47 outer door handle sagging
 

How do you fix a sagging outer door handle on a 47 Sedan?

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

replace the springs in the mechanism

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I just bought a new handle hoping the bad spring was within it but it is not. Is it inside the door?

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

a new latch sometimes is cheaper than springs, troll ebay, i got new latches for my 36 for 35$ shipped,
the square hole gets worn, one of the fixes was to twist the square shaft of the handle

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

You can just twist it upwards by hand until it sits level when you release it. I did it with mine over 30 years ago.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I replaced the latch mechanism to repair a droopy handle on my 1937 car. Originally, i planned to replace the spring in the latch mechanism, but I found the whole latch and it was easy to change.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Do not try to bend the stem of the handle to correct the sag. Fix it the correct way and replace the spring. Springs are available and it's a fairly easy replacement.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I understand now that the problem is in the latch mechanism. I would happily replace the entire mechanism but there are no such latches available anywhere that I could find. As I study the mechanism, it is not made so that the handle spring can be accessed and replaced by any non-destructive action. (The main latch spring is readily replaceable and I've done that before.) Neither have I found whatever spring would go in there if I were to cut into the thing. [Correction. Dennis Carpenter has it. I'll order it and see if I can figure out how to put it in.]

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

The best way to fix the problem is remove the latch assembly and thoroughly clean it to remove all the grease and grime. Once clean, you can locate the offending broken spring. Mount the latch in a vise where you can have good access to make the repair. You will see that the spring is held in place by 2 short tabs that are bent at a 90 degree angle to the latch and pinched together to hold the spring. Use a propane torch with a narrow pinpoint flame and heat the 2 tabs until they are almost red. While still hot, you can then bend them SLIGHTLY; just enough to remove the spring without damaging the tabs. (Be careful with the tabs - you'll need to use them again). Install the new spring in the latch mechanism making sure it's nestled in the right spot and heat the 2 tabs again then take a pair of pliers and pinch them back together to firmly hold the spring in place. After things cool down, use your favorite spray lubricant on all the moving parts and you should be ready to reinstall. I would test it by inserting the handle and make sure it returns to suit you. You can do it!

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Welcome back Professor.
Take the latch with you to Ace hardware, or Lowes, or Home Depot and try to match it.
Once you have the new spring you can see how to heat the tabs and bend them up to access the broken spring. Slowly and carefully. It has been done.




Bruce

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Now that right there is the kind of help that is really helpful. Thanks.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Glad 'Old Henry' is still being cared for. Welcome back, Craig!

There's an original right/passenger side front door latch assembly for sale on eBay right now. See > https://www.ebay.com/itm/15525743687...Bk9SR-qrkMS9YQ

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Graig , welcome back, we have missed you and your travels,
Lawrie

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Yeah, I found a lot of every latch except the driver's door that I need. Darn.

Returned from 18 month mission to Hong Kong in February. Getting ready to go on another to parts unknown. Just got Old Henry out of the body shop where he'd been for 3 months for repair after hitting a deer on a lonely road in Wyoming on a road trip in October. Heading out for a multiday road trip through the Colorado Rockies next week. Glad I've got the newfangled fresh air heater to keep little Lady (15 year old Chihuahua) and me warm.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Thanks, Lawrie. Good to see you're still hittin' the road with your great outfit.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I used to have a 46, I think there’s a latch in the box of excess 36 closed car latches , I should be going out to my shop by the weekend, I’ll look.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

good to see you back craig, you have been missed

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

[QUOTE=Old Henry;2199273]I just bought a new handle hoping the bad spring was within it but it is not. Is it inside the door?[/delete
Delete

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Try Southside Obsolete in MN.Fred might have one.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Craig good to see you post, are you planning to record the Rockies trip?. After watching your Arches National park video it inspired me to see Grand Canyon and Arches before the pandemic.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I came to say this. More than likely, Fred will be able to help you out.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Lawrie,

How'd the '34 do in the mud? Did you get stuck pulling the travel trailer?

Craig, do a blog about the Colorado trip please.

Seth

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Bingo! Fred has one.

Way better than trying to fix mine.

Thanks for the tip.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Yes, missed riding with you and the dog, hope he\s doing well.
Gramps

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Seth,
Yes the 33 got stuck towing the caravan, it took me 5 hrs to get it out with some help from a friendly farmer, took ages to clean the mud from the under side later.
But had great fun.
Lawrie

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Excellent. Please post more picts of your trips out west. I use them for inspiration.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Had the same issue on my 47 Ford. I just swapped out the driver side door handles and put on the passenger side and put the passenger side on the driver side. It corrected the problem on 3 out of the 4 door handles.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

will do, next trip is sometime in feb, but Allas will be in my 28ccpu, this time I will be roughing it, only taking a tent and cooker,
Lawrie

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

I know you this is old thread but any advice on how to put a new spring in place will be appreciated. I got the old spring out as detailed above but getting the new one in place is a challenge. I am replacing the smaller upper spring. 47 car. Thanks

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

There have been several threads which go into better detail (use the search function to find them) but basically sometimes you can get a spring out and replaced without dis-assembling the latch. Usually the latch has to be partially dis-assembled. When bending tabs for dis-assembly first heat them red hot with a fine flame torch, bend to dis-assemble, heat again and anneal, re-assemble. Failure to heat to relieve stress and anneal will often result with a broken tab.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Old Henry: Welcome back! Now that you have the OEM replacement buy the spring kit and try to repair your old one. It's not that difficult to do.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...latch&_sacat=0

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

Same here - good to see you surface. An old timer fixed my '47 coupe door handles by switching them one side to the other - guess the shafts were worn on the bottom side. Rest of the assembly was ok. Regardless, it worked for me.

Re: 47 outer door handle sagging
 

In the old boxes of springs you might find the spring retainer. Used if you break the tabs. Bought springs from vendors that didn’t know what the u shaped parts were for. Wished I had bought all those tabs.