Can you lock an early beetle drivers door from the inside

I currently have my 61 Beetle stripped down to shell and was thinking when the I put it back together about fitting remote central locking.

Well I got my door lock parts out and had a look and I think the only (repeat ONLY) way to lock the drivers door is with the key. And all the key really does is move a small plate under the key lock, stopping it striking the release rod when the door handle opening button is pushed in (hope that makes sense).

So I'm thinking, there is no way to put central locking in this door. Am I correct in my thinking and mechanical wizardry (not).

If you know better or of a simple way around this problem, please let me know.

Cheers, Kevin

What you can do that I've seen a long time ago, is have a pin slide into the B pillar bit like a slide bolt, but operated by the central locking solenoid. It means when the pin is in the locked position the door wont be able to open.

11CAB,

Thanks for the quick response, but this sound like a big job. I understand how this could be done, but what I want is the standard locks to operate remotely. If you had it set up this way and got out of your car and the passengers door was already locked (factory locking) and then hit the B pillar lock pin, when you come back to the car with your hot date and hit the remote to undo the b pillar locks the passengers door would still be locked. I thinks thats right.

Kev

Kev

the other way to do it is to fit 68 on later door locks n stricker plates the ones with the know on the end of the door so then you can fit a soliniod to this arm to operate it up n down with the remote

the locks n stricker plates will take some fiddling around


I nearly did this to mine but ran out of time

Or probably the easiest option would be to find a LHD RH door catch assy. This will have the ability to lock the same as our LH door catch.

No 'snipper' rods in te VW doors (like most other cars) makes it a very difficult job to fit central locking

matberry wrote:Or probably the easiest option would be to find a LHD RH door catch assy. This will have the ability to lock the same as our LH door catch.

Hey Matty, how's Cooroy vw farm?
use any ole lock&handle from 60 to 67 beetle
I did have a 69 GLD Golf and it had a magic solinoid set...

have handles/locks/keys for all of the above if anyone needs

Ahhh Bernie, so the problem he has is just the early cars?

All good here, you going to the pie run?

VWCOOL wrote:No 'snipper' rods in te VW doors (like most other cars) makes it a very difficult job to fit central locking

I welded on some rods to my vw latch bits to allow me to mount the solenoid. But it still didn't work. The solenoids weren't powerful enough. The VW locks use a lot of force over a small distance. Normal cars use more distance and less force.

My next step was to be a lever to gets some leverage, or heavy duty solenoids. I bought some heavy duty solenoids a couple of years ago but haven't tried to fit them yet.

Wes theres a little circular tension spring on the latch mechanism u can remove and it takes most of the resistance away

i did this with mine and i only have one of those garden variety $40 central locking kits with this kind of solenoid but its been in 8 years this year and has given me no trouble ever

Just FYI, I have given up on the idea that I can fit central door locking to a 61 Beetle. Thanks for all the input and ideas.

Kevin