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Expert
Posts: 2100
 
Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds | On the way home from a car show Saturday, we stopped at a rest stop for a break. When my passenger exited, the door opened but would not latch when closed. I've searched my shop manual and parts manual for a diagram of the lock mechanism, but haven't found one. Does anybody have one? The roller wheel on the door, which normanlly engages the stricker plate, is free wheeling. According to my shop manual, it should only be in this mode when the door is locked to disable the outer door handle from working. That doesn't make sense to me. Anyway I'm planning soon to remove the door panel to examine what might be wrong, but a diagram showing the door latch and handles and how they are supposed to work would be very helpful. Thanks. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 427
Location: McCleary WA | The inner part of the roller wheel is notorious for wearing out. My solution has been to find a 4-door rear latch for the same side (since the rear doors were presumably used less), open the latch up and remove the wheel, and then swap it into the front latch. You have to do some grinding on the end of the wheel axle and another similar spot, but it's not that difficult. Them I just weld the end of the axles when re-assembled.
Or your latch may just be stuck, or have a broken spring. You need to get the latch out to confirm. |
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Expert
Posts: 2100
Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds | Thanks, Darryl T. Sounds reasonable.  |
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Expert
Posts: 4036
Location: Connecticut | Open door. Pull exterior door handle out as far as it will go. Do not release. Spin star wheel a bit. Release exterior door handle. It should now work. There could be excess gunk or grease that is causing the star wheel to bind up. Star wheel should spin when door handle is held open. Ron |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9649
 
Location: So. Cal | If what Ron suggests, doesn't fix it, then most likely, you have a broken spring inside your latch. My '56 Fury had the same issue. Taking the latch apart and replacing that spring along with a worn star wheel is the best fix.
Edited by Powerflite 2021-09-09 6:57 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2100
Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds | Ronbo97, you had me all excited for an easy fix. Unfortunately it didn't work. Beginning to think it's likely a broken spring. Hope to get into it this weekend. Thanks guys. |
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Expert
Posts: 1223
Location: Ramona, CA | I had this problem on the '61 Belvedere, the lock lever on the latch wasn't returning so it was acting like the inner door handle was pulled. I had to open up the door to free it up. Of course this is a desert car where everything is dried up, including all the old grease.
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Expert
Posts: 4036
Location: Connecticut | Geez - Just saw that you had a 60. I don't have any expertise in cars after 59. It's probable that they changed everything up in 60. So I would follow the 'broken spring' advice. Or maybe pull the assembly from a 60 or 61 parts car ? You'll have to verify in the parts book what interchanges amongst models/years. Ron |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Usually dried up grease causes the locking cam not to engage in the rotor, as the spring only has so much tension.
I take penetrating oil, and liberally spray inwards towards the latch with the window down all the way. Often, this will soften the old grease to allow the spring to operate the way it should. If not, Like others stated above, the spring is probably broken.
---John |
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Expert
Posts: 2100
Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds | I appreciate everyone's input, but John (BigM) takes the prize, because he was the closest. :) There were two levers that somehow had become locked above the rotor wheel so they would not drop and engage the wheel. Penetrating oil and working the locking mechanism with the indoor handle freed them up. Also, linkage to the outside door handle had locked up, so I used the same solution. After it was working freely, I oiled it plentifully. I'm leaving the door panel off for a few more days so I can make sure it's good to go, as well as to clean up some of the other door innards. The part in my shop manual about the rotor wheel being free-wheeling in the locked position is wrong. Thanks again. |
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Desoto door won't latch
