Author Topic: Repair of early door lock  (Read 163 times)

Merc_Girl

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Repair of early door lock
« on: October 15, 2025, 20:34:05 »
Hiya folks
Has anyone had experience of repairing an early type door lock? I think it is that that is stopping the door releasing from the inside handle

With thanks in advance
Katie
230SL

mdsalemi

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Re: Repair of early door lock
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2025, 21:39:17 »
Boy, would this be a great service! I have had a selection of marginally, functional door latch, and lock assemblies, that are just worn out, or in some state of partial war, such as the functionality is affected.

What would be better is if somebody remanufactured these new.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2025 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid
2025 Ford Mustang Mach E PEV
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

Merc_Girl

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Re: Repair of early door lock
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2025, 21:55:10 »
I’m surprised that no one in the group does this. Surely it can’t be that hard 🫣

I can see you can buy new later locks but not for the early ones 😢
230SL

BobH

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Re: Repair of early door lock
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2025, 08:40:40 »
Hello Katie, i'm no expert and have never had one of these latches apart, you may have tried a few of these things already, but if not:

I assume you can open the door from the outside with no problem, if so then you need to check that the internal rod/bar/ whatever it's called from the internal latch release handle to the latch turns the cam to the same degree.  I just checked mine and it does
If it doesn't, then can you manually pull the bar, to operate the cam to the same degree?

Are the small rubber guide posts all fitted and secure, i would have thought that even if one of these was broken or missing, the bar could deflect enough to not operate the cam far enough, looks like even a 1mm deflection could affect the cam.  The rubber guide posts and the small clip that secures the bar to the latch are available from the usual suppliers

Is there any adjustment on the bar, to effectively decrease the length of the bar, and increase the pull of the cam, perhaps at the spring end of the bar?
Does the strength of the spring on the bar have an effect on the pull, perhaps it's grown weak over the years, i know i have

Is the chrome receiver in the door jam fixed tightly, the chrome receiver is rivetted to the back plate and can become loose, i would have thought this would cause a locking problem, but i guess it could cause the opposite effect?  My drivers door receiver is very tight, almost no movement, but my passenger door receiver is quite loose, moves a good 2mm in all directions, although it doesn't cause any problems at the moment

Is the receiver aligned correctly, perhaps it needs a small adjustment?

i assume you've given the latch release mechanism a good dosing of cleaner and degreaser?

Just looking at some pictures of the bar/rod, i'm not clear whether the rod pushes the cam to open, so moves from handle to latch, if so it needs to be lengthened somehow to get the extra little push necessary, or pulls the cam to open, so will need to be shortened somehow
« Last Edit: October 16, 2025, 13:29:07 by BobH »
February 1965 230SL Automatic
UK delivered RHD
Papyrus white, blue hard top & hub caps
Blue soft top
Blue leather

 

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