The Ford Barn

Graeme / New Zealand · 10-10-2015, 09:17 PM

My drivers side door handle is a bit droopy I did a quick fix on my last v8 years ago by twisting the shaft. I can't remember which way I should twist it. Has anyone done this before and which way? Is it in the direction the handle turns or away from it?

I don't want to go to the trouble of overhauling the mechanism at the moment.

Thanks
GB

Lawson Cox · 10-10-2015, 09:44 PM

I would say away from it. If handle droops down, you would want to lift up to straighten it. (WAG only)

john worden · 10-10-2015, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

I would say away from it. If handle droops down, you would want to lift up to straighten it. (WAG only)

Correct.

Graeme / New Zealand · 10-11-2015, 12:02 AM

Thanks . I thought so. Just wanted the opinion of the knowlegable before I went messing with it.

GB

BLACKNRED · 10-11-2015, 02:34 AM

Try a new spring

swoopNZ · 10-11-2015, 02:51 AM

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Viagra ?

Fordestes · 10-11-2015, 04:48 AM

try swapping handles from side to side, see if it changes the angle. the shaft twist sometimes.

GB SISSON · 10-11-2015, 07:23 AM

would it be of value to heat it first? Since they come out so easily, I usually do this in a vice, thinking less strain on the mechanism. And I do heat them first, jic.

19Fordy · 10-11-2015, 10:01 AM

A little heat can't hurt. Just don't discolor the stainless.

john worden · 10-11-2015, 11:55 AM

The shaft will twist without heat.

ford38v8 · 10-11-2015, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

would it be of value to heat it first? Since they come out so easily, I usually do this in a vice, thinking less strain on the mechanism. And I do heat them first, jic.

In combination with Swoop's suggestion, sounds like a win/win.

39topless · 10-11-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoopNZ

Viagra ?

Would only last a maximum of four hours. Then what?

325w · 10-11-2015, 01:48 PM

Crescent wrench and a vise

J Franklin · 10-11-2015, 06:04 PM

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

john worden · 10-11-2015, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325w

Crescent wrench and a vise

This.

Tinker · 10-11-2015, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACKNRED

Try a new spring

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

Might be a pain on a finished car but most likely the correct way. Have to do one myself.

john worden · 10-11-2015, 08:56 PM

Replacing the spring alone may not solve the problem due to wear of the moving parts in the mechanism. Spring replacement may also require a twist of the shaft to eliminate the droop completely.

MGG · 10-11-2015, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325w

Crescent wrench and a vise

I fixed my 1934 truck door handle this way. No heat. I was afraid it might break but it didn't.

meric42 · 10-11-2015, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

I have found that the handles usually droop on these late '40's cars due to wear in the internal latch mechanism and new springs do nothing to solve the problem and twisting the shaft only masks the fault.

I have bought NOS latch mechanisms in the hopes that these will give me good handle alignment. I intend to re-lube the mechanism with the best lube I can find to slow the wear process down.

Graeme / New Zealand · 10-12-2015, 12:05 AM

Thanks every one. My memory has been jogged...yes I used a crescent on my last v8 25 odd years back and no heat.

GB

10-10-2015, 09:17 PM	#1
Graeme / New Zealand Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lower Hutt , New Zealand Posts: 2,126	drooping door handle My drivers side door handle is a bit droopy I did a quick fix on my last v8 years ago by twisting the shaft. I can't remember which way I should twist it. Has anyone done this before and which way? Is it in the direction the handle turns or away from it? I don't want to go to the trouble of overhauling the mechanism at the moment. Thanks GB __________________ "you can't make honey out of dog sh*t" "You're a long time looking at the lid"

10-10-2015, 09:44 PM	#2
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: drooping door handle I would say away from it. If handle droops down, you would want to lift up to straighten it. (WAG only) __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

10-11-2015, 12:02 AM	#4
Graeme / New Zealand Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lower Hutt , New Zealand Posts: 2,126	Re: drooping door handle Thanks . I thought so. Just wanted the opinion of the knowlegable before I went messing with it. GB __________________ "you can't make honey out of dog sh*t" "You're a long time looking at the lid"

10-11-2015, 02:34 AM	#5
BLACKNRED Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: adelaide australia Posts: 164	Re: drooping door handle Try a new spring

10-11-2015, 02:51 AM	#6
swoopNZ MEMBER EMERITUS Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,380	Re: drooping door handle Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Viagra ?

10-11-2015, 04:48 AM	#7
Fordestes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 886	Re: drooping door handle try swapping handles from side to side, see if it changes the angle. the shaft twist sometimes.

10-11-2015, 07:23 AM	#8
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,936	Re: drooping door handle would it be of value to heat it first? Since they come out so easily, I usually do this in a vice, thinking less strain on the mechanism. And I do heat them first, jic. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

10-11-2015, 10:01 AM	#9
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: drooping door handle A little heat can't hurt. Just don't discolor the stainless.

10-11-2015, 11:55 AM	#10
john worden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: central Iowa Posts: 484	Re: drooping door handle The shaft will twist without heat. __________________ Louvering, bias ply tire-truing, metal shaping and forming, lathe and mill work, member shop HAGERTY Ins. expert repair network. High quality paint work in Iowa.

10-11-2015, 01:48 PM	#13
325w Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 379	Re: drooping door handle Crescent wrench and a vise

10-11-2015, 06:04 PM	#14
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: drooping door handle Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

10-11-2015, 08:56 PM	#17
john worden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: central Iowa Posts: 484	Re: drooping door handle Replacing the spring alone may not solve the problem due to wear of the moving parts in the mechanism. Spring replacement may also require a twist of the shaft to eliminate the droop completely. __________________ Louvering, bias ply tire-truing, metal shaping and forming, lathe and mill work, member shop HAGERTY Ins. expert repair network. High quality paint work in Iowa.

10-12-2015, 12:05 AM	#20
Graeme / New Zealand Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lower Hutt , New Zealand Posts: 2,126	Re: drooping door handle Thanks every one. My memory has been jogged...yes I used a crescent on my last v8 25 odd years back and no heat. GB __________________ "you can't make honey out of dog sh*t" "You're a long time looking at the lid"