Re: Door Lock

Posted by Hans On 2011/4/6 15:49:18

Well, managed to get the door lock out. Removing the door handle slide clip proved to be a true work of patience. After soaking the clip in penetrating oil for several times over two days I loosened the lower sliding rail slightly with a screwdriver to give the clip more room. Then after hammering forth and back it came out, almost undamaged, only one spring tongue was broken off. I never found it back so it might as well be possible it was missing before I started.
Then the window channel: no hidden screw here, just by coincidence i discoverd that it can be pushed upward to release two sliding clips.

The door lock itself was similar in construction to the one in Howard's picture, although there are some differences in the Clipper 1954 lock. The spring I suspected to be broken was OK. Reason for the ratchet not blocking after closing the door was that at point C (Howard's picture) almost half the thickness of the pawl was chewed away by the ratchet which was rather loose on its shaft. Result: no blocking action on the ratchet and a non-locking rotor on the outside of the lock. My lubrication action made the problem worse, because the parts were now able to slide out of their right course even easier.

The problem was quickly rectified by my neighbour who took it to his work where the missing material was TIG welded in situ, that is without dismantling the lock. Talking about precision welding...
The ratchet wheel received a weld to correct the pay on its shaft.

Tonight I put everything back together again, after ample lubricating the turning and moving points and giving the inside of the door a Tectyl treatment to stop the rust and preserve the metal. The door opens and closes as a dream! Tomorrow the inside door panel and the window trim go back on and Da Wolfman is ready for the road again.