The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Barn door handle spring

I have a feeling this could be a long shot. (Spent some time searching sites but no luck so far.) Does anyone know if a replacement spring for a barn door handle (passenger side) is available anywhere? Thanks.

Year?

Sorry. It's a 1952.

I couldn't find one. I got a similar spring from the hardware store and then realized the door handle spring is reverse-wound. I made it work. It works well.

Thanks, walterhvogel, but I'm working on the door that has the outside handle. I think your spring is for the door that has the inside handle. I took the mechanism out to have a closer look today, which brought a new dilemma to mind. The lock is attached by a clip inside the door. Are there any tips for attaching the lock cylinder then installing the handle mechanism? It looks like the handle mechanism should be installed first then the lock cylinder, but how do you insert the stem of the lock into the little hole on the handle mechanism and put a clip on it when everything is so close together? There is a hatch cover at the bottom of the door, but I don't know if my arms are long enough to get a clip up to the vicinity of the door lock.

Mechanism has to go in first. Lock cylinder and shaft will slide in fairly easy. Do you have a pic of the broken spring or where it should go?

That makes sense to me, but still don't get how to clip the lock in to the door. I'm going to see if I can access it through the hatch/cover plate (as mentioned above). I believe the photo is of a 1934 to 1946 (posted several years ago by walterhvogel) but the spring connection points on the mechanism I have are the same.

Rusty, Since your panel is a 1952, the lock cylinder on the right rear barn door should be in the same type of "fixed" door handle (push button style for 1952 and later VS turn down style for 1951 and earlier trucks) as your main entry doors. The handle and lock cylinder I believe gets assembled together, installed to the door and then the latch mechanism is installed after that (from what I can tell).

Below are snapshots form the 1952 Shop Manual Supplement that detail the process for replacing the lock cylinder in the fixed position door handle. From what I can read, the retaining ring for the lock cylinder is installed to the lock itself and don't see any retaining ring for the latch operating shaft going into the lock mechanism itself.

If I'm off-base with this info, maybe you could add some pics of your handle and latch pieces to help understand further questions??? I'm interested to hear how this turns out.

EDIT: Is the spring for the push button handle the one pictured in Diagram 3 on the first pictured page below???

sorry for my bad info. I missed the year post.

Well that's a horse of a different color, and different side! I will humbly bow out of this discussion, but not before posting a link to a kit for the door handle button:
https://oldchevytrucks.com/dp105k.html
You might have to buy the kit to get this spring, assuming it's the right spring, and if this no-lock kit uses the same spring. Maybe hit up your local hardware store and see if they have something that could work.

So, I have a situation here. It appears that a previous owner swapped out all the doors. It's registered as a '52, but the front door windows are one piece and all the handles are turn down style. (I was aware of a change in handle styles but never paid a lot of attention to it.) I've been looking on-line and it appears I should be able to find a spring that will work. A new lock has been ordered and I just have to figure out how to put everything back in the door (and the spring, of course).

Rusty, That info about door changes all around (guessing that included the rear barn doors too) does paint this cat a different color. Perhaps now that we know the door hardware and lock in question appear to be the earlier 1947-51 turn down style with separate lock, someone will chime in to help out with better info.

Thanks to all for your feedback. Yes, Dan, now that the correct info is out there, hopefully someone will be able to help.

Whew. Im confused. Is this for rear rt panel door?

Just Fyi....they don't repop rear pull down handles but you can use a front door pull down with a simple modification. I did and there is a tech tip on that.

Hi, Alvin
Yes, this is the rear right panel door. I think my bad was referring to it as barn door passenger side. I guess saying barn door right side may have been a better way of describing it. My handles are good, and I have seen your tech tip (great resource) My handle and mechanism works well except it has the sag (missing spring) I just have to figure how to put the new separate lock mechanism and clip on the inside of the door in and to insert the lock shaft into the handle mechanism.

I’m back. I took a picture of my rear latch last night. The lock is held in with a spring clip just like the front doors. The spring clip can get pushed too far into the opening. You may need to use needle nose plyers or a pick to get at it.


This makes me thing the shaft is missing, or was not engaged in the latch mechanism. The shaft on the front door locks (’47-’51) have a paddle end and engage with a bowtie hole. The shaft on the barn door does not, it is the square profile with one corner flattened. It engages with a small hole in the latch mechanism.

I don’t know how you could remove the mechanism before the lock.

In my picture you may be able to see a small hole and indent on the door interior where the lock shaft lines up. Presumably where a locksmith punched out the lock. I could not have lined up my lock shaft without that hole, it was difficult as the lock shaft droops during installation.
The ’47-’51 barn door latch mechanism is similar to the front right door of ’34-’46 Chevys so a spring from that era will work. Here is a link to that anti-sag spring:

https://oldchevytrucks.com/dp146r.html

My barn door handle never sagged. I cleaned it up and then it sagged. I replaced the spring and it sagged less. I think it needs to be gummed up a little to get the sag out.

Thanks, walterhvogal. That is just like my door. The shaft on the lock on mine broke off. And the spring is exactly what I'm looking for (although, the cheapest shipping I would pay is almost 18 bucks. That's to Washington where I often get parts shipped to (I live in Canada) $23 USD for a $5 spring = $31 CAD lol) I should be able to find a spring locally and modify as necessary. But, the conundrum of how to install the lock after the mechanism is installed is the perplexing issue.

41-46 regular door latch return spring is the exact return spring needed for the 47-54 panel truck and barn suburbans. That’s what I’m using in my 52 Burby 😃

I think I have the handle mechanism/lock install figured out thanks to azcornman and walterhvogal. azcornman directed me to how to access the retainer that holds the lock in place. The retainer is partially hidden under the weatherstripping. If you look carefully, you can see it in walterhvogal's picture. Now that I have that sorted out, I should be able to remove the old lock and install the new one. Just have to get one of those anti-sag springs. Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.