Maule Door latches

[pheastman3]

thank you. I do have manual, and it refenence the existance of a "threaded stem", which identified as a sleave. what the manual does not address and which is my problem....what is the correct positon of the stem. it can travel the entire length of the threaded stud....but where is the proper position.

[Andy Young]

The first thing to know is that the latch adjustment will NOT change how Far the latch itself protrudes from the door, nor how the latch engages the airframe. The latch is always bottomed out against the door tubing, in the most-engaged position, pushed there by the spring (until you move the knob to open the door). The purpose of the adjustment is to set the correct length of the actuation rod so that the inside knob end of the rod is in the proper position in the guide plate (the one under the inside door knob). If the rod is too long (adjusted to be too far forward) it will bottom out at the forward end of the guide plate before the latch has moved enough to open the door. If the rod is set too short, it will drop into the lock position on the guide plate on its own, requiring you to lift it out of that position any time you want to open the door.

To adjust, remove the OUTER knob, stud, and sleeve, which will allow you to rotate the latch. Rotating the latch will move the actuation rod fore and aft, as it’s threaded into the latch. Rotate the latch until the rod position is such that it won’t drop into the lock position by itself, but can be popped into it with a little aft pressure on the inside knob. Note that adjustments must be in full one-turn increments to allow re-installation of the outer knob, stud, and sleeve.

If you are having trouble with the latch engagement to the airframe, you may need to replace the latch (they wear) and/or replace, adjust, or re-shim the striker plate (the piece the latch goes into on the airframe).