door latch spring

[geopcanuk]

There are 2 return springs on the door latch assembly of which the lower one on mine is broken.I've looked through the Roberts catalog and the Restoration Specialties and have come up empty.Has anyone ever had need to order these?Any info would be appreciated.

thanks

George

[HanksB3B]

what I would need would be a scan of the springs. Most of the problems are with the spring that holds the handle of the drivers door up so that when you exit thru the passenger side you can properly lock your truck.

If you can take a couple of pictures first then scan each spring I'll see what I can do to either buy form my vintage door lock source or have the springs fabricated. I'd be happy to help.

Hank

[41/53dodges]

try ACE hardware, they usually have what i need.

[HanksB3B]

Ace Hardware is one of only a few real hardware stores near where I live. I frequent them less frequently than I used to (like every day) now that my truck is 99% complete. The door mechanism spring is a formed spring that is unique as it is not used for any other application other than automotive door mechanisms as far as I know.

Thanks,

Hank

[geopcanuk]

Hank...here are some pics.The second pic is of the broken spring and pic 3 is a good spring from the other door.

thanks,

George

[HanksB3B]

Hank...here are some pics.The second pic is of the broken spring and pic 3 is a good spring from the other door.

thanks,

George

George,

If you flipped the good spring shown in pic 3 would it fit on the other door?

If so a 100% scan of it could serve two purposes:

1. An image file that I can send to the door-spring Ebay guy I know to see if he's got it.

2. As a template for drawing in AutoCad (which I can do) for fabrication.

I'm sure there's forum members that know more about it than I do, but when I was a kid I'd make my own springs by bending to the proper configuration, then heating them cherry red and dropping them into motor oil. I guess these days a Google search of how to make springs would be a definite head start.

Thanks,

Hank

[Young Ed]

Look up macs ford parts. I think I saw some springs like that in their catalog.

[HanksB3B]

Wondering if anyone that has extras would be so kind as to scan them full size and post an attached pdf notating which spring goes where, that way we could help each other out by finding a reliable source. In the meantime, I will search macs ford parts.

Thanks,

Hank

Nice site, almost makes me wish I had a Ford (I said almost). Since close counts only in horseshoes and hand grenades, we'll still need something with dimensions (the scan).

http://macsautoparts.com/default.asp

The door lock at $33 bucks is a steal (but not sure it would work) as it is very close in appearance to our "teardrop". Mine came from a salvage yard in Montana, cost $75 and was re-keyed twice. Once to just get it working at $35 and then re-keyed again after I found a NOS ignition tumbler for an additional $25. Total cost $135, new Ilco keys and Hurd Lock s/n tag, priceless.

Edited December 11, 2010 by HanksB3B

[Young Ed]

Good place to order from. I ordered some vacuum wiper parts from them for my 46.

[geopcanuk]

Hank...I could remove and scan the broken spring and maybe add a small piece of metal to indicate the length and shape of the missing part of the spring.

[HanksB3B]

do you have the broken off piece (probably in the bottom of the door).

Hank

[geopcanuk]

As You can see in the pic all I have is attached to the mechanism.I don't think it would take too much to pop it out.

Edited December 12, 2010 by geopcanuk

[geopcanuk]

Sorry,but to answer your question...Don't have the broken piece...just what you see in the previous post and the good one from the other door.

Edited December 12, 2010 by geopcanuk

[HanksB3B]

Is to remove the good one and scan it. At the same time you can see if it in fact is a mirror image and fits or (most likely) one is wound left hand, the other right hand.

It's up to you,

Hank

[geopcanuk]

Rather difficult to remove the good spring,so I took some measurements and transposed to the attached picture.Don't know if this is any good to you or not.Appreciate your help.

[HanksB3B]

Now that we know the dimensions, if I had a top view of the spring, I could forward it picture perpendicular to the door lock spring guy.

Thanks,

Hank

[geopcanuk]

Here is a shot from the end.

[Boydoggie]

I JUST SAW "INSIDE DOOR HANDLE SPRING-1.00" on the ROBERTS ONLINE CATALOG.It was under-BODY AND RELATED PARTS, scroll down to bottom of page then click on page2.look for part # T297 .no view photo.

[HanksB3B]

I JUST SAW "INSIDE DOOR HANDLE SPRING-1.00" on the ROBERTS ONLINE CATALOG.It was under-BODY AND RELATED PARTS, scroll down to bottom of page then click on page2.look for part # T297 .no view photo.

Thanks Boydoggie, I'm all over it. George, I think the puzzle is solved but will give Gary Roberts a call after I check out the online catalog.

Hank

[Young Ed]

I suspect thats the spring that goes behind the interior handle and window crank. Not the same thing at all.

[HanksB3B]

Spoke to Gary and it's not the part we are looking for. George I guess the word perpendicular was the wrong word I meant a picture directly above the spring with the mechanism laying flat on the table.

Thanks,

Hank

[geopcanuk]

I suspect thats the spring that goes behind the interior handle and window crank. Not the same thing at all.

you are correct.the spring we are looking for is the lower one on the mecanism and is used to return the handle to a normal parallel position.Roberts has the upper(shorter) but not the lower.I'll take a full on picture of the good mechanism and send it later.Thanks again for everyones help.

George

[geopcanuk]

Spoke to Gary and it's not the part we are looking for. George I guess the word perpendicular was the wrong word I meant a picture directly above the spring with the mechanism laying flat on the table.

Thanks,

Hank

Here is a PIC from above.

[HanksB3B]

That along with the other picture (with dimensions) will surely help. Although I know right now you don't need it:

1. Can you in similar fashion dimension the other spring shown in the most recent picture.

2. Also please confirm if there are 2 types of springs only and they are just flipped over to make it work on the opposite door...or

3. If there are 2 sizes, wound opposite to accommodate the 4 different spring mounting conditions.

In the meantine, I'll start to do what I can to locate either a source for NOS, or a fabricator. It shouldn't be too hard or expensive because there's no tooling involved, just material and radius bends and the know how of adding spring tension.

Thanks,

Hank

[wendleburger]

I have complete door latch mechanisms you can have for the price of postage (from Australia) if you can't find a better option. I have put bear claw latches into my 49, so they are not needed.

Once my truck is finished I plan on listing everything I have left over here for the restoration guys to grab if they are interested.

A lot of the stuff on my truck has been changed from stock to more modern stuff to satisfy our registration requirements, so there is a bit of gear left over.