VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 29 doorhandles

Hi guys and gals, I have a29 sedan. How is a doorhandle removed from the (rimlatch)on the inside. I've removed the inside bolt and unsrewed the rimlatch plate to get a better look and to spray
it with blaster. It's a very rusted basketcase from N.D. Thanks
Richard

If there is upholstery on the door panel you will have to push it in and look down to the post between the upholstery and the door handle. You should be able to see a slot toward the center of the handle. If you look into the middle of the post there is a spring loaded clip that keeps the handle in place. If you take a sharp object and push one side of the clip it will slip off and you will be able to pull the handle off.

Thanks langer, I'll try to find that clip. I just didn't know where to look. Thanks again Richard

Hi again guys, I still can't find that "c" clip or sping clip? I've
pushed the door handle in as far as I can and i don't see it.
This is the passinger side door handle and it appears to be solid all the way in. Is it near the end of the handle? I'm going to try to approch it from the bottom to see if the clip is facing down . Any thing I'm missing? Thanks Richard

It is a horse shoe shaped clip that that slips around the door handle post. The slots are on the interior door handle post and you should see them between the upholstery or door panel and the portion of the door handle that fits up against the door panel. With a sharp object you should be able to push one side of the clip and it should slip off without a lot of effort. On the other hand you said it was quite rusty so it may take some jockeying.

Richard,
Are you removing the inside handle or outside handle? I am not clear on your term rimlatch.

Mike

Having read opening note, it appears he is talking about outside handle (removed nut etc). If so, I suspect handle is just seized in latch mechanism (very rusty).

I'm not sure what a rim latch is either If he want to take the outside handle off he will have to remove the window crank handle and the inside door handle then remove the door panel or he might be able to move the door panel enough to get to the screw that is holding the outside handle on. I it is the inside handle and you can't see a clip on the door handle maybe you can see where there is a cutout for the clip. On my 29 someone put the door handles on with JB Weld or some thing like that because the splines where worn. Tried heat on them good and had to cut them off. BAD

Hi again guys and gals, I;m sorry first off for the stange questions I;ve asked. I'm trying to get the outside door handle off the passenger side of a 29 2 door sedan. My under lying goal is to have some keys made for the handle. I think the handle is frozen (really rusted on) as someone mentioned. I've taken off the bolt thats screwed on to the handle from the inside. Is there a way to tap the handle off with a punch from the inside through the bolt hole? THanks again, P.S. a rim latch is the locking and latching box attached to the back side of a door in 70 plus yr old houses. Richard

The handle should just slide out if you've removed the screw on the end. I would be very careful using a punch to drive it out, the handle is pot metal and is very fragile. If it breaks Vedone's in PA has polished stainless steel copies.

I would suggest finding a longer machine screw with correct size and thread count. Thread it into the end of the handle and then use it to tap the handle out of the latch. If it does not come out relatively easily then soak with PB Blaster or other good penetrating oil. It may take a few days with multiple applications to get enough between the parts to loosen it. I don't advise heat with torch but an electric heat gun could help. Best to apply heat, then cool and heat again. Repeat heat/cool cycles until you get tired. Then tap, soak, heat. Eventually the handle will come out.

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm on it right after work. Richard