The Ford Barn

Pat Martone · 03-31-2012, 03:32 AM

I have an annoying, albeit a minor problem: the driver side door window wants to roll itself back up about half-way, a little while after I have rolled it down. It does not happen immediately, but over time, the glass creeps up.
Is this an easy fix, and I assume I will have to disassemble the interior of the door to make the repair?
Thanks in advance for the advice.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 03-31-2012, 05:42 AM

Initially it sounds like the counter spring is incorrect and too stiff. It would help me if I knew what bodystyle. That would also help determine the difficulty involved due to how the door panel comes off (brads vs. clips) and how the glass is removed.

Clem Clement · 03-31-2012, 05:59 AM

Isn't there something about handle placement?

Pat Martone · 03-31-2012, 06:12 AM

'Sorry I forgot to mention that it is a Slant Window town sedan.

2manycars · 03-31-2012, 06:22 AM

My tudor did that for years. I finally fixed it by replacing the window regulator.

Kevin in NJ · 03-31-2012, 07:55 AM

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Being a slant window car makes a difference as the parts are different than the other bodies.

Look in your Brattons catalog to see the parts. The problem is where the handle is, the little sheet metal bubble that holds the square shaft. There is a spring and a metal piece that moves free of the square shaft. What is supposed to happen is the back force from the glass will cause the spring to expand outward and act as a brake locking the window from going down. When you turn the handle the spring is twisted to reduce its diameter and allow the window to move.

The slants have this stamped part that breaks. Depending on how bad it is broken you can weld it together with a TIG. Otherwise you have to buy the new parts. The parts are not cheap, but at least they are available. Keep in mind I have a bunch of regulators and was able to find one that was repairable. From what I have seen they are frequently beyond repair.

Oh ya, To take the handle apart you need to drill the 3 rivets. They go back together with screws and nylock nuts.

While you are at it. The gears can be pretty worn on their bushings. It is not hard to grind the weld and take the gears apart. Then shrink the bushing down by moving the metal. Then putting the gear back together with a couple of tack welds.

It is not a hard job, just one that will take some time to do.

jw hash · 03-31-2012, 08:40 AM

Kevin is right, the brake spring is broken and good Left SW regulators are hard to come by, but on the SW regulators there is no rivets the sheet metal part go`s through the main body of the regulator and flairs out on the back side to take them apart heat up the flair with a torch and pry it off from the front side when you put it back together just flair it out again most of time they will hold if not you can tack weld it, all parts on the left regulator are the same as the right side except the main body,

Pat Martone · 03-31-2012, 10:58 AM

Thanks for the info.
I embarrassed to say that I do not know how to take the door panel off to inspect the damage.

03-31-2012, 03:32 AM	#1
Pat Martone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 495	My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! I have an annoying, albeit a minor problem: the driver side door window wants to roll itself back up about half-way, a little while after I have rolled it down. It does not happen immediately, but over time, the glass creeps up. Is this an easy fix, and I assume I will have to disassemble the interior of the door to make the repair? Thanks in advance for the advice.

03-31-2012, 05:42 AM	#2
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,517	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! Initially it sounds like the counter spring is incorrect and too stiff. It would help me if I knew what bodystyle. That would also help determine the difficulty involved due to how the door panel comes off (brads vs. clips) and how the glass is removed. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

03-31-2012, 05:59 AM	#3
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! Isn't there something about handle placement?

03-31-2012, 06:12 AM	#4
Pat Martone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 495	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! 'Sorry I forgot to mention that it is a Slant Window town sedan.

03-31-2012, 06:22 AM	#5
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! My tudor did that for years. I finally fixed it by replacing the window regulator.

03-31-2012, 07:55 AM	#6
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Being a slant window car makes a difference as the parts are different than the other bodies. Look in your Brattons catalog to see the parts. The problem is where the handle is, the little sheet metal bubble that holds the square shaft. There is a spring and a metal piece that moves free of the square shaft. What is supposed to happen is the back force from the glass will cause the spring to expand outward and act as a brake locking the window from going down. When you turn the handle the spring is twisted to reduce its diameter and allow the window to move. The slants have this stamped part that breaks. Depending on how bad it is broken you can weld it together with a TIG. Otherwise you have to buy the new parts. The parts are not cheap, but at least they are available. Keep in mind I have a bunch of regulators and was able to find one that was repairable. From what I have seen they are frequently beyond repair. Oh ya, To take the handle apart you need to drill the 3 rivets. They go back together with screws and nylock nuts. While you are at it. The gears can be pretty worn on their bushings. It is not hard to grind the weld and take the gears apart. Then shrink the bushing down by moving the metal. Then putting the gear back together with a couple of tack welds. It is not a hard job, just one that will take some time to do.

03-31-2012, 08:40 AM	#7
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! Kevin is right, the brake spring is broken and good Left SW regulators are hard to come by, but on the SW regulators there is no rivets the sheet metal part go`s through the main body of the regulator and flairs out on the back side to take them apart heat up the flair with a torch and pry it off from the front side when you put it back together just flair it out again most of time they will hold if not you can tack weld it, all parts on the left regulator are the same as the right side except the main body,

03-31-2012, 10:58 AM	#8
Pat Martone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 495	Re: My driver side door window rolls-up by itself! Thanks for the info. I embarrassed to say that I do not know how to take the door panel off to inspect the damage.