Change the handing of a dexter latch

[crosstalk]

Hi. I am hoping someone knows whether this older dexter mechanism can be changed so the lock button is on the other side. There seems to be a pin in the square hole near the latch that would release the body to turn 180*, but I don't know how to do it. See two photos below. Thanks.

[billdeserthills]

I actually had one of these latches in my van that is somewhere in the shop now & I don't think it's reversible because the latch face is peened into place and would need to be drilled or ground off. I'll try to look around in the shop next week, maybe mine is the opposite of yours. I might have more as well, there's a box of old latches I got 25 years ago that were obsolete at that time

[Raymond]

I've never seen that particular latch. Try, will the brass looking shaft push in? If so hold it in and try rotating the front of the latch , including the flat part where the screws secure it to the door. Considering the small crimp that holds the front on, it might rotate with moderate force. Try without pressing the shaft in. ???

[GWiens2001]

That shaft looks like a hex bolt. Perhaps it would flip if that bolt were unscrewed? Don’t use a lot of force.

Otherwise, it looks to be held together with metal tabs folded from the other side. Don’t know that I’d feel comfortable unbending them due to risk of them shearing off.

I’d suggest giving Billdeserthills a chance to find one with the other handing. Otherwise, other than that bolt head sticking out, is there anything keeping it from just being flipped over? The spindle hole looks centered. So if bolt head were shorter, would it affect the functioning of the lock?

Keep in mind that I am not a professional locksmith. Billdeserthills and Raymond are.

Gordon

[crosstalk]

Thanks guys. The part sticking out unscrews from the body (so you can pass the latch through the edge of the door) and is the lock button that you press to lock the knob from rotating. I don't think the latch face is peened into place--seems like it has a seam about which it will rotate. There are two square openings on opposite sides of the body (on the body near the seam with the latch face--left of center in the photo), so it seems like it should release and the opening on the other side is to release it when it has the other handing.