'78 Landyacht Ambassabor door latch

[Kandy]

Hello

I talked my hubby into getting a really neat 78 Airstream. We live in Mn and he drove to Egg Harbor WI to get it!! Nice guy. . Any way, mine is missing the door handle/pull thing. The lock & key work but have to open the door w a screwdriver!! I was directed to Inland Rv in Ca and they sent me an entire assembly and told me that I would have to cut into the door to install. It is a VERY good thing that I did not do this, It looked wrong to me so I sent it back and they called to tell me that they sent the one for an RV not a trailer. Then they charged me a 20% restocking fee when I told them I did not want them to send me another one as the door would have to be "modified".. Needless to say I will not be back!! Too bad for them as I am in the process of locating and buying a few more of these to use as guest campers at our lake place!! I am really hooked!!

Enough complaining. Can anyone tell me where to find a replacement for this pully thing??

Thanks

Kandy

[bryanl]

For replacing the door lock on a 75 Ambassador using Andy's kit see
http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/me...k/gallery.html

Since there isn't any "pull thing" on the door to pull it open, I am a bit confused. Maybe the lock handle lever is broken off?

[Ultradog]

Welcome to the forums.
I drive through (around?) Princeton on HW 169 most every weekend on my way up to Spirit Lake near Aitkin where my AS is parked.
I can't help you with the latch. Sorry
Sounds like a neat idea using them for guest cabins.
Jerry

[markdoane]

Kandy,

Guest cabins - great idea. My '59 Tradewind has made many trips through Milaca on the way to the lake. Great to have another Minnesota pin in the membership map!

Sounds like you took a real nick on the re-stocking fee. Especially if it wasn't your fault.

[Jim & Susan]

Kandy, bummer about the money. COntact forum member Rebel Beck by PM. She figured out a way to replace just the handle, IIRC, with the help of a local locksmith. She is on the forum most every day.

Welcome to the forums, BTW. Lots of nice folks here that help out if you need it.

Good luck with the "guest houses"! Sounds like a great idea.

JIm

[startrekker2001]

I have a 78 Excella 500 and have had problems with the door latch which required the use of a screwdriver to open from the outside. The problem was the "ears" on the bolt subassembly had broken off. I had a friend braze the "ears" from some scrap metal and it worked perfectly. That cost me a six pack of beer. The second problem was with the same subassembly, but this time the bolt that goes into the receiver hole on the door frame, broke off the assembly. I took it to a professional welder and they fixed it for $10.

Here is a blow-up of the lock from the service manual.

[Excella CM]

Kandy,
Someone tried to break into the Excella in Ajo, Arizona a few years back, not withstanding the door was deadbolted, and broke the handle. Here's how I dealt with it:Included are pics. of the old damaged latch and two of the new one installed

I took a piece of 1/8" steel plate and bent one long edge to simulate the finger grip area. I rough sanded the outside across the short side to match the original. I welded two triangles made of the same stock to the back and drilled 1/4" holes to match the original. I did the final cut with an aircraft drill so the holes would be align-bored. After that I had it chrome plated.

You can see from the pics. how the latch is retained in the lock assembly with a long pin and a return spring.

It was a bit of a nuisance, but overall better than any alternative that I could find. Good luck &

Regards, Bill

[JBK]

Hey, Kandy:
Welcome to the forums from another MinneSnowta Newbie from the great north of Grand Rapids.
You folks just don't go far enough on 169. (There is someone here that lives past me at the end of the highway in Ely, but I haven't spoken to them yet.)
JB