TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu May 08, 2008 6:22 pm

New 78 Westy owner, learning about all the obscure buttons and knick-knacks in our bus...

What's this doo-dad on the sliding door? (orange arrow pointing at mystery knob)

Thu May 08, 2008 6:33 pm

I believe someone asked this yesterday. There should be a second handle at the back of the door to help close it from the inside without slamming the door.

Thu May 08, 2008 6:38 pm

Any companies selling this inside sliding door handle?
Anyone have any photos of what it's supposed to look like?

Thu May 08, 2008 6:41 pm

Same as the front handle but it does not move. It is a helper handle.

Remove the screw from what you have left and sh!tcan the piece on the square shaft. It was part of the old handle.

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211843642A

Thu May 08, 2008 6:45 pm

Perfect. Thanks Karl!

Thu May 22, 2008 6:07 pm

So I tried removing that metal knobby part of the old sliding door upper right handle bracket, and I busted the entire bracket. The rectangular piece (that the handle fits into) broke off the rest of the bracket. Anyone know where I can buy this small metal bracket that is bolted on to the door and holds the handle in this location? (see my original pic with arrow). Thanks.

Fri May 23, 2008 9:19 am

exoticdvm wrote: So I tried removing that metal knobby part of the old sliding door upper right handle bracket, and I busted the entire bracket. The rectangular piece (that the handle fits into) broke off the rest of the bracket. Anyone know where I can buy this small metal bracket that is bolted on to the door and holds the handle in this location? (see my original pic with arrow). Thanks.

I have yet to see one on a British specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2 and I don't think they were especially common in North America!

Fri May 23, 2008 9:30 am

my 74 Westfalia has one that i want to put a handle on.

Sat May 24, 2008 5:50 am

hazetguy wrote: my 74 Westfalia has one that i want to put a handle on.

From what I know of those helper-handle brackets, the square post with the M5 pre-threaded hole, is angled slightly towards either the front or the rear of the sliding door. Which direction of tilt is the correct one?

To which 1968~79 VW Type 2 models and model years, were these helper handles fitted and in which countries? From what I have read, they seem to be associated with Westfalia campervans, but noting that they imcluded in the official 1968~79 VW Type 2 Replacement Parts Catalogue & Microfiche, I wonder whether they might have featured on other models as well!?!

Sat May 24, 2008 9:24 am

If it is tilted, it is bent. New, it was straight. I will dig out an extra and take a pic of it..... Ok, found one:

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:04 am

edited

Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:09 pm

I found one in a yard a (long) while back. It had 2 small black plastic bolthead covers also, VW I think. I broke a few of the plastic interior handles in the helper position before I switched to the Vanagon black metal sliding door handle which fits perfectly and seems to last forever. It also has a slight articulation that helps with closure.

Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:59 am

Isn't this the same handle that WolfsburgWest sells?

Thu Jun 10, 2021 11:14 am

otiswesty wrote: I found one in a yard a (long) while back. It had 2 small black plastic bolthead covers also, VW I think. I broke a few of the plastic interior handles in the helper position before I switched to the Vanagon black metal sliding door handle which fits perfectly and seems to last forever. It also has a slight articulation that helps with closure.

If they are that fragile, I think I shall just stick with my home-made pull-close strap. 8)

Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:30 pm

I think the reason that my OG handles were breaking is because they were used units that had some small cracks in the plastic already. Back then, I was getting most of my spare parts from the wrecking yards as the busses were plentiful there in southern California in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The rear handle also experiences a very different stress in the rear closing assist position compared to the front opener. In the front it is really a lateral pull along the axis of rotation of the latch mechanism. In the rear, the position is fixed and the forces are inward, stressing the structural design of the metal insert as it is cast into the plastic handle. Any weakness and its all over. I have also, at one time, broken off one of the square studs on the rear handle mount, but haven't had any issues with it for many years now.

We were actually making a cast aluminum handle in the early 1990s to use in this position until I realized that the black metal T3 handle was an easy swap. That ended that production idea. The prototypes were promising tho. No pics, sorry.

Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:00 am

I just ordered one of these kits from www.buttysbits.com for my '72:

https://www.buttysbits.com/?product=bb-155-westfalia-sliding-door-helper

Q: If I close the door to install this, will the door stay in place when I remove the two bolts?

Sat Jun 18, 2022 7:24 am

Nigel has the set-up. If you place a plastic handle for the helper position it’ll never crack unless you use it.

Sat Jun 18, 2022 8:14 am

BruceJ wrote: Q: If I close the door to install this, will the door stay in place when I remove the two bolts?
Yes, but I would make sure the rear 2 are properly tight before removing the fronts, they should hold adequately to prevent it moving out of adjustment.

Pic from Colin's refresh thread:

Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:59 am

busdaddy wrote: BruceJ wrote: Q: If I close the door to install this, will the door stay in place when I remove the two bolts?
Yes, but I would make sure the rear 2 are properly tight before removing the fronts, they should hold adequately to prevent it moving out of adjustment.

Pic from Colin's refresh thread:

Once one has checked the tightness of the rear-most pair of M6 bolts, fully close & lock the sliding door, before removing the front-most pair of M6 bolts to retro-fit the pull-close handle or strap. By doing this, the sliding door is also supported by the locks rather than solely by the sliding hinge mechanism.

Sat Jun 18, 2022 12:46 pm

Thanks for the tips! And yes, it would not surprise me if the plastic handle breaks--that's what plastic seems to do best--but I have an extra handle laying around anyway. If (when) it does break, I might try a more creative solution--spigot handle, leather strap, who knows?