In a message dated 95-07-10 18:51:52 EDT, vw@gulbransen.com writes:

>Owners of '71 busses take note. Many of you have probably already
>discovered the secret of the little spring buried deep inside the
>front-door lock mechanism that helps the lock control arm to rest in
>the correct position. Here is what happens if the spring breaks:  You
>lock the door with the key. Then you check the door to make sure that
>it is locked by trying to open it with your finger.  You go away and
>come back later. You then insert the key in the lock, but the lock
>will not let your key turn to the unlock position, just to the lock
>position. So you give up and use the sliding door. The front door is
>now also very hard to unlock from the inside, but you can still do
>it, but your wife can't.
>
>There are two solutions. (1) Lock the car with the key, but do NOT
>check the door to see if it is really locked (just look through the
>windshield at the inside door lock).  (2) Replace the broken spring.
>
>Tell me, does anybody know where to obtain a spring that will not
>break? I have gotten them from wrecking yards, but they usually break
>within a year. Then I have to pound on the door just above the latch
>while wiggling the key to get the door to unlock from the outside.
>
>
>
>
>Bob and Penny Lee   vw@gulbransen.com   San Diego, CA
>'71 VW Bus White/Blue with sunroof '72 VW Super Beetle White Herbie
>
>'71 VW Bus Dark Blue with sunroof  '72 VW Super Beetle Orange with
>sunroof

This is not a 1971 unique problem.  My 1972 has the same thing.  It's the
drivers door on mine.  If there is a way, please post it.

SSG Brad Spear
1972 (Open up, open up and let me in) Westfalia