Door Locking Mechanism - bound up
 

1980 911 SC
Locking Latch is bound up. Door latch is fine, only the key lock is stuck. Searches don't show much. Panel off. Exterior handle off. Interior rod appears free inside of its plastic clip.
Question I guess, to remove the entire latching system - the book says to remove the window and window channel. Is there another way to remove the latching system without removing the window channel ?

Another DOH! moment, but may help a searcher in the future.
To answer my own question, to remove the door latch mechanism - one need only remove the window channel, leaving the glass and regulator untouched in the door (up). The channel is an easy job but make sure you have dum dum sealer to re install.

The DOH moment is there was nothing wrong.
The driver door only allows the lock to function in the '2' position. Each door latch has 3 positions - 0 1 and 2 (0 being open ready to close).
The driver door is different than the passenger door which locks in any position 0, 1, and 2.
The driver door - position 2 only. I checked the driver door open and did not function. When I compared to the passenger side, I mistakenly thought it was stuck.

Who knew ? Certainly not me.
The door latch is 35 years old so it needed cleaning and lubing anyway 😄