Tailgate Latch Control

[90Jimmy]

New to this forum...

I bought a used tailgate latch control for my fullize '90 Jimmy at the junkyard, complete with spring and all hardware. I took the asembly off myself. Unfortunately it was some time ago now I cannot for the life of me remember how that spring was attached. This would be the spring that pulls the latch rods back and returns them to their original position after pulling on the release handle.

Would anyone out there be able to supply instructions on reattaching the spring to the latch control or a picture of how it is attached. I am trying to get the tailgate reassembled and this is the last stumbling block.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[90Jimmy]

I figured it out!

I found out that the original way that I had the spring hooked up was the proper way. At least it worked and did not bind up on any part of the latch control assembly. I tried it again the first way and readjusted the tension on the latch rods and it works great. Turns out all it really needed was an adjustment. The spring was originally binding on the assenbly arms because the adjustment was so off. The handle rod travel before undoing the latched was so much that it as stretching out the spring and it would catch on the handle rod and one of the mounting bolts. After the adjustment the spring has a much smaller stretch and the assembley returns to its normal position easily.

I have attached a couple of photos showing the positioning of the spring and the latch control in place.

This first photo is showing the position of the straight end of the spring protruding through the inner tailgate panel. It also shows the latch rod adjustment bolt. Be careful when loosening this bolt to make an adjustment. It is a righty (clockwise to loosen)! Found this out the hard way. Fortunately my old latch control assembly had a good bolt since I snapped the other one trying to turn it counter-clockwise.

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This next photo shows the underside of the latch control assembly. I have noted the C notch on one of the arms. This is where the other end the spring connects.

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This last photo shows the spring installed.

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