'31 door latch mechanism repair/replace

[burner31]

Is there a repair kit for the front passenger door on my
'31 SW town sedan?
Is there a place to buy the unit?
I've posted in the swap meet looking for one, but wondering if a kit is out there someplace.

[31Tudor]

You can buy a replacement spring set, and then if your latch is grooved pretty good you can weld that up.

[jw hash]

No one makes a repair kit for the SW door lathes. they do sell the spring for the latch itself but no one makes the correct spring for the remote. Bratton`s sells the correct one, but there is NO spring in the spring. I have rebuilt well over 100 of them. and I`m down to my last good remote spring. so if someone out there has another source for the correct remote spring. let me know. Keith what is wrong with yours.

[duke36]

Does the front passenger door inside latch get a spring with the cylinder lock in outside handle?
Snyders had different batch springs from their supplier, but not sure which ones are available. Some would break and others were more flexible.

[jw hash]

rip
yes all Model A door latches have springs. the slant window door latches are different than all other Model A`s. the latch itself is pretty much the same as the 32`s the remote is different. the latch for all locking handles on the SW bodies are different again. you have to twist the handle to remove it. all the rest, you just pull the two screws out and pull them off.

[burner31]

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Originally Posted by jw hash

No one makes a repair kit for the SW door lathes. they do sell the spring for the latch itself but no one makes the correct spring for the remote. Bratton`s sells the correct one, but there is NO spring in the spring. I have rebuilt well over 100 of them. and I`m down to my last good remote spring. so if someone out there has another source for the correct remote spring. let me know. Keith what is wrong with yours.

The latch curves up, it opens well from the inside, but it absolutely, positively will not open from the outside.
I had it out and all the springs are there and seem in good shape.
The latch does seem to be worn.
Wish I had taken some pics when I had it out.

[Oldbluoval]

Yep, typical wear-out. It will have to be taken apart and welded and machined.
John Hash will do a fine job!

BU

[jw hash]

Keith
first question ? do you have a reproduction outside door handle or a non locking original handle. on the right front door latches, the outside door handle HAS to have step in the shaft or the latch will NOT let it turn. I have run into that a couple times. it also looks like your guide and rivet are ware out because the latch in angled up.

[burner31]

I have the original handle but the shaft is ate up/mangled, I just bought a new handle with a lock but the shaft is way long.

And who is "John Hash" and how do I contact him?

[jw hash]

Keith
I am John. PM sent

[Bob C]

Looking at the latch and wear on the dove tail I bet your door is
sagging quite a bit.

Bob

[Kevin in NJ]

Click the link below to go to my website.

There you will find the pictures and suggestions on how to rebuild the latches using common garage tools.

[duke36]

jw and kevin, just for clarification , if I understand correctly, does the inside passenger front lever remote mechanism require the little "s" shaped spring (like the other 3 doors) ? If the handle is in the up horiz. and locked position, will the outside handle ( with the lock cylinder ) open the door and have enough force to move the inside lever down? My car may be missing the "s" spring on the r.f. door.

[Kevin in NJ]

I only know what the front doors would have. Both sides have the spring to hold the handle at the detent in the triangle shaped piece that the inside handle attaches to.

[jw hash]

Kevin is correct, but I will add one thing. the right front door remote has a little dog on it that will NOT let you lock the right front from the inside. on all the other doors when you lift the inside handle in the horiz, position, it basically dead bolt the latch. you can not force it open from the outside. and that is one reason why latches and handles get bent.

[Larry Jenkins]

Snyders advertises that they make their own latches. Call Tom Jordan and explain what you have. Tom will advise you as to what to do. Pretty honest guy..

[duke36]

Larry is correct about Snyders. My understanding from Snyders some time past is that they had 2 different suppliers for the springs , so please post what you find out. One type appeared to be more "extended' profile, the other was more compressed",and some more brittle than others.
Also, thanks Kevin and JW for the explanation about dogging the latch.

[burner31]

To all concerned out there, here's an update.
John Hash fixed me right up, the door opens, closes, even locks now.
You can see that the Wife and I are very happy with it.

Thank you John

[31vicky]

Hi John Hash
I have a slant window fordoor sedan and read your posts here. My passenger side triangular latch part has the tab on it and a very used spring which I will tighten or replace with a new from Snyders.
Questions:
1. Are the new Snyders springs spring steel and will they work properly?
2. Should the other latches all have springs also? Mine does not.
Thank you

[MrBruce]

Berts just sent me four springs and they match the spring in my 31 that just broke. Years ago I rebuilt the four door latches and had an extra set of strikers made up. I just had one of the springs that pushes the striker out broke and Berts had them.