65 vette - door window crank handle?

[brumbach]

Don't know if you can help but will ask for assistance just the same. I'm having problems with my window crank handles falling off and/or rubbing on the dooir panels. The retaining clips don't seem to hold the handles in place or if they do, when turning the handle, it rubs the panels on the downside of travel. Also, the teeth in the handle don't seem to fully engage the teeth on the shaft. Looking at the two different escutcheon kits sold by Paragon, the one on my panels looks to belong on the 63-64 instead of the one for 65-67. Clearly the correct version seems narrower and therefore should allow for better engagement between the handle and the shaft but would also cause the handle to set closer to the panel thus increase the rubbing action experienced. My handles appear to be correct but the pictures. Any suggestions to resolving these problems? Can the shaft be replaced with a longer one? If so, then this may fix the problem all together.

 

[vette66]

I recently took off the door hardware and door panel of my 66 and experienced the same thing. The first time the window crank came off in my hand putting the window down. I reinstalled it and the next time it fell off going down the road. The third time I made sure the clip was not over the "flat" area of the handle (in other words not already in the locked position) and I reinstalled it again with a little more pressure on the handle as I slid the clip off the flat spot and into position. I gave it a little rap with the heel of my hand. It's been there ever since.

 

[Ron Miller]

I recently took off the door hardware and door panel of my 66 and experienced the same thing. The first time the window crank came off in my hand putting the window down. I reinstalled it and the next time it fell off going down the road. The third time I made sure the clip was not over the "flat" area of the handle (in other words not already in the locked position) and I reinstalled it again with a little more pressure on the handle as I slid the clip off the flat spot and into position. I gave it a little rap with the heel of my hand. It's been there ever since.

Not sure if I understand your procedure with the clip correctly or not, but the handles and the splined shaft they go on are made to be installed with the clip already installed in the slots on the handle. The shaft the handle installs on is tapered on the end to allow the clip to "expand" over the shaft until it reaches the groove around the shaft, where it will snap back into place. A little lube (light greasing) on the end of the shaft before installation will help the clip to slide on.

Often problems with the handle falling off after installation is due to the handle not being completely seated or bottomed on the shaft, which also doesn't allow the clip to reach the groove in the shaft in order to lock it on. Thus, as you say, a good rap with the heel of the hand or with a rubber hammer will often properly install and seat the clip.

On another matter, a good trick I learned years ago (by playing hookey from my local high school the period just before lunch and hanging out instead at the local body shop) for removing these clips requires only and old rag or piece of an old tee-shirt. Tee shirts work well. Take a piece of cloth about 4-6" wide or so, and 18" to 24" long and grabbing each end, make a "U" behind the door handle with the cloth. Alternately pull each end back and forth in a sawing motion a few times, and the cloth will "grab" one end of the clip, removing it from its slot. If it doesn't work the first few tries, move the cloth 180 degrees around the shaft and repeat, as the clip has probably been installed from the other direction. Has worked for me for years, never had to buy one of those fancy "clip removers" the aftermarket shops sell.

Some of you guys probably already use this trick, maybe it'll be of help to some of the newer guys. Cheers!