window crank trick

[1930artdeco]

What is the trick to get the window crank on and off? I would like to meet the guy who designed this and give him a piece of my mind. Of course I will need it back I have so little left. I have the escutcheon and the crank off. I need to figure out to put that blasted pin in.

Mike

[Marshall V. Daut]

Use a small needle-nose pliers. If someone else can compress the spring and escutcheon plate while you insert the pin, life will be easier for you. It's not necessarily a two-man job, but it does make the job easier. So that the pin doesn't drop straight through when you release it, orient the holes on a horizontal plane. Then when the spring is allowed to expand, the escutcheon plate will keep the pin from falling out.
Marshall

[roccaas]

I believe that the original specs called for the arm of the handle to point straight down to 6:00 so that any movement of the arm/crank would not cause the window to move.

Unfortunately, that puts the handle right into my left knee.

We're A Drivers shorter in the 30's?

[BillLee/Chandler, TX]

Me, too, Roccaas! Window all the way up: knee against the knob. Window all the way down: knee against the knob. I'm going to change it 180 degrees.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've always known the handles to be placed horizontal so that the downward pull of gravity tends to close the window. This also keeps it away from the knee. This applies to all makes of cars as far as I know. I was told this by the bodyman where I worked at the GM dealership back in the 70's. This does make the most sense and has worked well for me.

[briphaeton]

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I would use a nail of the same size (or a little smaller) to line the hole up from the opposite side. This well also keep the escutcheon depressed while you insert the pin. Make sure that the pin doesn't have a bur, a little taper would help, lightly tap the pin in using small hammer and punch. Hope this helps.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by briphaeton

I would use a nail of the same size (or a little smaller) to line the hole up from the opposite side. This well also keep the escutcheon depressed while you insert the pin. Make sure that the pin doesn't have a bur, a little taper would help, lightly tap the pin in using small hammer and punch. Hope this helps.

That is the way I do it also.

[redmodelt]

If you are using new window crank handles, the hole may be too small for the pin and may need to be enlarged. The ones I just installed, the chrome plating made the hole too small.

[Barber31]

I did mine fairly easy. Don't remember having problems. Maybe skinny fingers is the trick. Well maybe if you stick half the pin to masking tape and push on the spring. When half the pin goes in let the spring compress the pin enough to remove the tape. Then push the spring again and finish pushing in the rest of the pin. Just an idea.

[BillLee/Chandler, TX]

I bet there's a K&R tool just for compressing the spring and inserting the pin!

[Bader]

Bob drake has a tool for pushing the upholstery back,making room for fat fingers,looks like a handy rig.

[160B]

Originally Posted by 1930artdeco

What is the trick to get the window crank on and off? Mike

I took a piece of hardwood and made a tool for pushing on the escutcheon plate for pin removal or installation, see the below photo. The slot in the wood is just wide enough to slip over the handle and push on the escutcheon plate allowing you to compress the spring and access the pin hole in the handle. Then I have some old dental tweezers that work great to place the pin in the hole, and I chamfer the end of the pin. This works well on my Slant window door and window handles.

[Ron Lowe]

I had to cut a little bit off of the spring. I think it was one coil of the spring. After that it went together fine and I've not had any problems with it .

[insomniacshotrods]

Hmmm!!!! Now I know what that spring was for in the bottom of the door when i took off the door panel. No wonder the pin slipped in place so easy. Ooops ! Got the window back on to working at least.

[1930artdeco]

160, thanks for the idea. I have a second pair of hands coming over on Wed. to help with the door and barring that, I am making that tool.

Mike

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 160B

I took a piece of hardwood and made a tool for pushing on the escutcheon plate for pin removal or installation, see the below photo. The slot in the wood is just wide enough to slip over the handle and push on the escutcheon plate allowing you to compress the spring and access the pin hole in the handle. Then I have some old dental tweezers that work great to place the pin in the hole, and I chamfer the end of the pin. This works well on my Slant window door and window handles.

Yo, 160B, Dog here,
Ol' Bill's stuff is STILL layin' on the runnin' board, as Gregg's not here to hep him. He "thought" about makin' a wood goodie too! BUT, his handle has a screw, in addition to the pin hole, so's he "thought" about filing a slot in the shaft, so's it don't ever slip off & secure it with the screw & LOCTITE. NO wonder he never git's the car dun I bin RAGGIN' on him to gitt'er done, I gess I'll have to BITE him, to git his ATTENTION
Duz some handles NOT have the screw goodie to lock it on??
Buster T.

[160B]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Yo, 160B, Dog here,
Ol' Bill's stuff is STILL layin' on the runnin' board, as Gregg's not here to hep him. He "thought" about makin' a wood goodie too! BUT, his handle has a screw, in addition to the pin hole, so's he "thought" about filing a slot in the shaft, so's it don't ever slip off & secure it with the screw & LOCTITE. NO wonder he never git's the car dun I bin RAGGIN' on him to gitt'er done, I gess I'll have to BITE him, to git his ATTENTION
Duz some handles NOT have the screw goodie to lock it on??
Buster T.

Yo Dog, Don here!!

Yes some handles did not have screw mounts. See the photo below.

Here is a photo of the door handle for my 1931 Slant Window Town Sedan.

This handle was used on the following

1930-31 Victoria
1931 Convertible Sedan
late 1930 & 1931 cabriolet
S/W Deluxe Fordor
1931 S/W Town Sedan

RG&JS page 12-7 revised 1994

P.S. This door handle moves in a rotating motion, not a lifting motion to open the door.

[Doug in NJ]

Make sure that the coil spring can lie completely flat when compressed, with no coils overlapping. If you are using the modern repros, you will probably have to remove the innermost turn, and do a bit of bending.

Doug

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 160B

Yo Dog, Don here!!

Yes some handles did not have screw mounts. See the photo below.

Here is a photo of the door handle for my 1931 Slant Window Town Sedan.

This handle was used on the following

1930-31 Victoria
1931 Convertible Sedan
late 1930 & 1931 cabriolet
S/W Deluxe Fordor
1931 S/W Town Sedan

RG&JS page 12-7 revised 1994

P.S. This door handle moves in a rotating motion, not a lifting motion to open the door.

Thanks, 160B, fur clearing that up, we ONLY know coupe stuff, asides that, we thought you wur talkin' about the window winder goodie. WITHOUT THUMBS, I cain't work them!
You gotta' Dog-?--Buster T.