VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Window crank handle removal

They require a bit more finesse than the shove on tool. I'm about out of ideas not being able to actually see your situation. You say you originally got them off yourself so I guess I'd recommend you repeat what you did then or have the upholsterer remove them since he put them on. Your comment that the tool only goes on from the back side doesn't make sense if I understand you. It HAS to go on from the knob side to remove the clip is the clip is on correctly. Rather than saying front or back the tool MUST insert from the direction of the open side of the clip. If the open side of the clip faces the knob the tool must insert from the knob side. If the open side of the clip faces away from the knob the tool must insert from that side. From the factory the open side of the clip faces the knob.

If I knew how to post a photo here I would. Do I take a photo and put it on Flicker then use the url in the post?

Ok, here's what I have: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimotiki/17256903041/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimotiki/17231626656/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimotiki/17070042310/

more pics...

Interesting. What you're showing is just backward of how it's supposed to work. Your top photo, labeled 'But Not This Way', shows the correct orientation of the clip to the handle and the tool to the handle to remove the clip.

I think I may see the problem. If you turn your handle over and look at the groove for the clip, you'll see that the groove for the clip is slightly smaller than the handle shaft diameter when viewed from the knob end and much smaller when viewed from the back.

When fitting your tool for clip extraction the width of the notch must be ever so slightly larger than the knob side groove so that it will pass passed the shaft and press against the ears of the clip. If the notch isn't wide enough you can widen it a bit using a small flat file.

Also for that to work the ears of your clips must stick out far enough to the tool to catch. I just went to the garage to look at my '38 and my OEM clips don't extend past the shaft of my knobs so I couldn't use that type of tool anyway. I'd have to use the plier type that I have.

If this doesn't make any sense give me a few minutes and I'll snap a couple of pictures of one of my spare handles and try to clarify further.

Check your email.

Tiny,
I measured with calipers the knob side of the handle shaft which is 5/8" and the clip side, opposite the knob, is around .48".
The clip legs don't protrude out of the groove. I went to the Car Parts Place and they had nothing to offer other than the tools I already have.
Sure seems like a mystery to me. In the days when I had no upholstery (in my teen years) I took the handles off with a screw driver.

Check the email I sent you. If the ears don't protrude past the edge of the groove you'll need the plier type of tool. This is how the tool you have is supposed to work.

If that won't work several companies make the pliers. One example. They work by accessing the clip from the side away from the knob, grasping the clip at it's narrowest point, just behind the ears, then pulling the clip back & away from the handle in a slight rotation as though you were rolling the window handle up or down. You don't have to squeeze hard or rotate much.

Edit: Before trying a new tool I would file the notch in the tool you have enough for it to clear the wider end of the groove and see if you can catch enough of the clip ears to push it off. There's nothing lost if it doesn't work. If it does work it'll save you more expense, time and trouble.

Tiny! Mission accomplished! I filed down the notched end of the tool I received from the filling station and it works like a charm just as you describe and as shown in the video!! Thanks for your help!

Excellent! It's been a journey but we finally got there. BTW I like your '38. Are you close to getting it on the road? Hope to see you on tours soon. Keep an eye on the G&D for the Southern Fall Tour. It'll be in Kansas this year & we'll be participating with our '38. I'll let you buy me a cup of coffee.

Tiny! Thanks for all your help! Kansas is a bit far from me, I'm in CA. My 38 is finished and on the road, just a few things to finish up on. I took her for a ride last weekend and rolled down the driver side window. When I got home and rolled up the window the handle fell off the shaft. I panicked and pushed it back on without any thought. Then I realized that I pushed the handle on in the wrong position. That's what started all the panic about the handle removal.
I definitely owe you a cup of coffee or maybe even breakfast. Hopefully our trails will pass in the near future.
Regards,
Jim
You can see my finished 38 here: http://1938chevrolet.blogspot.com

Put her on the trailer & head East. It's a good excuse for a road trip.

Wow! That would something for me, I have never trailered anything! I would like to get a Winnebago and see the USA!

I always trailer my '38 to distant tours. If something breaks you can't just walk into an AutoZone and get a part. I don't want to be stuck hundreds of miles from home.