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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4572 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hi all,
I have a '87 Westy and I just noticed that my outside cargo door handle is missing about half of the plastic seal/escutcheon between the handle and the body. Now water will be able to get inside the door.
Question #1: Is this seal for an '87 handle to body still available anywhere, and if not, is there an alternative seal or fix. Or does somone out there have a decent condition used seal?
Question #2: Is there a write up on how to remove the inner door panel and outer handle to add a new seal for the "later" '87 Vanagon, or is the procedure the same as the "earlier" handle.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction towards a new (or used) seal, and directions on how to get it done!
Bill Bowman _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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wbx Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2005 Posts: 1254 Location: Monterey, CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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FWIW, my modification/reinforcement to the handle is still holding up after 3 years...
Just thought i'd throw down that little update. _________________ '84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go. |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I don't have a problem with the key or lock. For some reason or other the aft latch is not releasing. I can open the door from the outside but from inside I pull the handle and throw my body at the door and it opens real easily! Tomorrow I will slowly and carefully remove the door liner. Hopefully info in my on board Bentley. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1890 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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you will find that you probably need to adjust cable in door that goes from handle to rear latch.
alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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westylife Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2007 Posts: 409 Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Is there a way to tighten the front sliding-door lock? (p.58.3) I have changed out the handle twice and replaced all the hardware to make sure its all correct and the handle is still very loose. If I move the handle and watch the screw, it looks like the lock mechanism it-self is loose. No matter how tight I tighten the screw, the inner part of the door lock seems to be moving around.
Do these wear out?
Thanks for any help. _________________ 1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1 |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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Hey neighbor, I just replaced my sliding door handle because it was extremely loose. Upon replacing I inspected the worn areas of the latch assembly. The new handle is much tighter but I could see wear inside the door assembly and though better, it is still a little loose.
I took my panel off thinking I needed to adjust my cable. I PB blasted the rear locking mechanism but my cable was tight. Door opens and shuts much easier after PB blasting years of crud off the mechanism but the handle is still a little loose. I decided there was nothing more I could do besides finding a new handle mechanism off a salvage door. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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westylife Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2007 Posts: 409 Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, AKWesty.
Yeah I was afraid someone was going to say that. I don't know about in Haines, but there are not any vans in the local junk yards here. Ill have to use the classifieds. I wonder if they are the same for all vans without auto locks? _________________ 1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1 |
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AKWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2014 Posts: 680 Location: Haines, Alaska
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 9:04 am Post subject: |
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When I bought my handle from BD there were only two choices for the handle. I am assuming the difference between the power locks and manual. Not exactly sure though.
No choices for this kinda stuff in Haines. We are headed south next week and I have some stops planned along the way to look for random parts. Its the Alaska penalty. You can ship it here but its gonna cost you. _________________ 84' Westy 2wd
EJ22 - 4spd - Peloquin TBD
GW +1.5 Springs
215/70-16's
www.CatchTheKraken.com
"Never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live." -John Muir |
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MacDude Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2014 Posts: 101 Location: Bonny Doon
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the thread and the info from those on it.
My problem isn't so much that the handle is loose (it is a bit), but that it's so stiff to open that my wife can't do it a lot of the time. She pushes down but she doesn't have the necessary leverage. Now she's no weakling, she's just not as strong as I am. I give it a sturdy shove downward and it pops open.
Would taking it apart and greasing it help in that situation?
PS, the Key doesn't work on that lock and the rear catch doesn't catch anymore (spring issues), but that's different and not as urgent _________________ '84 Wolfsburg Westfalia
'90 White Multivan (currently not running) |
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cs44 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2016 Posts: 49 Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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Just piling on...
Here's my destroyed sliding door handle. Good times.
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Scamper-Van Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2014 Posts: 1 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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To anyone still reading this thread: GoWesty has a good DIY video that shows how to remove & replace a Vanagon sliding door handle.
Link
There are two different door handles: one for 1980 - early 85 vs. another for later 1985 - 91 Vanagons. Replacement parts may be out-of-stock & hard to find. These handles get a lot of wear & tear, obviously.
And yes, it looks like DRY graphite powder is recommended for the locks, not grease. |
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AndyBees Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2331 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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Thanks for the GoWesty link. I purchased a handle for my 84 (long one) about two months...... just haven't got around to tackling the job.
Maybe this video will motivate me! _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7468 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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Hello,
My '90 outside slider door handle broke yesterday. The only one listed in the classifieds was sold long ago (https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?submit=yes&type=text§ion%5B%5D=57&keywords=slid*+handle)
Van Cafe and Bus Depot list an aftermarket unit that cannot be re-keyed to the ignition key.
Van Cafe
Aftermarket sliding door handle. Fits 85 thru 91. About the only thing that we can find wrong with these handles is that they use the Volkswagen Jetta/Golf Mk II/Mk III (AH code) key stock and therefore it cannot be re-keyed to your existing (N code) Vanagon key stock. https://www.vancafe.com/251843704EAFT-p/251843704eaft.htm?CartID=4
Bus Depot
Note, this is new production and it uses an "AH" profile (Golf/Jetta) key rather than the "N" profile key that Vanagons originally used. Therefore it cannot be rekeyed to use your existing key; however it may be possible to swap the whole lock cylinder from your old sliding door handle and thereby use the original key. https://www.busdepot.com/251843704e
Bus Depot says it "may be possible to swap out the lock core."
