1985 Sovereign, Door won't unlock

[Reesmom]

The door on our 1985 Sovereign has been hard to close for a while now, we had to push it pretty hard to get it to close completely, we don't slam it though. Anyway, we were at the campground last night, we went inside and, the door locked and we couldn't get out, the handle was just kind of hanging there. We had to take the screen out of the back window and climb out that way. My husband was out there this morning trying to get it open and, he had no luck. It won't open from the inside or outside. He was thinking about taking the door off the hinges, any thoughts on that? If that isn't and option, can someone give me some suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[Becky B.]

Did you try to take the handle off? I had that happen with my former '86. I removed the handle from the inside & was able to slide the mechanism open to get the door open. I had a new piece made for the inside by a friend who does machine work. The original piece cracked. It was the piece with the spring attached to it that was broken.

[Reesmom]

He tried that, it didn't work. Now he and a couple of his friends have fooled around and bent the door, looks like we need a lock smith and a new door.

[HowieE]

Not yet.

You may have to remove the door. It may be the tang of the lock has broken off the pull plate in the lock assembly and remains in the strike plate. If you have to remove the door you will have to cut holes on the inside to get to the nuts that hold the door on. The following pictures will show the tang that broke off, where it brakes off in the lock assembly and how to remove the door from the inside. If you cut the holes on the wall small enough then can be covered with flat 2x4 electrical plates.

If this is your problem you can weld the tang back to the pull plate. Note the green tie show the point of separation. I ground a champher on both sides before welding to increase the weld area. Once re-welded the weld will contact the face plate of the lock assembly but that area can be cut away without causing any reduction in strength.

This happened while on the road and I had to tie the door closed for 2 weeks. Luckily I had removed the door some time earlier for adjustment so the problem on the road was not that bad.

If you want to re-contour the door I have picture on that exercise also

[Reesmom]

We got the door open, can anyone tell me what holds the latch or bolt in on the lock? It seems like it just pops out, the lock smith was even baffled.

[HowieE]

If you are dealing with the lock set above the latch is held to the draw plate by the metal plate riveted to it in pic #1 that plate brakes off the draw plate right where the green tie wrap is pointing. That can be welded if you grind each piece to form a valley and the cover plate over it may have to be ground back a bit to clear the weld.

Once it brakes there is nothing holding the latch in the strike.

[Reesmom]

So, it isn't being held by anything in the door itself? the bolt just falls out of the locking mechanism. We're trying to figure out how we can fix it, even the locksmith couldn't figure it out.

Does anyone know of someone who restores them?

[HowieE]

I don't see any mechanical difference between your lock set and mine. Take the top plate off and you should see how latch has broken from the pull plate.

Please PM me if you have a question and send your phone number.