Unfortunately the early MGB door latch mechanism is pretty fragile, all
kinds of things could be wrong.
1. The latch casting can be cracked causing misalignment
2. The inner door skin can be cracked causing misalignment
3. The latch pin could be broken in half, so it won't retract
4. The pin to striker could be badly misaligned and binding.
Any or all of the above are pretty normal after this many years.
The locking mechanism itself is pretty straighforward, and I've not run into
it locking itself, but anything is possible.
There is a repair kit for the latch now, and I have heard of folks
fabricating new pins from harder material.
I suggest you pull the door panels and take a closer look at the pin and
latch frame, that won't take much time. You may be able to adjust the
pin/striker, or figure out what else could be wrong. If I remember
correctly the latch can be removed without pulling the glass, so it
shouldn't be hard to see what may be wrong.
Kelvin.
65 MGB with broken latches still.
>
> '65 MGB tourer..
> driver's side door sometimes cannot be opened with the handle..
> either the inside or outside handle..
>
> first time it happened i thought it had "locked itself" while
> i was driving--i climbed
> out and used the key to repeatedly unlock, relock etc..
> which finally worked..
>
> since then i've peeked down through the door's glass slot and
> it seems that the
> lock mechanism is turning okay, but i can't tell exactly what
> the lever from the
> lock is moving (or NOT moving)..
>
> well..
> i don't want to take it all apart to find out i need to order
> part number X if the
> wisdom of this list already knows what most probably needs to
> be replaced (and
> or adjusted--but, the exploded drawing i have don't seem to
> show a lot of
> adjusting screws....sigh)..
>
> hints anyone??
>
> DenverD
> A Texan in Denmark (where it is NOW perfect driving
> weather--i don't want this
> baby parked a month waiting........)
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