drooping door handle

[Graeme / New Zealand]

My drivers side door handle is a bit droopy I did a quick fix on my last v8 years ago by twisting the shaft. I can't remember which way I should twist it. Has anyone done this before and which way? Is it in the direction the handle turns or away from it?

I don't want to go to the trouble of overhauling the mechanism at the moment.

Thanks
GB

 

[Lawson Cox]

I would say away from it. If handle droops down, you would want to lift up to straighten it. (WAG only)

 

[john worden]

I would say away from it. If handle droops down, you would want to lift up to straighten it. (WAG only)

Correct.

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Thanks . I thought so. Just wanted the opinion of the knowlegable before I went messing with it.

GB

 

[BLACKNRED]

Try a new spring

 

[swoopNZ]

Viagra ?

 

[Fordestes]

try swapping handles from side to side, see if it changes the angle. the shaft twist sometimes.

 

[GB SISSON]

would it be of value to heat it first? Since they come out so easily, I usually do this in a vice, thinking less strain on the mechanism. And I do heat them first, jic.

 

[19Fordy]

A little heat can't hurt. Just don't discolor the stainless.

 

[john worden]

The shaft will twist without heat.

 

[ford38v8]

would it be of value to heat it first? Since they come out so easily, I usually do this in a vice, thinking less strain on the mechanism. And I do heat them first, jic.

In combination with Swoop's suggestion, sounds like a win/win.

 

[39topless]

Viagra ?

Would only last a maximum of four hours. Then what?

 

[325w]

Crescent wrench and a vise

 

[J Franklin]

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

 

[john worden]

Crescent wrench and a vise

This.

 

[Tinker]

Try a new spring

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

Might be a pain on a finished car but most likely the correct way. Have to do one myself.

 

[john worden]

Replacing the spring alone may not solve the problem due to wear of the moving parts in the mechanism. Spring replacement may also require a twist of the shaft to eliminate the droop completely.

 

[MGG]

Crescent wrench and a vise

I fixed my 1934 truck door handle this way. No heat. I was afraid it might break but it didn't.

 

[meric42]

Fix it with a new spring. If you twist it you will have to twist it back when the spring breaks and is replaced.

I have found that the handles usually droop on these late '40's cars due to wear in the internal latch mechanism and new springs do nothing to solve the problem and twisting the shaft only masks the fault.

I have bought NOS latch mechanisms in the hopes that these will give me good handle alignment. I intend to re-lube the mechanism with the best lube I can find to slow the wear process down.

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Thanks every one. My memory has been jogged...yes I used a crescent on my last v8 25 odd years back and no heat.

GB