205 Catch 22 - the solution!

Some time ago I posted a query about a 205 door lock jamming at
irregular intervals. I eventually found the cause, if anyone's
interested:

There is a lever on the back of the catch mechanism which is linked to
the outside door handle by a length of wire. This lever occasionally
sticks in the up position & refuses to drop back, which stops the other
lever connected to the lock barrel from releasing the catch. Move this
sticking lever back by hand, the lock works normally. Leave it, and
sometimes it drops back by itself, sometimes it doesn't, depending (I
suppose) on the time since the outer handle was used to lift it up & the
amount of vibration shaking it back down.

Dave

 

I had the same prob and a squirt of WD40 cured it..dunno if it's the
same problem with yours but worth a go!

sPoNiX

 

This is due to the outer lever not returning to its proper place. Its pivot
has seized up. WD40 on the pivot pin will help if you can aimit straight.