TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pre Aug 55 door handles - LHD to RHD

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:19 pm

Guys
Done a search on this and couldn't find anything.

Can anyone tell me whether a set of handles for a LHD pre Aug 55 will fit a RHD car?

Need a set for a RHD car and lots of NOS LHD handles always coming up but never RHD. I think they should be interchangeable but am looking for someone to confirm.

Tks.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:02 am

There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:24 am

Thanks Bruce. If what you say is correct. A LHD locking door handle for example can just be flipped over 180 degress to fit on the RHD door as the RHD door post will already have the catch in place.....

Right? :wink:

Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:00 am

Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

Yes I agree too.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:36 am

Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete

Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:00 am

dinsdale wrote: Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete
not doubting it but that is just plain silly.
you would have to unlock the passenger side then lean inside to open the drivers door??? wher's the logic in that

Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:40 pm

Russ wrote: dinsdale wrote: Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete
not doubting it but that is just plain silly.
you would have to unlock the passenger side then lean inside to open the drivers door??? wher's the logic in that

Yes, that's exactly what I, and anybody with an early UK RHD beetle has to do.

Pete

Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:27 pm

Mine's ok 'cause it's a May 55 :D

Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:41 pm

dinsdale wrote: Russ wrote: dinsdale wrote: Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete
not doubting it but that is just plain silly.
you would have to unlock the passenger side then lean inside to open the drivers door??? wher's the logic in that

Yes, that's exactly what I, and anybody with an early UK RHD beetle has to do.
Both left and right door shells will accept both mechanisms. It is possible that someone in the last 50 years accidentally swapped them. Or VW could have built them wrong. VW wasn't perfect.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:19 am

dinsdale wrote: Russ wrote: dinsdale wrote: Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete
not doubting it but that is just plain silly.
you would have to unlock the passenger side then lean inside to open the drivers door??? wher's the logic in that

Yes, that's exactly what I, and anybody with an early UK RHD beetle has to do.

Pete

If that is the case, then as Bruce has said; someone has changed over door components during the last 50 years on your car.
My British-market '53 RHD has a keyed handle on the drivers side of the car (ie right side) and the door can only be locked/unlocked with the key from outside.
The passenger (ie left door) has a non-locking (ie keyless) handle that has the lock rod built into the mechanism so that it can only be unlocked by unlocking the drivers side and then reaching into the car to unlock it using the internal door handle.......

:wink:

Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:21 am

Bruce wrote: dinsdale wrote: Russ wrote: dinsdale wrote: Bruce wrote: There doesn't exist a RHD or a LHD handle. There's a locker, and a non-locker. The locker goes on whatever side of the car the driver uses, the non-locker goes on the passenger side.

The difference with a RHD car is in the latch mechanism. The driver's mechanism that is normally installed in the left door of a LHD car is installed in the right door of a RHD car. And vice-versa for the other door.

This is incorrect for some early RHD cars - UK at least. A '54 RHD has the locking mechanism on the left side.
Pete
not doubting it but that is just plain silly.
you would have to unlock the passenger side then lean inside to open the drivers door??? wher's the logic in that

Yes, that's exactly what I, and anybody with an early UK RHD beetle has to do.
Both left and right door shells will accept both mechanisms. It is possible that someone in the last 50 years accidentally swapped them. Or VW could have built them wrong. VW wasn't perfect.

No.

They left the factory like that deliberately, although it's stupid. The service manual tells you how to reverse the locking mechanism. I quote :

Page 6-13 of my service manual :

Changing Door Locks from One Side to The Other

Occasionally, it is requested to have the door cylinder lock on the right hand side, especially on cars with right-hand drive. This modification can be carried out on cars up to Chassis No. 1-0929745 only.

Pete

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:57 am

That's interesting dinsdale.
I know of an Australian 56 CKD that has the locking mechanism on the passanger side of the car (LHD style) however my Australian 57 CKD locking mechanism is on the "correct" driver side.

There was another guy that posted on another forum that had a 54 with the switched over locking mechanism. I thought that this switch over was done at some point in time in the cars life, but never figured it coming from the factory like that. As one poster put it, "It just plain silly". Why would VW do this, it make no sense, but i'm not surprised.

EA57RHD

Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:28 am

My RHD Aussie '54 has the lock on the passenger (LHD) side.

When I bought it, it did make me initially question whether there'd been some damage and someone had been playing about with the doors. The previous owner had been told some story about the original owner in Aus being an elderly gentleman who swapped the locks around so that he could secure the door on the side his wife was travelling in (presumably so she didn't fall out!)

Just goes to show than you learn something new every day and not to believe every story you're told about your new car from previous owners!

Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:51 am

my ckd 56 (late 55 build) was also fitted with the lock on the lhs, but i never managed to perfect the dukes of hazard style bonnet slide :)

Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:00 pm

My '56 UK car has the locking handle on the LHS. It only takes 5 seconds to walk round to the other side of the car - it doesn't bother me!

Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:53 pm

It take me 1/2 second. It may not bother you, but is it correct to have to get out of your car, walk over to the passanger side, reach in and lock the driver side door, then close the passanger door and lock it?

If it takes you 5 seconds then not a big deal, just a hassle and not correct IMHO :)

One must ask "why" did it leave the factory like that? Original from the factory?, poor quality control?. Who really knows for sure.

Peace out brothers

EA57RHD

Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:26 pm

Mmmmm, looks as if my car might have started life with the locking handle on the passenger side then.................
Am glad its been changed as I think the original set up would drive me mad.............:lol:

:wink:

Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:19 am

EA57RHD wrote: It take me 1/2 second. It may not bother you, but is it correct to have to get out of your car, walk over to the passanger side, reach in and lock the driver side door, then close the passanger door and lock it?

If it takes you 5 seconds then not a big deal, just a hassle and not correct IMHO :)

One must ask "why" did it leave the factory like that? Original from the factory?, poor quality control?. Who really knows for sure.

EA57RHD

I'll go with 'we've always done it that way' I suspect it just hadn't occurred to anybody that it was important.

Pete

Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:16 am

EA57RHD wrote: It take me 1/2 second. It may not bother you, but is it correct to have to get out of your car, walk over to the passanger side, reach in and lock the driver side door, then close the passanger door and lock it?

If it takes you 5 seconds then not a big deal, just a hassle and not correct IMHO :)

One must ask "why" did it leave the factory like that? Original from the factory?, poor quality control?. Who really knows for sure.

Peace out brothers

EA57RHD

I think for RHD cars, it was an option to have the locking handle on the RHS door. The original owner of my car may have not selected this option.
I may be completely wrong though!

Bry

Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:42 pm

Since I only drive my RHD once in a while, I tend to go to the left hand side to get in....since the lock is on that side, it is perfect..................... :D