Note: The door doesn't look properly aligned in the picture above, but it is. It's just the camera angle giving the illusion that the alignment is off.
The door was bolted on at the hinges and then aligned to be even with the
outside edge (closed position). With the door in this position, a long
drill bit was used to drill the initial hole through the door frame and into
the door flange as shown below:
Note: The door doesn't look properly aligned in the picture above,
but it is. It's just the camera angle giving the illusion that the
alignment is off.
The hole in the door tube and door flange was gradually enlarged until they
were 3/8". The hole in the door was then opened up to 1/2" to accept
a bushing as shown below:
The bushing is 1/2" x .049 and the 3/8" rod is loose fit inside it.
A hole was drilled in the latch rod, for a cotter pin and washer to create
a positive stop for the rod when its in the latched (closed) position:
This stop was located to allow the rod to be engaged in the door flange about
1/4" when closed.
The spring was installed with washers on each end of it and a hole for a
cotter pin was drilled in the proper location on the latch rod to keep tension
on the rod when in the closed position:
The spring has a washer on each end and a cotter pin holding it slightly
in tension. Sliding the handle forward releases the door to open it.
Again, here is the completed door latch assembly:
Very simple, yet very effective.
While poking around the hardware store one day, I was able to find a knob
(with set screw) to dress up the door handle a bit and give it a more finished
look:
ADDENDUM
May 19, 2007
After covering and during final installation of the doors, I decided to modify
this system to allow the doors to be closed without pulling the latch handle
forward. To accomplish this I made a striker for the door flange. This
was made from 4130N steel
plate:
The 3/8" tube used for the door latch was then tapered to 45 degrees and
shortened enough to allow it to hit the edge of the striker and slide across
it and into the hole:
Now the front doors close just like a car door.
Next we will work on the Window latch.
Click here to go to Doors & Window Latches page
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