'55 window crank removal...

4

4d_family

Junior Member
dumb question, but i cannot remove the door panel(s) from my girl's '55 coupe. i have several door panel/trim removing tools, and i know what kind of clip should be behind the window crank, but i can't get the crank off.

any trick to these? i've never had a problem like this before, but this has me kinda stumped.

any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Maybe one of the better informed guys on here can teach both of us a better way, but here is how I do it. Doesn't make sense to buy a special tool for a one time use if there even is such a tool.

Make a hook out of a small screwdriver and fish the clip off of the crank from the orientation of the crank arm. You will probably distort the clip, but you can reshape it once off, or just buy new ones from Dennis Carpenter.

Once the crank is off, hack saw the clip grooves on the back side of the crank to extend it all the way opposite of the arm (Be careful not to score the under side of the crank. Protect with a piece of sheet metal, or just be real careful). This will facilitate future removal with a tool you can easily make from another piece of sheet metal. Just a slot wide enough to slip into the grooves in the boss, but contact the clip and push it off of the crank boss. Then bend a 90 degree bend about 4 inches away form the slot to use as a sort of handle to push on.

Wish I could draw a picture on here, but good luck. The secret is a little persistence.
 
You might be able to push the trim panel in just enough to see which way the clip is on there. Not sure about Fords, but GM cars all originally had the clip ends pointed toward the knob.
 
if you have a newer removal tool its not wide enough to go over the handle to release the clip :confused:you'll need to open the space between the two tabs that push the clip to 1 inch after the tabs needs to be 3/4 of an inch wide and 3/4 deep even if you bought the tool from one of the old parts vendors stating for 50's models it won't work :mad: good luck
 
I have two special tools, and they both take up space on a peg board. The one I use is the one I made in high school in 1959. Take a broken hack saw blade and grind a hook in one end. Curve the other end about 30 degrees, and tape it up so you can use it as a handle. Hold the spring back with a screw driver and pull the clip off.
 
Gerry said:
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=1256

I don't know how to get the pictures here but they are now on my album.
The tool I find at the swap meet most don't know what it is. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Here's one of your pics:
picture.php
 
Gerry, That tool would work very well. Always kinew there must be some such tool, but just couldn't imagine what it looked like. Wish I had one, but alas can't really justify the expense. Thanks for showing it.
 
Gerry and Y-Blockhead, that pair of pliers looks like it will work great on windshield moldings. A nice even grip on both sides of the clip, I'm going to have to get a pair, might save a broken clip or two.
 
There are two types of tools that are made for this
A "pliers" type is used to pull the horseshoe clip out of the handle from the end opposite the handle.
A"Fork" type is used to push the horseshoe clip out of the handle from under the handle.
It is best to use your free hand to push against the door upholstery handle around the bsae of the handle to relieve some of the spring tension while using the clip removal tool.
Those clips can be installed on the back of the handles either way, but they should be installed so that the open end of the clip is toward the handle (not facing away from the handle).
 
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