sorry about the "all caps" in previous posting- i forgot to hit the "caps lock" button. > > From: <jlandis81044@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Date: 2007/05/20 Sun PM 01:48:34 EDT > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: Re: Re: IML: Door Won't Shut: 1960-1966 Door Latch Assemblies > > 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 > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free > > > from AOL at AOL.com. > > > > > > > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > > > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. 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Private messages (and attachments) for the > Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm