1935 Plymouth outside door handle install help

[rrunnertexas]

A few weeks ago I removed the outside door handles from my 1935 Plymouth to have them re-chromed.

 

They are back now and look great, but I'm having a difficult time trying to put them back into the door mechanism.

 

There are 2 square holes that must line up to install - anyone with prior experience and tips with these?

 

Pics attached.

[Jerry Roberts]

Might or might not help ;  You can get one of the square holes to rotate by pushing the latch a little bit . 

[rrunnertexas]

Jerry - thanks for the advice.  I gave up trying and will give it another go tomorrow.

 

It can't be that hard, correct? lol

[DJ194950]

Dug the the mental cobwebs of my old brain back to when I had a 1937 Plymouth with the same issue and I Think that I had to hold the exterior handle up to position as close as possible and push the latch  catch  in and out several times slowing while some gentle pressure inward on the handle and it slide in? 

 

A possibility, maybe ??  ?

 

DJ

[andyd]

That looks to be a similar setup to that used here in Oz up to at least 1941, my 1940 Dodge uses the same type of lock......what I did was get another spare handle and insert it from the inside thru both square holes which is easier done from the inside and just have this inside handles shaft holding the holes square to each other ..........this "lines up" the two holes and then ever so gently insert the new handle from the outside gently pushing the inside shaft out and letting the new handle shaft take its place......at least thats what I did or vaguely remember what I did the last time I played door handles............andyd     

Edited February 21, 2022 by andyd
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