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On the door latches for the
1960-1966 Imperials, there is a star wheel on the forward
(inside) part of the latch that the Lever-Detent Actuator rides against to hold
the latch in the closed position. This star wheel is adjacent to the
Lever-Detent Actuator (K) in this FSM photo, http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1964/FSM/html/23-032.htm
Yesterday, I took the latch out of the driver's door on my
'64 Crown Coupe. I found a couple of things that I believe causes the
latch to do the much discussed "door won't latch" syndrome for the
Imperials of these years.
I noted that the assembly that comprises of this star
wheel on one side of the latch and the latch wheel that fits into the door
jamb striker plate had a lot of lateral play. After moving the various
components in their range of motion, I saw that the riding surface of
the Lever-Detent Actuator had gouged a trough on each of the six star
'fingers' of the adjacent star wheel. Instead of a smooth motion of this lever
cinching down into the star wheel crotch, I caught a glimpse of it jambing up,
mid-finger so to speak, preventing full rotation of the latch wheel to lock
closed the door.
The Aha! light went off (on?) upstairs and I pressed
down in a vise the cup that captures this wheel assembly taking a sizeable
amount of play out of the mix. This causes the lever to ride in alignment with
each star finger.
Then, I filed down each of the six star fingers to take
out the trough ridge and to a lesser extent the deformed crotch part that the
lever notches into to hold the door solidly closed. This work fixed the trouble,
the door closes every time That little star wheel holds it all closed and
seems to take the brunt of the wear.
Now here is the question that could solve the latch issue.
Does anyone make, sell, or fabricate these star wheels? It appears that they can
be pressed out/in for replacement.
Eric
1964 Crown Coupe
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