Does anyone know if the Vanagon lock core can indeed be swapped into the aftermarket handle? I'd like to have a handle that can be locked with the ignition key.(Attaching the two broken handle parts with screws and a plate is possible but I'd prefer a one-piece solution).
Thanks for any answers or suggestions.
(Yes, I called Bus Depot. They didn't have an answer.) _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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erdonline Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2004 Posts: 943 Location: CT
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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jimf909 wrote: |
Bus Depot says it "may be possible to swap out the lock core."
Does anyone know if the Vanagon lock core can indeed be swapped into the aftermarket handle? I'd like to have a handle that can be locked with the ignition key.(Attaching the two broken handle parts with screws and a plate is possible but I'd prefer a one-piece solution).
(Yes, I called Bus Depot. They didn't have an answer.) |
(Just as a quick preface, I see that the thread title references "early Vanagon" which for slider doors is up to 1984. I see that there are other questions in this thread about later sliders, but I think it's best if anyone has an '85 or later slider question, to avoid this thread as the title will make it harder for those in the future to find their answers.)
Now to try to answer your question: I know someone who bought the later sliding door handle from Bus Depot and said he was able to make it work in swapping out the lock cylinder. I don't know exactly what he did, but he said that he had to file down something and it fit. I can try to ask or ask him to post here.
Edit- I looked back at an old message with the guy who swapped the old cylinder into the aftermarked "AH key" handle and he says he did it without mods. I do remember someone who had to make a minor mod, though. Maybe it depends on the manufacturer. If it were me, I'd buy the Bus Depot one and try to make it work. A few years ago I bought one from Van Cafe for my '84. it was the original style with the Vanagon "N" key profile. I paid a bit more to get that one. It seems the original style is harder to find, if anyone has it at all.
Ed _________________ '85 Vanagon Westfalia
'84 Vanagon 7-passenger
'98 Mexican air-cooled Beetle |
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buspor63 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 1179 Location: Knoxville,TN Where America stops for gas
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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MacDude wrote: |
My problem isn't so much that the handle is loose (it is a bit), but that it's so stiff to open that my wife can't do it a lot of the time. She pushes down but she doesn't have the necessary leverage. Now she's no weakling, she's just not as strong as I am. I give it a sturdy shove downward and it pops open.
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Does anyone have any further opinions about this? My '84 is really hard to open. I took apart the front mechanism and cleaned and greased it. I dribbled some lubricant down into the front to rear rod housing. All those parts seem to work really well now. I haven't removed and cleaned the rear catch, just sprayed lubricant all around there. It does open slightly easier, just not as nice as my '86.
My opinion is that it's the rear spring. It takes a lot of force to close it, therefore a lot of force to overcome latching friction. My '86 is easier to close too. Is this the reason VW did the door redesign? _________________ Imagine that, theres not an "h" in either Westfalia or Syncro? |
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3580 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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buspor63 wrote: |
MacDude wrote: |
My problem isn't so much that the handle is loose (it is a bit), but that it's so stiff to open that my wife can't do it a lot of the time. She pushes down but she doesn't have the necessary leverage. Now she's no weakling, she's just not as strong as I am. I give it a sturdy shove downward and it pops open.
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Does anyone have any further opinions about this? My '84 is really hard to open. I took apart the front mechanism and cleaned and greased it. I dribbled some lubricant down into the front to rear rod housing. All those parts seem to work really well now. I haven't removed and cleaned the rear catch, just sprayed lubricant all around there. It does open slightly easier, just not as nice as my '86.
My opinion is that it's the rear spring. It takes a lot of force to close it, therefore a lot of force to overcome latching friction. My '86 is easier to close too. Is this the reason VW did the door redesign? |
. Make sure the U shaped pivot/hinge in the back of the sliding door moves very well in that pivot or flipping action as the door needs to close near the end of its travel.
When ever I notice the closing effort going up on my ‘84, I start there with a spray lube like.... Wurth HHS 2000, Winzer Polylube, or Superlube. All are liquid spray that set into a tacky grease.
Decent Water Resistance, slippery too.
Same spray for the rear catch and that spring on it.
The cable on the inside of the sliding door needs lube too, helps lower the effort on your outside handle to move it for opening. _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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jungle dog Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 5 Location: kingston, ri
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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Good Day.
Would someone please advise how the actuator rod connects to the rear latch.
Thanks a million.
-J |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 6355 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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jungle dog Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 5 Location: kingston, ri
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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ALIKA T3 wrote: |
It's the same eyelet and clip as the front, it's easier to take the mechanism off with the rod to access to that end of the rod/cable. |
Thanks for the input.
Does this also apply to early Vanagon (1981)? I don't see where the eyelet attaches to the rear latch.
Cheers. |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6556 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 11:47 am Post subject: Re: Fix that Loose sliding door handle on an early Vanagon |
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You can remove the entire rear assembly, with the cable still attached, by removing the two screws on the rear end of the door — visible from the rear when the door is open.
You can then access the circlip once the entire assembly is pulled forward and accessible.
(Thanks Again to Bobby Black for doing this on a backup van before I did mine in the field!) _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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