Mk1 Door Latch adjustment

[JeffW]

My Mk 1 doors do not open properly when the inner or outer handle is activated. On the outside, you have to lift up the black handle and physically pull the door open, which is very awkward, especially if the top is up. When inside at least you can push the door open, but it's not ideal.

Is there an adjustment for this? I note Section 76.28.01 of the ROM, but I am not sure that applies to this or just door gaps.

Thanks
Jeff

[mole42]

I have a similar situation but only on the passenger door. The driver’s door opens easily but it’s necessary to lift the passenger door before it opens. I bought a replacement lock pair and tried that as well as combinations of lock parts but nothing so far has eased the problem. I’ve tried all sorts of hinge adjustments as well as replacing the hinge pins but my garage is a bit too narrow to fully open the door so I’m hoping that I can resolve the issue on a nice day outside.

[JeffW]

Hi Richard

Interesting - mine is much worse on the passenger side as well.

Please let me know if you figure it out!

Thanks
Jeff

[SteveD]

I thought this was a standard feature

Steve

[sujitroy]

On my fed mk1 there are two settings for the lock to close. push the door a bit closes the first part then push again for second part that thing that moves is spring loaded and that force on t u e second click is enough to open the door a bit. Youu can hear two clicks when you close the door. Do you here those two clicks?
Sujit

[JeffW]

Hey Sujit

Yes, I do. The lock mechanism appears to work perfectly when closing (and I have tried it slowly and quickly and heard the two clicks) but when opening the spring mechanism doesn't seem to have enough oomph to push the door open a bit as I remember my Mk 2 did. There is no sound at all, other than the lever being pressed. You then have to pull the door awkwardly to open it.

I have also closed the latch part with a screwdriver with the door open and activated the handle. The spring clicks out nicely.

Jeff

[sujitroy]

With the door open, get a screw driver and push the thing back into the lock so it clicks twice. Lift the door handle to open the lock. do u feel that thing has enough spring load. how are your door seals? fresh door seals may help. is the striker on the door bent in any way? Maybe take it off and mate it with the lock and see any binding. I have a few mk1 door locks. unless the car got into an accident, I don't see much going wrong with them. if u have time remove the lock and see how the door opens without it.
Sujit

[sujitroy]

. just reread the bit about the screw driver. remove the striker on the post and see.

[trunt]

Whilst the door lock has none, The striker plate has a lot of adjustment, it moves up, down in, out and can be angled as it’s bolted to loose captive plates in the B post. Are the plates seized? There are also fiber shims behind the striker and adding or subtracting them gives some more adjustment. As long as the door gaps are ok and the hinges in good order the strikers can be adjusted to suit. Like sujit I think that the seals do most of the work “springing” the door open, rather than the lock itself.

IIRC I removed the striker and adjusted the door hinges so that the gaps were good, then fitted the striker and positioned it to match.

[JeffW]

Thanks Terry, I will look at the striker and see if I can adjust it.

Jeff

[mole42]

IIRC I removed the striker and adjusted the door hinges so that the gaps were good, then fitted the striker and positioned it to match.

I did that but the passenger door is still a b*gg*r to open from outside. I’m constantly having to open the door for her Ladyship - anyone would think I were a gentleman.

[sujitroy]

Could rhe door card be interfering with the door opening?

[FrenchStag]

I had the same issue with my mk2 passenger door. The outer catch was riding up and then sitting on the metal catch loop attached to the body shell. The door itself seems to be correctly aligned and not sticking elsewhere.

The catches dont seem to be adjustable. What worked for me was unscrewing the outer door catch with its four screws, and then adding 4 washers between the catch and the door skin. This brought the whole thing out by 1 or 2 mm and somehow it stopped it sticking so badly. Still not perfect but it does open under its own steam when the handles are used.