68 door handle push button problem

[Moseley]

Hi all,

I've got a problem with one of my 1968 push button door handles. As can be seen in the pics, one side the push button protrudes more than the other:

I've been stripping both handles and lock mechanisms down to clean them all up and re-grease. Both are VW handles and all the lock barrels appear to be original and are the same length as each other. Now, the handle with the protruding button I could remove the barrel from, just by unscrewing the little lock lever at the end. However, the correct looking handle there is something stopping the lock barrel from sliding out. Also, the incorrect one will lock the door, but won't unlock it again, presumably because the button position means the locking lever isn't engaging properly with the mechanism in the door.

Can anyone shed some light or whether this can be repaired? I've seen a circlip at the end of both handles which doesn't look too easy to remove - I can have a go at getting it off without butchering the handle, but there's not a lot of point if something is missing inside it!


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[67westy]

Hi all,

I've got a problem with one of my 1968 push button door handles. As can be seen in the pics, one side the push button protrudes more than the other:

I've been stripping both handles and lock mechanisms down to clean them all up and re-grease. Both are VW handles and all the lock barrels appear to be original and are the same length as each other. Now, the handle with the protruding button I could remove the barrel from, just by unscrewing the little lock lever at the end. However, the correct looking handle there is something stopping the lock barrel from sliding out. Also, the incorrect one will lock the door, but won't unlock it again, presumably because the button position means the locking lever isn't engaging properly with the mechanism in the door.

Can anyone shed some light or whether this can be repaired? I've seen a circlip at the end of both handles which doesn't look too easy to remove - I can have a go at getting it off without butchering the handle, but there's not a lot of point if something is missing inside it!


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I've got a spare set of handles in the garage, I could take some pictures if you think it might help?

 

[Moseley]

Thanks for your offer - does your spare set have the barrels in them or not? If not, then a pic of the inside area where the push button spring is located may help to shed some light. I think something in there must limit how far the button protrudes from the handle, but as I say, I'm loathed to try and dismantle my working one in case it gets damaged and I end up with two broken handles!


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[67westy]

Thanks for your offer - does your spare set have the barrels in them or not? If not, then a pic of the inside area where the push button spring is located may help to shed some light. I think something in there must limit how far the button protrudes from the handle, but as I say, I'm loathed to try and dismantle my working one in case it gets damaged and I end up with two broken handles!


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They have barrells in but I can strip them down and do pics along the way. I'll try and remember tonight

 

[Moseley]

That'd be much appreciated - I can't find photos anywhere on the net. Would also be good to know what other vans / cars had them fitted as they look the same as beetle and later split screen handles.


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[67westy]

The one that protrudes more looks right to me. The circlip is easy to remove with a flat blade screw driver. The one of mine in the pictures didn't protrude as far as the other and when I took it apart a load of crap fell out that was stopping it fully protruding. Reassembled it is now fully out.

Reassembled:

The rubbish that fell out:

Hope that helps, the barrel just butts up against the handle lip so if it doesn't stick out far enough something is blocking it or the spring is bust.

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[67westy]

When I was looking for handles I remember the late split ones were slightly different, the cam on the end is longer I believe.

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[Moseley]

That's a massive help, and I appreciate you taking your time to pull one apart. On my protruding button handle, the little prong that faces the opposite direction to the lever that operates the door lock mechanism (excuse the poor description!) it rubs against the circlip. When that part is unscrewed, the barrel drops out of the handle. Was yours the same?

 

[Moseley]

Ah, by the sounds of it then, there should be a lip on either the barrel, the handle or both. I think this is what is wrong on mine and it is causing the button to pop too far out, until the actual locking lever rests on the circlip.

 

[67westy]

No that sounds wrong. The barrel should be held in by the keyed washer thing (another technical description ) and the circlip. Are you missing the washer (bit beneath the spring in my picture of the parts) and maybe the spring? The parts picture is in assembly order.

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[Moseley]

I'm assuming that the correct way to remove the barrel then is to pop off the circlip and washer and it will then slide out from the van side of the door handle? With mine, I unscrew the locking lever, and the barrel slides out from the handle side of the door handle. Presumably, there is meant to be something that stops it from doing this that mine is missing - is it as simple as just a washer in the handle or a lip on the barrel?

 

[67westy]

Yeah that is definitely wrong there is a lip on the handle and barrel that should stop it sliding out that way. The circlip, washer and slide out van side is correct.
You can see the barrel lip in the pics, didn't get one of the handle but I can tomorrow if it will help


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[Moseley]

I'll strip mine down again tomorrow and see if it is obvious what is missing / worn. Looking like I'm going to have to find a replacement handle though either way which is a shame as I prefer to fix things!

 

[67westy]

I'll strip mine down again tomorrow and see if it is obvious what is missing / worn. Looking like I'm going to have to find a replacement handle though either way which is a shame as I prefer to fix things!

It does sound that way, let us know what you find and if you need any more pics.

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[Moseley]

Well, I guess I have my answer now then! Stripped the bad handle and bravely stripped down my working one and it's immediately obvious, as can be seen in the pic, that the lip on the lock barrel has disintegrated. I thought I'd be able to make a washer to slip over the barrel in it's place, but then realised that this will just slide down the barrel when it is all reassembled and I'll be back to where I started. Guess I need a new barrel to swap my tumblers into!

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[67westy]

Yup that looks broken PM me your address and I'll send you a barrel, just send me the spare internals when you're done as I was planning on using the wafers to bring all my locks up to scratch