Sliding Window Latch Bar

[greezy]

I am trying to chase up the aluminium bar that sits in the window that has the lock notches in it, my one is broken and the window can be opend from the outside (at least i hope thats the problem ). If anyone knows anything about these windows it would be a great help. All i want to do is make sure i can lock the whole car up, last thing i want is my pride and joy being stolen.
BTW: this is a T2 kombi but from what i can gather the parts are fairly similar (i may be wrong).

Any help on getting parts for these windows would be greatly appreciated.
This is the part im looking for:

[camerahunter]

Not many junk yards down under?
That rail s just like any other rail from a regular van or westy.
Maybe the Kombi windows are different lengths?
I don't know what a Kombi is . . .

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

[greezy]

Nope not many junk yards round here and finding parts is getting harder to, its a 1978 kombi by the way. Im just a bit worried i only just bought it and cant really leave it to long with it being to easy to break into, that and i dont really have much cash to go and buy a whole new window being a student and all.

[devesvws]

well at the very least, you can secure the window with a pice of cut wood, jammed from the lock to the adjacent non sliding window for the time being.
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER -> looking for a original 91 vanagon owners manual with 1991 on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmuiG2tUsP4&feature=share https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922

[iiigoiii]

[tschroeder0]

yeah I agree with iiiogiii

take apart the latch clean it lube it buy some of the new plastic inserts from any of the suppliers and I'll bet it works, while your at it you may as well take the window out and replace the fuzzy insulating/cushioning material and blam! you got yourself a quiet sealed up window!

[spitsnrovers]

Looks to me like the problem with Geezy's bar is the worn edge of the first notch. New nylon sliders or felt strips won't cure that problem.

One security measure I've read about somewhere is to drill and tap a thread into the side of that black pushdown thumb button. When you really need security, install a screw into that threaded hole and bind the pushdown button from moving.

Alternate might be aluminum soldering a new corner onto that first notch. That stuff is harder than the original aluminum!
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[devesvws]

i wonder if he was to hack that worn angle off, just a shave. would that make it as good as new??
_________________
THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER -> looking for a original 91 vanagon owners manual with 1991 on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmuiG2tUsP4&feature=share https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922

[greezy]

Thanks for the feedback, i have replaced the bushings hopeing that it would solve the problem but no luck (although it did make the window a lot easier to slide open). Im thinking that i might have to some how solder a new corner onto that first notch, although from what i have been told soldering aluminum can be very difficult. Its just a shame its so difficult to find a replacement, ohh well fingers crossed

[spitsnrovers]

Hey greezy, soldering aluminum (or Aluminium) isn't really difficult. Use aluminum stick solder - not lead/tin solder, that just won't work.

Use a small propane torch, nothing excessive. No oxy equipment. Clean the part with a stainless steel wire brush. Just heat the aluminum bar until the solder stick will melt and slide along the heated area. Don't heat the solder stick! Don't overheat the aluminum part until it goes grainy cause the next stop is a puddle of aluminum on the floor!

By the way do you pronounce it "sodder" or "solder"? Lived in Australia and learned to say solder, which makes my North American friends laugh.
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[greezy]

Thanks for the advice i might give that a go yeah i say solder

[goffoz]

G'day, and welcome to the forum.
Just another thought for you...If you bend a small "U" shaped piece of aluminium and epoxy it onto that worn edge ..it will keep you locked for years....till you can find a better way
cheers