The driver's side door handle on my '40 sags, not completely down, but enough that I find it annoying. How complicated is a fix? Thanks in advance and please no Viagra jokes.........Don.
I've seen guys take the handle and put the square shank in a vise. Heat the shank and give it a twist in the direction you need. The real problem is in a worn latch internals.
Mine are a bit droopy amd on a 4 door it looks kinda silly with the handles side by side and a little droopy Hope there’s an easier fix then heat and bend
DON, I want to say that there is a spring in the door latch assembly that can be replaced to fix this. I know on my 36 chevy the spring is replaceable and available. I kinda remember that my 36 Fords door latch spring was reproduced also, try Bob Drake or ? for a set of springs. Good luck, Mitch. ☆☆I just used the GOOGLE and they are available from CW MOSS, Sacramento Vintage Ford, EGAY and others.....
You need to remove the door panel and replace the door handle spring inside the latch. There are little metal tabs on the 1940 door latch that you carefully heat and bend upward in order to replace the spring. Or, buy a new latch. You can see the latch here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/284017590262?hash=item4220c47ff6:g:dqIAAOSwl69fSpVA See 40 Ford latches and springs for sale here. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...m570.l1313&_nkw=1940+ford+door+latch&_sacat=0
Hello Don, I went back through my coupe build thread to find this for you. Heating and bending this brand new handle was an easy fix, I would say I was a little nervous about doing it. But it really was a simple fix. I have noticed that sometimes the old handles square shaft is worn causing the sag. Sometimes the socket in the latch is worn also. If either of those parts are worn I don't think this bending process is the best course of action. If the shaft is sloppy in the hole bending the shaft might help with the outside appearance but the handle will still be sloppy in the hole. Then again if the spring is broken or has just lost it's temper replacing it would be a viable option. The reason I had to bend mine was that the brand new Bob Drake latches positioned the handles 5 degrees down so buying new latches may not solve the problem. Well you have received plenty of advice here. Please let us know how you solve the problem. I think I touched on this subject earlier but I will bring it up again here. My brand new 40 Ford door handle and latch mechanisms had a about a 5 degree downward tilt when installed. I corrected the problem by heating the square shank with my torch and twisting it up a little with a 12 inch crescent wrench. To my surprise it worked and the handles are nice and straight.
Excellent explanation and thanks a bunch @ The 39 guy. I'm guessing, that like you mentioned, both the the square shaft and the square hole are well worn. Along with a weakened spring, I'm sure it's likely a combination of factors. It's not completely dropped, just a "bit" droopy. I may hold off doing anything until I decide to purchase a new latch mechanism and tackle the fix. Very upsetting that you had to perform surgery on a brand new Drake piece. Glad it turned out OK for you, but that's still rather annoying.........Don.
Had the same issue on my 41. Drivers side only. Found new old stock on the evil bay. Solved it. Snowman
" If the shaft is sloppy in the hole bending the shaft might help with the outside appearance but the handle will still be sloppy in the hole." Nothing worse that the shaft bering sloppy in the hole!
I’m sure if you run into any wear on the shaft or the hole a little weld would easily compensate for the loose fit.
I hope you don't have the same problem if you buy a new latch Don. It's an easy fix though. Adding metal to your handle shaft by welding is doable but more troublesome than replacing the latch imhop.
The driver side handle on my ‘46 Chevy was sagging badly. I had to pull the lock assembly to do other repairs. While I had it out I used JB Weld, the long cure not the fast, on the brass part that supports the handle. I then filed it for a better fit, not perfect, but better than before. We’ll see how it works out. Hopefully it’ll last for a good while.
Could be the spring is weak, the square hole in the latch is worn, or the square shaft of the handle itself is worn or twisted. Most likely it’s a combination of all of the above. On the other hand, as long as the doors latch, why worry about it? Sagging handles on old cars is traditional, after all.
The Jalopy Journal
