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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:00 am Post subject: Finding, making, or adapting slider door handle? |
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Hi Folks
I'll soon be returning to Vancouver to begin work on my new '82 van I now have there and probably the biggest headache I will have right off the bat is somehow getting a replacement slider door handle (affordably) or even making one... or perhaps just using a LATER (shorter) version, or even a BayBus handle or whatever. . . .
...I can not seem to find them available (EARLY or LATE) models.
When I was looking for front door handles crazyvwvanman suggested an alternative part number. My parts guy could not find anything, but when I gave him this alternative part number he found excellent new handles for $7 each!! ....maybe wishful thinking that some alternative company is also making slider door handles.
I still have a broken old one - maybe that can be fixed.
...or maybe a visit to Vancouver junk yards might yield a nice result?
Otherwise I would even consider making one. Recently in Albania I saw a van with a ghetto-fix handle. And later saw the exact same ghetto fix on a T3 in Montenegro also!
Any help or suggestions would be highly welcome, Thanks
Ed
_________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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sanchius Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1446 Location: IN
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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The Google-fu is weak in this one.
Try this search: vanagon handle|handles pts site:craigslist.org
If you want to get fancy you can use the tools button to time-limit it to only posts in the last week or month.
There's also one on ebay. Search: vanagon cargo outer handle
Of course, that ghetto handle is unique and one may consider the absence of an outside slider lock/unlock feature as a security upgrade. _________________ The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
Your gold star membership keeps this awesome list going!
Last edited by sanchius on Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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It might...
...foolishly I should have looked in the Bosnian junkyard while recently there. However Vancouver is full of Vanagons so I might get lucky there. _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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sanchius wrote: |
The Google-fu is weak in this one.
Try this search: vanagon slider handle|handles pts site:craigslist.org
If you want to get fancy you can use the tools button to time-limit it to only posts in the last week or month.
There's also one on ebay. Search: vanagon cargo outer handle
Of course, that ghetto handle is unique and one may consider the absence of an outside slider lock/unlock feature as a security upgrade. |
Thanks I'll try those searches also.
Regarding the ghetto fix - both that I saw obviously had used the U-shaped piece that is part of the sliding door mechanism... I wonder if this particular piece is particularly easy to adapt to make a door handle... here on this foto you can see part of it.
THIS is all I have existing now on my van.
_________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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Here are some better views of the U-shaped piece. It actually looks like all it would need would be for once end to be ground down to a square shape, and then in the end of that square shaped part, a hole drilled and tapped so the screw from the inside can secure it.
_________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2780 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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I'm thinking about what was going on when I last removed my door handle and I don't think this is going to be too hard to rig up Ed if you can't find an insta-replacement. If you have to, why not bring the Czech van handle with you to Canada, look at the fitment, and figure it out then? _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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mikemtnbike wrote: |
I'm thinking about what was going on when I last removed my door handle and I don't think this is going to be too hard to rig up Ed if you can't find an insta-replacement. If you have to, why not bring the Czech van handle with you to Canada, look at the fitment, and figure it out then? |
Actually.... good thinking. A short term solution can be just to remove my brand new Czech van handle, bring it to Canada and use it while I'm there... then when it's time to return to Czech, just remove it and bring it back with me. Nobody is using my vans when I'm not there... so this could work. It takes me all of 2 min. to remove a handle. _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2780 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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You're probably starting the new wave in theft deterrence, just remove all the handles every time you park the van. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:09 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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Smaller, durable van parts are usually available from Way Out Salvage, in Kingston, AR, (Bigger or softer, like seats, not so likely.) at 479-665-4126, email at salvage1@madisoncounty,net. Even if you settle this search via one of the suggestions above, do put WayOut into your Van-aid list for future searches. |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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So far... what I think is the best solution is to take my Czech handle to Canada to make sure that IT works fine. Then, if by then I have not found a replacement, I can get a cheap local machine-shop here in town to either make me a new one, or repair my old broken one... _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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Are you asking about the outer handle on the sliding door? The pictures above are throwing me off. The reason I ask is that I believe I have seen the later outer handle on the early vanagon sliding door. It's noticeable because the later handle is shorter and the indent for the handle is larger. Maybe someone can chime in. The later version of the handle is still available, but I don't think they can be rekeyed to work with the original van key. _________________ ☮️ |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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MarkWard wrote: |
Are you asking about the outer handle on the sliding door? The pictures above are throwing me off. The reason I ask is that I believe I have seen the later outer handle on the early vanagon sliding door. It's noticeable because the later handle is shorter and the indent for the handle is larger. Maybe someone can chime in. The later version of the handle is still available, but I don't think they can be rekeyed to work with the original van key. |
Yeah, this is what I am wondering. Why not just use a later sliding door handle on the early van. I don't give a crap about re-keying. I tried re-keying all my old locks and ended up with locks which can be opened by practically any VW key (my bad of course)... but now I have a different (and original) key for every door lock on my van. I have no problem with that. _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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It looks like the new style handle sells new in Germany for 20 Euro or so.
Mark |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:45 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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crazyvwvanman wrote: |
It looks like the new style handle sells new in Germany for 20 Euro or so.
Mark |
Really? I was searching and couldn't find that - are you using this part number: 251 843 704 ?
Mark, do you know if it is possible to use the later handle on early vans if re-keying is not wanted? _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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The early handles break more often and lots of people use the later handle on early vans. The later tip curves closer to the paint so a slight nipping of the tip is probably a good idea.
This photo from the Gallery shows both handles and a nipped tip later one. Less nip is ok I think.
Mark |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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crazyvwvanman wrote: |
The early handles break more often and lots of people use the later handle on early vans. The later tip curves closer to the paint so a slight nipping of the tip is probably a good idea.
This photo from the Gallery shows both handles and a nipped tip later one. Less nip is ok I think.
Mark |
This is great - then most likely I'll just use a LATER handle. _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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Another question: I'm confused about "left" side or "right" side. I would guess that the sliding door on American vans would be RIGHT side, and on UK vans LEFT side >>> am I correct? _________________ www.edwardpowell.com |
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epowell Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2015 Posts: 4733 Location: Czech (mostly) Vancouver (sometimes)
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dgbeatty Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2006 Posts: 702 Location: Sacramento
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 11:25 am Post subject: Re: Finding, making, or adapting SLIDER DOOR HANDLE ? |
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To add to the post above. Old-timer will ship to the US if you ask. I have bought a few things from them in the past. _________________ Schau in das Buch |
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