Stuck door handle - won't come off!

[Stephenorf]

This door handle will not budge. I got the door latch handle off with no problem, but the window crank won't budge. Yes, I pulled the retaining clip off of three back of the handle. Seems no amount of prying or tapping will make it budge. I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has run into a similar scenario, and what did you do to get the handle to break loose from the spined window crank?

I pulled the spring back to make accessing the back of the handle easier.

 

[Stephenorf]

Bah, as soon as I posted this I got a bigger hammer and after a little cajoling it popped off.


Crank doesn't look corroded or rusty.

Handle doesn't look too bad for the beating I just gave it. Splines look pretty good a little corrosion inside but not much.

Sure was a booger to get off. Just about destroyed my already crummy looking door panel.

 

[miker98038]

Sometimes and some things just a little corrosion makes a hell of a bond. I’d wire brush both of them, and use a little anti seize on re assembly.

That was my Dad’s solution. Bigger hammer. It does work, if the collateral damage isn’t too bad.

 

[Ford blue blood]

Nice thing is those door handles/window cranks are re-popped in all the possible configurations...white knob/black nob or chrome knob...

 

[Stephenorf]

Sometimes and some things just a little corrosion makes a hell of a bond. I’d wire brush both of them, and use a little anti seize on re assembly.

That was my Dad’s solution. Bigger hammer. It does work, if the collateral damage isn’t too bad.

Yep, had to use my biggest claw hammer, an old framing hammer. The claws are flat enough to securely grab right behind the Window handle and the head is long enough so I can push off against the door shell and create a little leverage. I was using a flat crowbar/pry bar, but the "claws" on the end were beveled and the kept slipping off the back of the handle.

I was thinking about using regular wheel bearing grease to prevent any future corrosion from forming.

 

[Stephenorf]

Nice thing is those door handles/window cranks are re-popped in all the possible configurations...white knob/black nob or chrome knob...

The spline is pretty standard, but the door handles are not the generic type. Luckily the handles are still in serviceable condition and will still perform their intended function.