Sliding door handle - play in mechanism?

[Bilson]

I've found that the sliding door handle seal (early type) seems to be cracking the paint that it sits against due to movement in the mechanism. The paintwork is fresh (couple months), I don't know if that's a factor as this has never been a problem before.

I'll obviously need to sort the paint out at some point, however I'm hoping someone may have an idea whether there is a solution to remedie the play in the mechanism that seems to be causing this problem.

Any help would be appreciated + I'll get some photos up tomorrow.

[faggie]

fit the seal of the later longer handle and the plastic bung into the door indentation

[Cruz]

The later seal is larger than the hole in an early door

vw heritage sell the plastic seal that goes in the hole in the door. Tbh on my early long handle there is plenty of space between the hole seal and the handle. I even fitted a large o-ring to take up some of the gap

[Bilson]

Thanks for both replies. I recently replaced the seal , and there isn't much if any room between the handle and the seal. Perhaps I could try a washer to act as a spacer somewhere to allow for such a gap + add o-ring?

[Cruz]

Do you have the longer early handle?

Just wondering if shorter late ones may sit nearer to the skin??

[Bilson]

I pressume so, I don't think it's been changed in the last 20 years we've had it. I'll try and get a photo up today, it probably won't show up the damage caused, but the handle type + how snug the seal sits. I wouldn't say it's too tight, but just right, the lateral movement in the handle is the problem really. I was wondering whether there are any bushes inside the mech that could be replaced.

[Cruz]

If there is lateral movement (I assumed axial) then there is wear in the handle or lock mechanism (the square locating part)

[Bilson]

Axial, that's the word!

I'd best start taking things apart,

[lhd]

If there is lateral movement (I assumed axial) then there is wear in the handle or lock mechanism (the square locating part)

Very common with early vans. even a replacement mech will probably be the same unless you are lucky.
Rob.

[Bilson]

Very common with early vans. even a replacement mech will probably be the same unless you are lucky.
Rob.

That's why I'm hoping to find the culprit and get something knocked up to replace it. Mind you I'd rather a worn mech than one left in bits + the cost of replacing it.

[faggie]

yes you have to enlarge the hole in the door with a rat tail file buts its only a couple of mm then touch up add your later seal and the handle will be as good as the later shorter type no more play

[Bilson]

yes you have to enlarge the hole in the door with a rat tail file buts its only a couple of mm then touch up add your later seal and the handle will be as good as the later shorter type no more play

cheers for that, I'd like to see if I can get rid of the play by sorting the mech though if I can.

However it sounds like this is what I should be doing to solve this.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=102623" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My only problem is, I don't know the correct diameter to file it down to at the moment. + need to find a good template or method of marking where to file down.

[faggie]

just get the new later seal and either draw round the inner hole onto some masking tape on your van or take your time and file the hole slowly to it fits, you dont want a super tight fit as when adding a rust preventer and a couple of coats of top coat you will make the hole marginally smaller or you will damage the paint when re fiiting new seal to door , when touching up use a childs painting brush to touch up where you have filed and after a day of two refit i have done this on both my early vans and with a spring washer on the bolt on the inside of van it never works loose and is now as good as my later van with shorter handle