Sliding door interior 2nd handle question

[VWinVT]

Hi All,

I am in the middle of replacing and rebuilding the interior door and side panels for the Westy. I removed the old peeling vinyl sliding door panel and noticed a mounting location for a second interior door handle. It is located at the rear edge of the door a few inches below the window.

Was this handle in place to help close the door from the inside, which I have found to be kinda hard...having to slide it rather fast to shut it? Is the handle still available to purchase?

Thanks
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1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA

Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground.

[Ahwahnee]

Yes - it doesn't operate anything, just gives you something to grab.

As I recall, the handle itself is the same as the forward operating handle.

[dhaavers]

Search the classifieds: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?...ton=Search
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[VWinVT]

Ahh...I didn't realize that it was/is the same handle as the front handle. Thanks!
_________________
1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA

Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground.

[madspaniard]

[VWinVT]

I can take/post a picture today.
_________________
1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA

Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground.

[jimf909]

On my '85 there was a vinyl loop handle secured with a single bolt in that location (rear of the sliding door) used to give the back of the slider a tug to close it after the door was slid forward. Maybe this is what you're referring to?
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- Jim

[VWinVT]

These are the pics of the sliding door with the panel removed. You can see to mounting location for the second handle. I like the idea of a loop-strap type handle for this location...that may be the way I go.

_________________
1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA

Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground.

[syncrodoka]

IIRC the second handle is a early westy only part.

[GreenMachineVW]

I believe it is a square post that screws on there, and the standard inner handle mounts on that. At least that is the way it is on my '83.

[Gnarlodious]

Here’s my nifty solution now on its 8ᵀᴴ year:

A short length of 1/16th aircraft cable from the hardware store, run through a piece of vinyl tube, makes a nice two finger loop for pulling the door closed gently. Notice that I glued onto the window a strong flat magnet salvaged from a laptop sized hard disk to keep the cable from popping out and getting folded backwards.

The backside is crimped with the aluminum ferrules also from the hardware store:

Its important to maintain some tension on the cable as you smash the last ferrule in order to keep the loop rigid. After some use the cable may rotate into a bad position, at which time you can reposition them properly then glue the ferrules into place so as to keep the cable pressing against the magnet.

This is great because you not only pull the door closed easily but also inward to the latch. No slamming required!
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit