Inside Door Handle

[westernhorizon]

Looking for an inside door handle for a BC-12D.

Thanks,


Herb
415.771.2555

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Which one?

[westernhorizon]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Which one?

The top one.

Thanks!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I actually have several, but they are on doors and I have tried just about EVERYTHING to get those off. I am in SE Virginia (A LOOOOONG ways from Petaluma!) but if you could figure a way to get them loose from the shafts there are several people who have told me they want one of mine (I have a stack of doors for post war planes, mostly in bad condition, and the newest plane I have is a 45.
If I could just get ONE off we could make a mold and make new ones. Any ideas?

Hank

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I actually have several, but they are on doors and I have tried just about EVERYTHING to get those off. I am in SE Virginia (A LOOOOONG ways from Petaluma!) but if you could figure a way to get them loose from the shafts there are several people who have told me they want one of mine (I have a stack of doors for post war planes, mostly in bad condition, and the newest plane I have is a 45.
If I could just get ONE off we could make a mold and make new ones. Any ideas?

Hank

Im sure i have a loose one we can do that with.

[Scott]

Re: Inside Door Handle

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTV3SqsS4lk/VaqbYJTpGkI/AAAAAAAABjM/3i1o3885R_4/s1600/DSCN3208.JPG

I used a 1/8th punch in my rivet gun to remove the roll pins. Put a tip/shoulder on the punch so it locates accurately in the centre of the roll pin (without expanding it). Once the pins are out, some release oil and heat from a heat gun should get it twisting and then off.

alternatively you can go inside and grind the welds off the end of the shaft, remove the bellcrank and slide the handle and shaft out and deal with the removal on the bench.

[westernhorizon]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Making a mold is a great idea. Do you have the ability to make a mold?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Inside Door Handle

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTV3SqsS4l...0/DSCN3208.JPG

I used a 1/8th punch in my rivet gun to remove the roll pins. Put a tip/shoulder on the punch so it locates accurately in the centre of the roll pin (without expanding it). Once the pins are out, some release oil and heat from a heat gun should get it twisting and then off.

alternatively you can go inside and grind the welds off the end of the shaft, remove the bellcrank and slide the handle and shaft out and deal with the removal on the bench.

I seem to recall that the components were brazed, rather than welded. But I pretty much did what Scott describes as well. Some pictures here

These handles are magnesium.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I have molded several parts. This one would require an armature inside to carry the loads. Probably a metal core with a casting resin exterior. I may have to pick the worst condition door to take the handle from. It won't matter if the shaft is stuck in it when the mold is made, but it will probably tear the door up getting it free. The molded handles WOULD NOT be Magnesium. They would be a resin. I would need to do some studies to determine which type would stand up best.

Hank

Making a mold is a great idea. Do you have the ability to make a mold?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Tried again yesterday to get a handle off. I have six that are stuck on metal doors. The things are a BEAST to get off! Next I will try grinding the welds as suggested. I REALLY don't want to destroy a door to get a handle!

Hank

[Bruce Caldwell]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I've been looking for inside door handles for about a year and finally decided to make my own.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I actually think that is a nicer looking one than original (not trying to get a legalities discussion going here!) "MY interpretation" would be that the handle is part of the "cockpit interior" and doesn't have to be original (vs "upholstery"), but I would probably just not point it out to a Fed. ;-)

Hank

Also helps that the factory used SO MANY different control wheels, knobs and door handles through the production runs! AMAZING what you can see in the old factory photos that they made on the line when a part wasn't available. You just need to get Chets book and look really close at details.

[M Towsley]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I am somewhat amazed that a source for the door handle, (the typical BC-12 door handle), has not been found. The glove box door handle mystery, a 1940 Chevy truck ashtray handle, was finally solved and the elevator trim handle, Model A window riser, was also solved.

[Guest]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Hi Marty,

Because it is magnesium it makes me think it was a t-craft only specific part.

Who would make a magnesium handle? It's an odd part for anything else.

I have two perfect ones. After I sell my t-craft I plan to sell them for a small fortune, I am keeping them now for spares.

Dave

[M Towsley]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Good point, Dave, I forgot about the material. Just doesn't make sense as to WHY they would do that. Cost difference couldn't have been that big of an issue, could it?