The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors 1953 3100 - interior door handle removal?

I have searched the forum and haven't found any previous discussion on this. So I have a dumb question... I removed the set screw in the interior door handle and window crank handle. Sprayed a good lubricant into the screw holes, since I do not know how long the handles have been on there. With a little prying the window crank came right off. But I cannot get the door handle off. Prying seems to have pulled the shaft out of the latch mechanism so the handle just spins in circles now. I still cannot figure how to get the handle off. What am I missing, and did I just break my latch? The door still closes and latches using the outside door latch. Thanks in advance for the help.

Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention I am working on my 1953 3100. Thanks.

There are two screws in the handles one is a set the other covers it, did you remove them both?

Hey, thanks for the quick reply.
I just went out and double checked... there is only one screw, it is a straight slotted 10-32 set screw with a smaller tip on the end. If there is a screw under that, I cannot see it. No slot or allen hole on top. Just looks like a flat on the shaft.

So is the door handle the same as the window crank? Pressed onto a splined shaft?

Spline

...pic...

Door relays are not to expensive,
Check with a mirror for the first set screw..

Your latches are probably fine
The pic above is an aftermarket relay For a 50

one screw is on top of the other one....remove one to access otherset screw....2 screws same hole....

The first set screw was slotted for a straight screw driver. Is the second one the same, or an allen head? I don't see either one when I shine a flashlight in the hole. Sorry if I sound like a dummy, but I have never had this much trouble taking a door handle off before.

Joe - likely you got out the only set screw, but sometimes the shafts and/or handle can get chewed up from the set screw being loose and the handle being abused, you may have to use a lot of muscle to get it off and you'll likely find the shaft is too chewed up to be useable

Bill

Thank you Bill.
I will try again tomorrow. I will see if I can get some PB Blaster in there before I try prying on it again. I will post the results, and take some pics of the process. May help make it easier on someone else next time.

Not all handles have the two screws. They may have at first but were either removed or got lost. I only have one per handle.

I realize it has been awhile... but I thought I would update this thread. I ended up cutting the door handles off. Someone had used epoxy to keep the handles from coming loose. It worked very well! They definitely were not going to come loose! So I had to buy two new door relays and handles. But I have no problem opening or locking my doors now.

I have a 1952 3600. I ordered and received new door relays for both doors because the splines on the shaft are worn and the handle will spin freely on the shaft (I have to open the door using the outside handle now). The new ones look the same as the originals. The problem is one of the three screws holding the mechanism onto the inner door panel is covered up by the pivot for the relay arm (see the attached image). How do I remove this screw?

Jim,

Using an old handle or pair of vise grips, operate the door relay and you'll have access to that screw!

You have to move the pivot arm back towards the door. Sometime this pivot arm won't move because the latch sticks. You can loosen the bolts on the latch and move that a bit so you can get to that screw holding the remote on.

I've always used an open end wrench. Loosen it, remove the accessible bolts, spin the assembly to clear the hidden bolt, remove bolt.

Andy, I understand what you are saying and I think that should be the normal way to do it. I can get the arm to move but not enough. It still has the original clutch head screw so I need to be able to get good access to it with my driver. I will try JD1's suggestion to see if I can get the pivot to move back toward the latch side of the door. I sure to not want to have to take the latch out completely. Thanks to Andy, JD1, and MNSmith for your help. I'll let you know how things go when I have a chance to get back to the task. By the way, here is an image of the vehicle in question.

Sorry, I completely forgot that the original screws were clutch head. I always replace mine with regular bolts for serviceability.

Jim,

Were you able to remove those screws and get your new door controls installed?