A cure for sagging door handles?

My '41 Ford drivers door handle is sagging, and I'm hoping there's an easy fix for this. These are one year only handles, so finding another one is a bit tough. Has anybody solve this problem before?

 

Alot of people have solved it. Remove the trim, handles, and door locks, weld up all of the holes, smooth everything out, and install remote poppers.

 

Bob Drake---For new springs!

 

2 ways. If the mechanisms internal moving parts are not too badly warn or missing you can remove the handle, clamp the shaft in a bench vise and with a large adjustable wrench rotate the end of the shaft where it fits into the mechanism a FEW degrees to compensate for wear. Fit, adjust until the handle lays in line with the stainless molding beneath it. Second way is to remove the mechanism and after carefully inspecting the moving parts renew warn surfaces etc. Your front door mechanism looks like it has some internal issues. New springs will help but rarely solve the problem completely.

 

good advice. also check that the striker is popping all the way out and try giving the mechanism a squirt of you favorite lube.

 

Pull them out, switch'em easiest fix of all,, thought every body knew that....

 

If its a 2 tudor, switch sides, if its a four door, as shown, you don't even need to walk around to other side of car.......

Show picture after ya do it,, takes 10-20 minutes, if they are rusty, squirt em, take out set screw, and jiggle em out...

 

If that key lock goes into the latch how will it fit by switching sides ??????

 

I did on my '41 what johnwarden did, carefully bent the shafts until they sat straight.

 

If the handle has spring action then the spring is good, a weak spring has a weak snap when closing the door, a strong spring has a loud snap when closing the door, whether weak or strong, if the handle droops, then I weld up the corners of the square hole in the latch and file down the welds until the handle sits straight with the trim. Ford latches can have all the worn spots welded up and filed back to original specs. Chevy's are a different story, do able but very hard. good luck

 

Deuce Daddy, I didn't see the springs in Drakes online catalog, I think I got one around here though. I'll check into that.

For now i'm going to try swapping them. As a last resort I kinda dig John Wardens idea, or welding, and filing. I'll add some picks when it's done. Thanx.

 

Easy & Cheap Fix,
pull out door handle, put the square shaft that sits in the latch that is attached to your handle in a vise and turn it in the opposite direction (twisting it with an adjustable wrench a little at a time to make sure you don't bend too much or are going the right direction) you can level it inline with your moulding. Works pretty good, i've seen guys replace everything (springs, latches, and still handle is pointing to the ground! Try it and save a bunch of money and time!

 

try givin em some viagra...i take em, not for sex,just to keep me from rolling off the bed....nyuk, nyuk,nyuk ..sorry couldn't resist!

 

I was thinking of estrogen shots! Gary

 

Some of you guys have never taken an old Ford apart have you? The handles aren't the problem, it's the latches. Check the latches for wear and weak springs. Repair/replace the latches as needed.

If his handles are rare, I don't think twisting the square drive is the best idea.

I'm no expert of '41 Fords, but I'd bet the same latch fits all the way up to '48.

 

Alchemy, your right you are no expert! Bob Drake has the handles all day long for $$$

 

Well then, bend em up!