sliding door catch

[never look back]

hi all!
my sliding door on my 1990 T25 is driving me mad. (keeps clicking open when travelling)
have had it off and checked the mechanism and cleaned it etc. all looks well, and when refitted, the door clicks into place alright, and no amount of shaking causes it to pop open, BUT! just set off driving and click, its open...doh!
I'm wondering if the springs that operate the catches have become a tad weak and so letting the mechanism click open?????
If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it, OR does anyone know where I can buy a new catch.
(It's the one that fits at the rear of the door. the one with the difficult to reach star headed bolts fitted.

den

[hotpod]

i have that problem too, but only on the second catch, and it pops open to the first one.
i can set the door up beautifully to close flush with a gentle push closing fully to the second catch but it always pops open.
at the moment i have adjusted the catch so that is closes ok on the first catch but it is buggin me too.
looking forward to a solution....

[never look back]

Hi Hotpod, over the years iv'e had my bus, I have read of loads of fellow T25 ownwers with this problem, but I dont know how they solved it.
I am amazed that parts specialists like just kampers, don't stock this part, and also have no idea where it can be obtained, other than a scrappy.
My worry would be, would a secondhand catch be as bad as mine
just hope someone can come on and suggest the answer.
watch this space eh!
den

[billy739]

seem,s to be a common problem , new latches are now obselete

seems to be no apparent reason for the latches doing this

some obvious posibilities, loose lock , mall adjusted lock pin ect may solve it , but ive still had it happen and the only way to solve it is different latch , no obvious wear /damage on the old latch either!

[never look back]

Thanks for that Billy, will just keep on experimenting and hope I get lucky, but in the meantime someone who has solved the catch problem may come on and enlighten us.

[CovKid]

I do know that any lube used makes a difference. I don't use regular grease now, only oil. In the winter the grease became so stiff, it slowed down the moving parts sufficiently that it didn't allow the catch mechanism to keep up with the action of closing the door. I cleaned all the grease out with white spirit and just used oil, nothing more. Not had any catch problems since.

Unless something is bent or broken, its usually a gummed up mechanism or an incorrectly located lock pin (the one fixed to door frame at rear). I guess if I had to use grease, I'd use graphited grease or moly (CV) grease, but make sure it doesn't come into contact with people and their clothes as it doesn't shift easily.

[never look back]

Hi Covkid, when I last had the catch off, it was in clean condition, and no grease to speak of.
As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I'm wondering if the spring that pulls/holds the catch shut ,is worn or weak??
I think for the time being, I might experiment with moving that pin mounted on the door pillar.

The mystery for me is when the door is closed tight (onto the second click) you can shake the door vigourously and it holds. BUT! just set off driving even on a level road ( thats a laugh isn't it) it frustratingly pops open, not even onto the next catch, just slides open.........mystery!!