than a faulty one. Lubricate the cylinder once a year with a graphite or PTFE lock lubricant, never with a general-purpose oil, which collects grit and eventually gums the pins solid.