Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:52:12 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: troubleshooting sliding door operation
In-Reply-To: <9c20cbc40803100852o412fd765u19e2e88304723132@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi Neil in WA.
> I've got a peculiar problem with me '82 Westy. The PO broke the sliding
> door handle off and after buying a replacement from, I believe, an '87
> Vanagon, I commenced Restore Slider Handle.
AFAIK, the later model handle is shorter (no problem per se) but may
need to shave a little metal off the end of "L" to clear the door
sheet metal.
> Question #1: Does a functioning door unlock automatically if opened from the
> interior?
Mine does not.
> I removed the panel and unscrewed the handle mounting screw. I was able to
> extricate the broken part of the original handle. BUT, as I did so I heard
> something drop to the bottom of the inside of the door.
> Sounded like a
> small metal part. Like the part that actuates the forward latch! I spent
> close to an hour trying to fish out the supposed part, remove the entire
> mechanism (one of the screws is practically stripped, one is on its way) and
> determining I should leave the door open.
If you don't have one, get a flexible magnetic pickup tool. I bought a
flexible "wire" type. *Really* handy. And FWIW, I recently discovered
that the tumbler on my slider door handle will open with most any key
(read: screwdriver). This effectively leaves my slider door open!
> #3: Any idea if there are drawings of all these mechanisms online? I
> searched the text and found no help.
I recall scratching my head over the latch mechanism. I just lubed it
up and it seems to work. Keep an eye open for a Vanagon being parted
out. I'll bet you don't want to open that unit up to try servicing it!
Oh ya. If the slider lock knob on inside doesn't stay up, (broken
spring) put a rubber washer behind it and tighten it so it just rubs
on sheet metal. Friction should keep it up when leaving it unlocked
from inside. (thank you archives....... hint hint --- ;^)
>
> #4: Any advice before I begin drilling out the three screws holding the
> entire mechanism on?
Why drill? Tough to get fasteners out?
Make sure you use the large Phillips to get those screws out. I recall
being bored in ___town OR (I was looking for a cheap guitar) and
getting a used Craftsmen large Phillips at a store selling used stuff.
A really useful tool.
If fasteners still stuck, get a proper sized bit from a multi driver,
put it in the screw head, and give it a whack with a hammer. You may
find that doing the same with a plastic handled large Phillips will
work too. Either way, this may shock it loose. There are tools
designed specifically for that purpose. They have a large head on them
that you hit, which turns the chuck (a little) containing the bit of
choice.
Cheers,
Neil.
