My Drivers side window goes down all by itself and will not hold when I roll it up. The crank handle shaft has a lot of play also. I think it is internally messed up where the crank handle shaft enters the gear area. The rest of the regulator is fine and the main gear is in great condition. I see they make a regulator repair kit and then I can reuse the remainder of my original assembly or I can just buy an entire replacement unit.
I just dont know if I need to replace the whole unit. Where in the unit is the mechanism that prevents the window from dropping that apparently is worn out or broke on my unit???
Frank, I had the same problem on my ‘48 passenger side and subsequently rebuilt both regulators. The big external clock spring, as you found, is not the problem. There is another internal spring which you will find is broken (the small tab on the end of the spring). My first picture shows the reassembled regulator but note I’ve rebuilt it with the housing held together with nyloc lock nuts. You are going to have to get creative (wear safety glasses) and drill out the original rivets holding the housing together to gain access to the real internal problem. The next picture shows the replacement internal spring. Classic Parts, (1947-54) Window Regulator Spring Item Number 18-781. $3.95 each Good Luck. Dave
Yes, THANK YOU! This is the problem. The 2 piece cam (for lack of a better word) that fits together inside the cup, is worn out severely and this internal spring is broken as well. At least the tabs are broken off of the spring. I will replace the mechanism with the regulator repair kit. This will replace all three of these pieces but allow me to retain major components of the regulator assembly.
When I first looked in the "cup" it appeared to look like the inside of the cup was threaded and then after picking out the crud and old grease I could see it was some sort of a wound spring. It was hard to tell what it was but now thanks to you guys I see it is the broken spring.
I have the same problem on my 46 truck. I replaced the big flat spring, but I don't think the original was bad because the new one works just like the old one did. Is there an internal spring that might be broken on my 46? I also wonder if maybe I should try to wrap another turn on the big flat spring? Ted
