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Date:         Sat, 5 Feb 2000 12:35:44 -0800
Reply-To:     "ThomasD. Hanlon" <hanran@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "ThomasD. Hanlon" <hanran@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Sliding door handle

Sean,

I'm still in the process of repairing the droopy handle, using the Alistair Bell system attached.

Tom Hanlom Palm Springs, CA 84 Westfalia

Alistair Bell wrote: > > Tom wrote compaining of a droopy handle... > > Some thoughts... > > Remove the interior handle, held on by a screw which is probably loose. > Remove the rear handle if present. > > Take the door panel off, do this in a warm place or else you will break at > least one of the plastic clips. A putty knife is handy for prying. > > Have a look at mechanism. Note the cable running to the rear latch > mechanism. The tension of this cable can be adjusted which affects the ease > of latching/unlatching the rear meachanism. > > You can remove the outside handle and have a look at the plastic "washer" > that goes between the handle and the door, maybe its worn out? > > Replace both inner and outer handles, use locktight on the screw that hold > the inner handle on. If that screw is tightened too much the handle is > stiff, too little and your handle droops. > > Its a compromise, all the parts are getting worn and old. > > Clean and lubricate lightly both the front and rear latches. I found some > stuff at CT called, and I kid you not, "Nutz-Ease" which works well on > locks (despite the name it doesn't seem to makes things stiffen up in the > cold). > > Have a look at the spring loaded mechanism at the rear of the door that > travels along the rail on the side of the body. Its the "U" shaped bit. > Clean and lube that too. If that part is cruddy and bound, the rear of the > door will not pop out smarlty when you open the door and the interior rear > handle (if fitted) can hit-scrape the body door opening. > > Clean and lube the top and bottom door glide assemblies. The top is a nylon > block and needs more cleaning than lube, the bottom is a two wheel assembly > which is no doubt filty and gritty. > > If you notice that the bottom "track" in the door opening is scraped at the > point where it makes a bend into the van then you might be want to do the > following fix. > > The scraping is made by the bottom L shaped bracket that supports the front > of the door. Actually the scraping is being made by the cast metall part > attached to the "L" shaped bracket. The bracket is held onto the door by > two 13mm bolts. Support the door and marke the position of the bolts before > removing them. Now you have the L shaped assembly complete wtih crungy > wheels that you can take to the benche and really clean. > > Now to correct the age induced sag, undo the two 13mm bolts that hold the > cast metal wheel piece to the stamped metal L shaped bracket. Find a washer > similar to the ones used on the bracket. Place that washer BETWEEN the cast > metal part and the bracket and lining up with the INBOARD bolt. Put both > bolts back on an tighten. Now the cast assembly is cocked slightly (by the > thickness on one washer) with respect to the bracket. > > Put the bracket back on the door and realign/tighten bolts. > > The door should open and close easily reducing the wear and tear on that > poor handle! > > I apologize for such a sketchy outline, but its late.... > > Alistair


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