Door handle replacement question

[Dinger09]

I replaced the door handle on the passenger side of my 61 and things went smoothly with no apparent problem. When I tested the handle prior to putting the door panel back on it would not advance the pivot rod enough to release the door. Could not get it to work so put the old handle in place and it had the same problem. In both instances the travel of the push rod against the release lever seems short as it leaves the release about a 32nd overlap on the catch wheel for the door.

Obviously I am missing an adjustment somewhere. Anyone who has done this before have a tip to move me along. It is driving my wife crazy because she now has to reach in through the window to open the door.

 

[Ron Miller]

Not sure if the C-1 door operating mechanism is the same or close to the C-2 or not, but I had a similar problem with a C-2 Corvette. The inside pull on a C-2 works directly on the operating mechanism, while the outside handle pushes a lever to work the operating mechanism. The lever works against the mechanism as I remember.

Turned out there was enough wear where the lever contacted the rest of the operating mechanism to be just short of enough travel to open the door. I'd suggest you look at the mechanism when you operate the inner pull v.s. when you operate it with the outer door handle, use a good light to watch it work. On mine, as best as I remember, I removed the mechanism and built up (with a welder) the worn portion, has worked fine for years now.

Hope this helps!

rlm:cool

 

[WayneC]

Do you have a shop manual (ST-12)?

I don't have direct experience with adjusting the door handle mechanism, but in looking at the manual, there is a vertical actuating rod that extends down from the door handle linkage to a latch pivot(ing) link (what you referred to as a release lever)... it appears as though there is some way of clamping the pivot link higher or lower on the the end of that vertical rod to effect an adjustment (or perhaps the rod is threaded so it screws in/out to adjust the lever?).

That doesn't explain why the old handle won't work, though....

The adjustment in the external door latch striker plate can also affect the door latching, so if you had the striker off the door, you may have to adjust that also. ST-12 shows how clay is used to make the adjustment measurements.

 

[Dinger09]

Thanks Wayne and Ron. First warm day, or when I get the garage heater going, I'll get back at it and let you know.

 

[Dinger09]

The fix

Could not adjust the mechanism to get the release to work so I took a small piece of mower fuel line and put a plug in it and slipped it over the push rod from the exterior release. After a couple of adjusting tries it works like a champ. Next guy that has this car is gonna call me Bubba but what the heck.