Can anyone help me with the interior door handle for a Vintage Speedster? My drivers' side handle is loose and not activating the door. The outside button works but not the interior lever and I cannot find anyway to tighten it - I was hoping to see a set screw or similar on the lever itself and cannot remove the door panel with the handle in place? I am clearly missing something?
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Push in hard on the vinyl/leather around the handle. Should be a pin that you can tap out with a ball peen hammer and small screwdriver or other straight piece of metal.
The handle will come off. Then remove the top upholstered piece on the door that has the two mounting holes for the windows to attach.
Unscrew all the screws on the door panel itself and take it off.
Then you can diagnose the problem.
push on the black escutcheon around the handle to find the pin
Thanks Bob (as always) I will definitely give that a go.
The handle slips onto a splined shaft that (usually), when turned, activates the door latch. There should be a heavy wire or rod going between the handle and the latch at the rear of the door. Sometimes those rods fall off at either end. To see inside the door and repair it, you’ll have to remove the door inner panel (usually screwed on) and re-attach the rod. It’s a pretty simple mechanism and should be easy to fix.
Usually when initially installed there is a sharp bend on the horizontal rod that takes up the slack. over time that bend will move a bit degreasing the movement at the door latch. If you do not see anything missing or loose in the door, using a vise grip try putting a slight bend in the rod, slip the inside door handle on and try that.
This is a common occurrence with these door handles. If you have been using the door handle as a pull to close your door, this will eventually strip the splines on the handle mechanism, or the pin on the base of the handle that secures it to the spline works loose.
If your handle is the type with the pin, you can upgrade to a handle with a set-screw, available from Vintage Motorcar.
https://www.vintagemotorcarsin...d-inside-door-handle
To eliminate the stress and strain (and possible breakage) on the inside door handle being used to close your door, here is an alternative (besides just pulling on the upper door). May be a little pricey, but here ya go...
https://www.stoddard.com/catal.../?q=door+pull+handle
Hope you find this info helpful!
Vintage has similar door pulls for a bit less money than $toddard$
