1973 Argosy Lock Issue

[WestMichCamp]

I recently purchased a "gently" used 1973 24 foot Argosy. Right when I bought it, I had an issue with the lock on the door. You would unlock it, but could not get the door open. If you used a screw driver, you could pop it open. Well, I moved it the other day and tried the lock just for fun, and it worked. Closed, had some one lock it from the outside and tried to unlock it again, and it would not work.

So, I looked on the forums to see how to get the lock out, and I was able to do this. What I found, if you used the inside handle the locking bolt retracted all the way back in when you pulled it up. If you pulled on the outside latch, there was very little travel of the locking pin back in. In looking at the lock, there is a round plate with a sort of hook on the and that moves and pushes the spring back so the locking bolt moves back, when you pull on the outside handle. This is not traveling very far. Other than this, I did not notice anything else wrong with the lock.

So here is my question. It does not look to be that big of an issue to repair this lock. I am guessing that where the outside handle piviots when pulled out, there is some kind of wear there that is not pushing the locking pin all the way back. To me, famous last words, this does not seem like it would be that hard to repair.

Let me know if you think I'm on the right track here and where I might be able to get a dawing of the lock to see what part might actually need replaced, then I can try to track one down.

Thanks,