[Dick]

The currently supplied Prevost update kit fits with minor modifications and appears to be a step up in quality from the original.

[Dick]

I agree with Joel. It appears to be of better quality … but that might be because its new.

In retrospect, I should have contacted IBP and have gone down the route that Jon suggested. But if the handle is still being produced by someone out there, you’d think that Prevost would still be stocking that part.

Maybe Steve Kolb from IBP monitors the PC Forum and will offer his thoughts.

[Doug]

Dick, manufacturers are not in the business of selling replacement parts. In fact maintaining an inventory of replacement parts is an expensive pain in the ass and is only done to not piss off customers.

The handles may have come from different suppliers and the one that is supplied now as opposed to the original might be because the original manufacturer stopped making the first one, or maybe Prevost found a new supplier who would sell handles for 2 cents less.

BTW, I am not opposed to rummaging around in truck junk yards.

[Bob]

Jon … I suspect you’re not.

[Archived]

Ah, excuse me, they’re not truck junk yards, the correct term is truck salvage yards. Don’t you realize you have to be politically correct when using these terms to keep from offending someone who may end up on the floor in the fetal position sucking their thumb? Please be more compassionate.

[Jim/Chris]

I got mine on Amazon for $24 bucks, same handle for 95-96 Kentworth easy install. Attwood was original handle, Doorman must have copied handle Doorman Passenger side 760-5206 Amazon $24 the weld was for the locking device that normally would fill that hole, I used a spring instead of welding. Even with new handle I made access in inside door panel and pull cord on outside behind docking light,

[Richard]

Whew, that’s why I love this forum…. I knew y’all would have a work around for that expensive door part. I was sweating the replacement as I know mine is short timing. You folks are great as usual….

Richard

[Mark]

I wanted to report that I with this thread was able to purchase and install the door latch . And let me tell you I’m not the most handy guy , however when the latch broke into 2 parts i was left with no option . So 34 dollars from Amazon along with some new door weather striping and all is well .

Just remove the screw holding the black retainer

remove silicone holding door bell and with a little patience she slides out . Clean area , reinstall retainer clip . A little patience needed here to align and all is well for another 21 years I guess .

Again thanks to PC all is well 🙂

[joel]

They welded all the old ones where the door handle lock was, I used a spring to keep door handle from locking. Different from the deadbolt

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1999 XLV X-6872,  liberty #440

[AL]

Thanks for posting all of the detailed latch information. It is all very informative.

I would just like to add my experience over the last 8 years with a 1993 Liberty. My door latch never worked well. Some days were better than others and it never completely broke, but in was a major pain in the ass at times. You would almost have to “flick” the level quick to have it release sometimes. Over many years I adjusted the door and the lever more times than I can remember. About 2 years ago I purchased this latch replacement while having service done at Prevost in Winter Garden (fantastic facility btw). The kit was not even close to a direct replacement. After looking at it for a few weeks I finally decided to jump into the project. After a lot of creative engineering and using both new and old parts I had a functional door handle.

Ok so the moral of my long boring story. The new handle didn’t solve me original problem. It was still hard to unlatch the door. I completely disassembled it again. I am getting pretty good at it though by now. I spent a good bit of time really studying how the whole thing works. I determined that the back part of the interior lever was actually being stopped by the metal door frame. This was hindering a full range of motion of the release itself. I used a dremel for what seemed like forever, and ground a notch out for the level to travel further. It has worked perfect ever since.

I think this design flaw actually helped with the fatigue on the original parts. I am assuming that Liberty modified this area from the original Prevost design. Everyone always thought more force would make the door unlatch. This was not the case, but in the heat of the moment you could see the thought process.

My recommendation would be to examine the movement of all of these parts carefully. I wish I would have done many years before I did.

Bill III