Re: Re: IML: Door Won't Shut: 1960-1966 Door Latch Assemblies

[<jlandis81044@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Try some "PB BLASTER" in the MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE DIRECTIONS ON THE CAN.
> 
> From: "JIM LORENZEN" <jdlpdx@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2007/05/20 Sun PM 12:35:54 EDT
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: IML: Door Won't Shut: 1960-1966 Door Latch Assemblies
> 
> I have the opposite problem with my '62:  I can't get the back doors to open 
> and I don't want to destroy the trim panel to get inside the door to lube or 
> some  how persude the latches.  I've drowned the wheel as best I can by 
> spraying WD-40 in the space between the quarter panel and door but no luck 
> yet.  The windows are up as well and inoperative.  Any and all help will be 
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Jim L. in OR
>     '60 Crown 4dt hdtp
>     '62 Crown 4dr hdtp
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <randalpark@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 7:37 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: Door Won't Shut: 1960-1966 Door Latch Assemblies
> 
> 
> >I have more trouble with rear doors which are frequently left unopened for 
> >years. It seems that inside the door, the "click" doesn't fall into the 
> >"star" apparently due to solidified grease, dirt, etc. This causes the door 
> >not to close properly, if at all. Closing is a two stage process with this 
> >type of safety latch. In this case, the door will not close, and "bounce" 
> >back open, or will close only partially, allowing it to pull away from the 
> >door seal, but still requiring operation of the handle to open it the rest 
> >of the way.
> >
> > Removing, cleaning, and re-lubricating the latches usually corrects 90% of 
> > the trouble. So far, I have not run into any trouble whatsoever on doors 
> > that have been regularly opened throughout the years. I suspect those are 
> > the ones with the most wear and tear, yet they seem to work fine. I am 
> > familiar with the looseness that occurs when the "click" and the "star" 
> > become worn. With the door fully closed, it can be moved slightly in and 
> > out in the closed position, and will shake badly on rough roads. I haven't 
> > experienced one of these regularly used, fully functional, but very worn 
> > latch systems opening by itself going around a corner. The safety aspect 
> > still seems to work in spite of the wear. That's a good thing!
> >
> > However, I have had one of the seldom used, "sticky" latch problem doors 
> > open under these conditions if it was not made certain to be fully closed. 
> > Sometimes, operating the door latch wheel manually with fingers through a 
> > few cycles of "clicks" while open will allow it to be closed until work 
> > can be done later on. Once closed, it's advisable not to open it again 
> > until that work can be done.
> >
> > Either way, the latches seem to be repairable. I recently purchased two 
> > rear ones to fix the "seldom used door syndrome" problem in my parent's 
> > '60, but plan to repair the ones I remove, and save them for future use.
> >
> > Paul W.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Sent: Sat, 19 May 2007 3:42 PM
> > Subject: IML: Door Won't Shut: 1960-1966 Door Latch Assemblies
> >
> > 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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> >
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> 
> 
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