Door Latch Mechanism on 1976 Chevy K10

[Raybo135]

I was replacing the window felt strips on a 1976 Chevy K10 and I shut the door to go get something and when I came back the door would not open. I had the door panel removed from the inside and I think maybe that some of the debris from the dry rotted window felt fell into the door mechanism. The lock mechanism seems to be always engaged, even though it is not. I have tried to find a picture of the mechanism from inside the door, but haven't yet. I really don't want to dismantle the passenger door just to see the latch's workings. Anybody ever have this happen or know how to open a locked door?

 

[Charlie]

 

[Raybo135]

Charlie, Thanks for the welcome! ! ! I remembered I have an endiscope that I bought to look at the cylinder heads and I am going to look at it tomorrow.

I have looked online for any help, but have spent the last 3 hours looking to no avail. I will keep you posted. But I think I may be crawling in through the passenger door for a while.

 

[73c20jim]

My door lock cylinder clip fell off rendering the lock useless. But my inside lift lock still worked.

 

[Raybo135]

My door lock cylinder clip fell off rendering the lock useless. But my inside lift lock still worked.

It is not the lock that doesn't work, it is the latch mechanism that keeps the door shut or allows it to open. I can't open the door now.

 

[chengny]

It is not the lock that doesn't work, it is the latch mechanism that keeps the door shut or allows it to open. I can't open the door now.

I didn't have any inside handle for a few months a while ago. I couldn't easily reach out to press the outside handle button either.

So, to get out of the truck I was reaching in/back to the lock mechanism and pulling up on the piece shown circled in red - I think. That seemed to override everything else :

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More detail and the parts list:

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[Raybo135]

Thanks, but all the mechanisms for the outside door handle and the inside door handle are working, it just isn't releasing the Bear Claw that latches the door shut on the striker. The linkage from inside moves the arm that you circled in red and the locking linkage seems to be working. I think I may be screwed! I have ordered a new latch mechanism to see how the Bearclaw gets released when the linkage moves the release, and hopefully, I will be able to open the door and replace the mechanism.