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F-22A
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2008
Posts: 556
Location: London
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 Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Pre Aug 55 door handles - LHD to RHD - interchangable? |
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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. |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17685
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: |
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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.
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F-22A
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Joined: July 24, 2008
Posts: 556
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:24 am Post subject: |
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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?  |
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mrsherbie
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Joined: November 08, 2004
Posts: 338
Location: East Sussex UK
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| 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.
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Anna.
quote 50karmann " it'll wreck the patina you haven't worked so hard to create" |
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dinsdale
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2005
Posts: 93
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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Russ
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Joined: January 12, 2003
Posts: 1560
Location: Langley B.C.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:00 am Post subject: |
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| 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
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65 beetle done:) |
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dinsdale
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2005
Posts: 93
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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F-22A
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Joined: July 24, 2008
Posts: 556
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Mine's ok 'cause it's a May 55  |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17685
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| 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.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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Nessy
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2004
Posts: 424
Location: Wales,UK
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| 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.......
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1972 1302LS Convertible RHD |
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dinsdale
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2005
Posts: 93
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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EA57RHD
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Joined: February 12, 2008
Posts: 497
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: RHD door handles |
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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 |
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Caledfryn
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Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 46
Location: North Wales
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: |
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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! |
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henry roberts
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Joined: February 24, 2003
Posts: 1290
Location: australia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:51 am Post subject: |
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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  |
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Bry'56
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Joined: September 13, 2007
Posts: 15
Location: LONDON, England
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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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!
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1956 RHD Ragtop Oval |
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EA57RHD
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Joined: February 12, 2008
Posts: 497
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: RHD door handle |
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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 |
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Nessy
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Joined: September 28, 2004
Posts: 424
Location: Wales,UK
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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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.............
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1972 1302LS Convertible RHD |
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dinsdale
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2005
Posts: 93
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: Re: RHD door handle |
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| 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 |
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Bry'56
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Joined: September 13, 2007
Posts: 15
Location: LONDON, England
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: Re: RHD door handle |
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| 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
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Chick Iverson
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Joined: May 23, 2002
Posts: 732
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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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.....................
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'59 Euro convertible--'56 type 2 double door panel w/Chick Iverson logo-....2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do! |
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