Took the '51 out for a spin for the last time this year. When we got back and parked it in the barn, the wife went to get out, and the door wouldn't open. Also, now the outside door handle is no longer in the horizontal position, but now sags downward. What plan of attack to get this thing to open again?

 

Don't know why it posted in the 47 and older section.... (can a mod please relocate to the 48-52 section) thanks in advance

 

make sure it's not locked from the outside? Does the inside door handle rotate at all? I had to use a flathead screwdriver to pop the latch on mine when it didn't work... I took the latch out and cleaned, lubed and re-installed it... It works well now but I still want to go with the Altmen Bear Claw Latches.

 

Internals of the latch are probably worn out or could just be a broken spring if it feels like the handle is just flopping around. I have a thread with pictures of how to tear them down and repair the internals and there are others as well. Try a search on latches or handles.

 

These might be work without the hassle of rebuild.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...+balance+beads

 

How did this old post just pop up to the top of the list?