Help

[ddr11]

I can't get the rod loose on my exterior door handles it doesn't look like the rod will come off the handle without first being free from the latch, I am having trouble getting my big hands on the rod at the latch, any tricks to this

[MountainGoat1966]

I just went through this.
Here's the trick I was told, and it works.
The clip on the rod closest to the latch itself is slotted, I used a long thin screwdriver and a small hammer to drive the clip up from the bottom.
Just enough so the rod comes loose and the clip doesn't fall off.
Shine a bright flashlight on the clip, and you will see where it ends and where the screwdriver tip goes.
There isn't much room to work, but it can be done.
That's for the rod to the inside latch, sorry, I had a brain fart.
Let me see if I can come up with a solution for the outside latch.