The left counter in down position and the latch works. The flat iron has a 1/2 inch washer welded to it that slips over the latch handle. The latch is a brass thing, with a flat blade. A fancy smanchy barrel bolt. It latches into the floor of trailer. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the pocket so I can unlatch it with a #2 phillips screw driver or similar tool if/when the rod breaks.