The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all, since repainting my 1850HL, when I loosened the lock mechanism blocks and exterior handles (but didn`t disconnect anything)
to get a better masked finish, both rear doors now open only from the inside.
the fronts continue to work fine and all 4 pull up lock buttons in the capping seem to be functioning as normal.
Anyone got any ideas? All the internal connecting linkages still look ok to me.

Er, don`t know. Obviously you have disturbed something and need to investigate. If the door release is ok from the inside, and the doors lock with the buttons, it must be the link between the outer handle and the internal lock mech.
Ralph

Most likely the linkage from the interior handle but worth checking that the childlocks haven't been set?

triumphdolomiteuk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:58 am Most likely the linkage from the interior handle but worth checking that the childlocks haven't been set?

Easily understood, but if that was the case, it would be the other way round, with child locks deployed the door can only be opened from OUTSIDE, these can only be opened from inside.

Must admit, this one is a little baffling and not something i've ever experienced in many years of tinkering with Dolomites both professionally and privately, including several full stripdown restos.

But, if they were working OK before you loosened the outer handles, it can't be anything major. I presume you have now tightened them up again as this could affect correct operation. Also, they may have gone back in a slighly different orientation and just need the rod length adjusting.

Hard to diagnose from this distance, bu if you are anywhere near me in the (very) West Midlands, i'd be happy to have a look.

Steve

When the external door handles were loosened off, did the door handle gaskets drop out as they have a habit of disintegrating when disturbed.
If the door handles were then tightened back up without them on the back doors this would in effect lower the door handle rod to the lock slightly, it's possible the longer "pull" to take up the additional distance now required is outside the range of the door handle release button resulting in the door lock not releasing.

Hi all,
I don`t recall seeing a gasket under the lock, so it may have already disintegrated but it was a while ago when i painted the car.
It does make sense that this or the mechanism to the outer handle is suspect.
Now I`ve pretty much finished all the other jobs this one is heading back up the to do list.

Steve, thanks for the offer to take a look, but unfortunately I`m down on the south coast.
Ian