Removing Door Hinge Pins

Rex Smith

Rex Smith

Member
I have '30 rusty truck. Trying to remove the door hinge pins. I've used penetrating oil, heat, paraffin, everything I can think of. They don't budge. I'm thinking of grinding the round head off and drilling through, but I'm not sure this is going to get it either. What's the recommended procedure for this?
 
the model a suppliers sell a hinge pin remover if you belong to a car club I am sure a member will loan you one or they don't cost to much!! also kroil works great its the best penetrating oil that I have ever used
 
I ground the head off and used a punch to slowly push the pin out, be careful grinding the head, you don't want to cut into the hinge. soak the area down with penetrating oil a few days before. Good Luck!
 
I had the same problem with mine .
The hinge pin remover didn't budge the pin , We had to cut the top of the pin off and drill it out just as you suggest .
The trouble is the pin wears unevenly with ledges on it ,it ends up looking like a dog's hind leg {Do You hear me Buster T]

John Cochran
 
You have to get it to move first before any oil will get through, try twisting it then if it won't move look for the area/s on the hinge that it's seized to and that's where you put the heat to, then use a punch. (map torch works well) and the small yellow canisters seem to last forever.
 
Rex - I see that you are in the Portland area. Are you a member of the local club? There are a lot of guys in the club who have the knowledge and tools to help you with your issue.

Depending on where you are in the area, I am willing to come out and assist you with it. The pins can be removed without damaging them or the hinge most of the time. Send me a PM if you are interested.

Rex Smith said:
I have '30 rusty truck. Trying to remove the door hinge pins. I've used penetrating oil, heat, paraffin, everything I can think of. They don't budge. I'm thinking of grinding the round head off and drilling through, but I'm not sure this is going to get it either. What's the recommended procedure for this?
Click to expand...
 
I had the same problem. This was probably one of the biggest battles I've had with this restoration project.
I used the hinge pin removal tool that looks like 2 square bars and 2 threaded bolts, with a pin to push the hinge pin out. It worked on one pin, but the others never came out.
I tried all the gentle methods, but didn't have any luck. Started using heavier methods, until I finally just broke down and got new hinges.

I bought them from ModelAhinges.com.
If, or when you've had enough, I would recommend these hinges.
The new hinges were very simple to install.

Tommy-
 
I don't think you will be able to twist the pin as under the head of the pin is knerled. as juke joint johnney said the pin wears uneven, you may want to try pressing the pin out with a tool or punch while the door is open or partially open or have some one move the door up and down with some luck those wear ridges wil get aligned so the pin will move. good luck
 
the hinge pin tool from the suppliers rarely works on a tough situation.
knock the head off they usually just fall off anyway and drill into the top and bottom with a ""SMALLER"" bit than the pin. no need to go all the way through just maybe about 1-1/2 on each side then get a pin punch that size and it will tap right out. the problem with hitting it or pressing it without drilling is its being forced outwards or bulging vs drilling into it your collapsing it.
 
Someone attempted to dril out the pins on my '29, but got off center into the hinge. I taped cardboard to the door and after several days of heat and p-oil, I nudged them with a pneumatic chisel using the pin point attachment. Went to drift pin and hammer after the knurling was out.
 
I couldn't remove the pins on my sport coupe, but the screws that hold the hinges to the A pillar came out easily, so I left the hinges on.
 
We got the pins out today. I have removed a bunch of these and have had some tough ones, but I have never had to resort to the measures needed to get Rex's pins out.

All three were saved and are reusable, but I suspect that no matter how much soaking was done, it would not have made any difference.

All three Hinges were saved. The pins, on the other hand, were destroyed.
 
Last edited:
I was too cheap to buy tool so used a large C clamp, a bolt smaller than pin and a socket...it worked great and had all pins out in about 30 minutes..a little balancing act with bolt at first...Dick
 
I too used the C Clamp method. Do not use the cheapo clamp. Used a 1/4" socket above the pin just large enough to span the head of the pin, but not contact it. Nothing underneath the bottom at first then applied pressure after hitting it with Kroil several times before using the C clamp. When it moved up used several smaller diameter pins to push the hinge pin out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top