68 charger, driver side door handle?

[madmike]

'68 Charger, driver side outside door handle doesn't appear to work properly.  When I press the button, it only lifts the rod inside the door a little bit, not enough to clear the ratcheting pawl inside the door.  However, the inside door handle works fine.  I think this tells me that the door mechanism on the inside trailing end of the door (where it engages the pillar) is probably OK.  I think there is something wrong with the outside door handle assembly itself.  It also doesn't have the same 'feel' as the correctly operating passenger side.

Does anybody have a known, good, operating exterior door handle assembly they would be willing to sell?  I'm not looking for show quality, I just want one that works properly.  I don't care if it has chrome or black buttons (mine happen to be black) either, or faded or pitted chrome.  I hate like hell to buy a pair of new door handles, and that not be the problem after all...

Thanks,
Mike

[Charger-Bodie]

Right besode the latch , there is a bean shaped hole in the door. Inside that hole is an allen hed bolr to adjust the action of the handle rod. You will need to loosen the bolt slide and slide the ear to adjust then tighten the allen head bolt. If this dont work there is probably something bent ,because these are very simple latch mechs.

[madmike]

Are you referring to the latching mechanism on the inside, rear vertical face of door?  I looked every where for a bean shaped hole and allen bolt, I didn't see anything...  I also can't find any reference to it in a service manual...  Gotta pic of this?

But, that does seem to be what it needs, a rod length adjustment.

[Charger-Bodie]

The hole is roughly bean shaped some are mor like an oval. the allen head bolt is inside the door (through the oval hole) it is not plain to see.

[madmike]

1HotDaytona:

Thanks for your help on this.  It took me awhile to find what you were referring to, I even removed a door latching mechanism, thinking I would find it easier.  It was right there in front of me the whole time!  The hex head in the allen bolt was so full of dirt and old lube, that it just didn't look like what I was looking for.  While I haven't actually tried to loosen the bolt yet, I can easily see that this will work, and allow me to adjust the linkage 'length'.  Thanks again!

For anyone who might follow this post, attached are pictures that show the location of the bolt.

[Charger-Bodie]

Glad you found it. I hope it takes care of your problem.