majortom
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The following information is how to repair the common failure of the door latch mechanism used on M series 2 1/2 , 5 & 10 ton trucks is also applicable to M37 Dodge.
We get many calls for door latches due to internal failure causing the outside handle not to function. The left latch is very hard to find and is not interchangeable with the right hand latch. The latch is the same for all of the above mentioned units except for the length of the arm to the inside handle.
Yesterday the latch failed on my truck. But I couldn't just replace it I had to know why. After disassembling the latch, the failure was obvious. The quick fix was also obvious.
How the latch works: After you rotate the outside handle it rotates a cam, that pushes a lever attached to the striker. What happens with use is the clearances increase enough so that the cam will slide under the lever and the outside handle does nothing. To repair the problem you must remove the latch from the door. With a firm tap on a specific spot with a punch and hammer on the striker lever the latch will work just like new.
Pic 1: Shows Left Hand Latch
Pic 2: Shows The Exploded View From Left To Right Latch, Cam, Cam Retainer & Cover.
Pic 3: Shows a that the cam has slide under the lever (Broke).
Pic 4: Shows the striker held in the open position with a vicegrip to gain access for the bending operation.
Pic 5: Has the cover removed so the part striker lever being bent
Pic 6: Bending the lever using a punch or chisel with a hammer. Give the punch several good raps then insert outside handle in latch checking for proper function, repeat as necessary.
Pic 7: Shows the cam resting against the striker arm in the proper position with the cover removed.
Pic 8: Shows the cam rotated to the open position.
In short you do not have to take the cover off the latch to repair it we did that to give a better understanding of the inner workings of the latch. One of the easiest things I have ever fixed on a Deuce.
Time to complete Procedure: Half Hour
Materials: 0
Beer: 2
We get many calls for door latches due to internal failure causing the outside handle not to function. The left latch is very hard to find and is not interchangeable with the right hand latch. The latch is the same for all of the above mentioned units except for the length of the arm to the inside handle.
Yesterday the latch failed on my truck. But I couldn't just replace it I had to know why. After disassembling the latch, the failure was obvious. The quick fix was also obvious.
How the latch works: After you rotate the outside handle it rotates a cam, that pushes a lever attached to the striker. What happens with use is the clearances increase enough so that the cam will slide under the lever and the outside handle does nothing. To repair the problem you must remove the latch from the door. With a firm tap on a specific spot with a punch and hammer on the striker lever the latch will work just like new.
Pic 1: Shows Left Hand Latch
Pic 2: Shows The Exploded View From Left To Right Latch, Cam, Cam Retainer & Cover.
Pic 3: Shows a that the cam has slide under the lever (Broke).
Pic 4: Shows the striker held in the open position with a vicegrip to gain access for the bending operation.
Pic 5: Has the cover removed so the part striker lever being bent
Pic 6: Bending the lever using a punch or chisel with a hammer. Give the punch several good raps then insert outside handle in latch checking for proper function, repeat as necessary.
Pic 7: Shows the cam resting against the striker arm in the proper position with the cover removed.
Pic 8: Shows the cam rotated to the open position.
In short you do not have to take the cover off the latch to repair it we did that to give a better understanding of the inner workings of the latch. One of the easiest things I have ever fixed on a Deuce.
Time to complete Procedure: Half Hour
Materials: 0
Beer: 2
