VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 '55 truck window crank

The driver's window crank piece that comes thru the door panel and has splines has gotten worn down to the point of letting the handle go around w/o catching.

Is there anything I can do to get this to work without opening up the door and replacing the piece?

If I have to have a new piece who has them?

Same answer as always........check with the Filling Station if you have to replace the piece!

So I assume you are saying that there is no repair I can do to the one I have... :(

Are you sure that the shaft has worn or the handle? Since the handles are made from diecast they are softer and more easily worn. I have seen the shafts worn in the past so it does happen.

Any proper shaft fix that I know of requires taking it out. Of course you can fill the handle with epoxy (JB weld) and stick it on. Let the epoxy cure and the handle is held on. Make sure to sell the truck before you need to take the trim panel off as the handle will not come off without dynamite.

Thanks Chipper, I had not thought of the handle being the problem instead of the shaft. If it the shaft is there anything that could be wrapped around the shaft to make it fit tighter and work?

JB Weld was in the back of my mind as a last resort, but like you said there are some major drawbacks. Sure don't want to use vise-grips.

By the way does anyone know the proper name of that piece that the handle is attached to? I only know it by a name that is slang and can't be used in mixed company.

Gator: When you have a problem such as this the first thing to do is to determine what the problem is. In this case it is most likely a stripped window crank handle. Then, go to your Filling Station catalog and look up the item. You will see that they have brand new window crank handles for your truck. The next step would be to order one instead of thinking about using JB Weld or etc.

Always check your Filling Station Catalog, or other catalogs like Jim Carter's Truck Parts first because the chances are good that they will have the part that you need.

It gets technical, but that part is called "the part of the window regulator that comes through the door panel"

Actually, we normally call it the window crank shaft. I had the same problem not all that long ago and tried a whole lot of things to avoid replacing that part. In the end I just got tired of fooling with it and took off the panel and replaced that part, whatever it's called.

Good luck.

The assembly to which the handle is attached is the window regulator, and I see no individual parts breakdown for that assembly.

You didn't look far enough. Jim Carter's Truck Parts has complete door window regulator assemblies for Gator's truck. So, it appears that everything is available to repair Gator's door window regulator or handle problem.

JYD,

I didn't mean that the entire assembly wasn't available, just that I didn't see any component breakdown of said assembly in my parts books so that the regulator could be repaired rather than replaced.

Got ya covered! You didn't mention the Chevrolet parts book in your posting so it sounded like you were referring to the catalogs that I listed in my posting above. At any rate, Gator is in fine shape. All he has to do is determine what he needs and then order the parts from the various suppliers.

Thanks for the help guys...I looked inside the handle and it is striped inside. Will try a new handle; the shaft splines look a little worn also. If the new handle doesn't work I will have to replace it.... :( :(

There is one little trick I might try if the shaft is worn too much...no, not the JB Weld...something else. :eek:

Gator, I have a couple of those regulators I took off of a 57 and a 58 truck, which one do you need Driver's side you say? They were working when removed, I also have the handles and some more stuff, I will get it together and send you some pics, I have been trying to sell them for a while at swap meets.....cheap!
Once I worked for an old guy that had that problem covered, instead of buying new handles he bought ViceGrips and had several on the windows and doors for handles, he also had a set of pliers anytime he needed some!

Thanks MM, I need the driver's door handle.

I have been very carefully using a pair of ViceGrips when it has been necessay to raise or lower the window the past week or so.

Thanks for your help...

New to the board and from the Master of rigging.

Before parts became readily available I learned this trick to myself.

You will need a 1" 10-32 set screw that you get from the local hardware store, a long allen wrech that fits that screw, a 10-32 tap and a small file. Also a drill and some drill bits.

Behind the handle part of the handle. File a grove that is twice as wide as the set screw. Drill a small hole in the splined part of the handle and then tap the hole for the set screw.

I also drill a small recess into the regulater shaft that the set screw can seat into. Slide the handle onto the regulater and tighten the screw with the long allen wrench.
Definetly not show quality but done right, it will last for years.

Thanks ChevyMan55, that is along the lines of what I was going to try to do, but your way might be better than what I was thinking of.

Since this is not a show truck I will play around with doing a 'jury rig'.