Sticky slider door handle

[bretski]

We went camping this weekend, and for whatever reason, the slider door handle decided to start binding. The kids were having a really difficult time opening the door from the outside. I put a couple drops of oil down the crevices, but that didn't make a difference at all.

After getting home yesterday afternoon, I took the inside panel off, and took a look at the mechanism. Things looked a little dry.

Rear Latch:


Front Latch:


From my observations, the rear latch seemed to be binding the most. I sprayed a bunch of fresh white lithium grease in there to see if that would help:





This morning, the handle is "bettah", but not quite "buttah". I'd really like it to be "buttah". Any suggestions for smoothing it up further? As I mentioned above, most of the friction seems to be where the metal "strap" enters the rear latch. I was reading Bentley about adjusting the rod, perhaps tightening it up a bit? Insight appreciated...

[Amskeptic]

slider door handle decided to start binding.

You need a penetrating oil, like PB BLaster, to attack the old grease. Merely spraying grease over the old stuff is the slow boat to China.

I use ATF in a wand-style bottle as it has good detergent properties. Then I follow it with engine oil. Grease on any sliding parts.

The rear latch has sliding parts you cannot see. Disassembling from the door is your best bet for a thorough job, but try the above baptism method.

ColinInColoradoIn12Days

[bretski]

Thank you for that, I forgot about the PB Blaster. Before I left for work, I crossed myself and "baptized" the latches. Seems a bit more buttah-ry...I re-greased everything just now.

While I was out there this afternoon, I also gave the rear hinge a nice PB baptism. Will give it some fresh SAE30 tomorrow...

PS - As a further testament to PB Blaster's power...you remember my stuck vent-wing latch that we thought might have had a sheared pin? A nice soak in PB Blaster freed it up last fall!