Hi!
Newbie here. My latest little adventure is my driver's side door latch - it came loose the other day! After I jimmied the door open, I poked at it and the latch itself fell into the door! I got it out and removed the screws that appear retain the latch mechanism and outside door handle, but even though the mechanism is clearly free, it won't separate from the door handle. I don't want to damage anything. An exploded parts diagram would be a big help. Does anybody know where to find instructions for this sort of thing? Thanx!
Guy

 

I think you have to hold the latch button in while you turn the handle. Thats what I did on my 35. Hope this helps.

 

51-
Thanx for the quick come-back!
If I understand your suggestion, this should disconnect the inside handle (button) from the latch mechanism. On my 40, the inside latch control is a handle, and that's already disconnected (not sure how it got that way, but I can feel the end of the arm that extends from the handle, and it's not presently attached to anything. It feels to me like the outside handle penetrates the latch mechanism, but I can't see or feel if there's a clip or a screw or a pin or whatever that secures it.
Thanx anyway for the suggestion!
Guy
btw - I snuck a peek at your gallery - NICE TRUCK!

 

40HotRod,

To get the outside handle to come out of the door you must index the inside door handle to the full open position and then the outside door handle should be able to be slid out of the mechanism. There are angled flats on the square part of the ouside andle that lock it in until you do this. It might take a little working the outside handle to get clear but it is held basically level, the way it is when you first install it. To install the handle, just reverse the process.

Elder Rodder

 

Thanx Elder Rodder! I got it out! The latch plate inside the door came out quite easily (after removing it's screws) once the handle is removed. Thanx so much for the response!
You don't happen to know what part of the latch mechanism the INSIDE door handle connects to, do you? I've got the latch reassembled and installed, but now I have to roll the window down and use the outside handle to let myself out!

Thanx, again!
40HotRod

 

Sorry it's been so long. I didn't know you wanted some more answers on the door latch problem since I've been off for awhile.

The inside door handle mechanism has the capacity to lock the door from the inside on both doors. The inside handle is pushed in the opposite direction than the opening uses and clicks into that mode. Just pull it back to open. You may have the handle in the locked position. If so, the outside handle will not move to open the door. The inside handle must be moved to the unlocked position. Wait, you mentioned opening the door from the outside handle with the window down. Well, somehow the inside handle is not indexing the latch rod and pulling the tongue out of the latch. The handle should move that latch and allow the door to open. Very confusing.

 

Thanx for the comeback Elder Rodder!
I'll have both door panels off soon to do some glass work. I'll see if I can figure out then where the driver's side latch rod connects to the latch. Tight squeeze in there, and my hands aren't as small as they used to be (nor many other part of me for that matter!). I'll post a reply here when I have progress to report.