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MG TD TF 1500 - Door Handles

Read the 3 threads in the archive (I like the new search tool BTW) but no real help. One of my pair of NOS handles which I purchased in 1970 & have kept carefully stored away since, looks as though it has spent a night out on the town! The shaft seems seriously misaligned with the handle & I only wish I'd spotted that way back when prior to purchase. I can see how to remove the peening, washer & spring, which will release the triangular chromed shape that secures the handle to the door, but how is the shaft fitted into the handle? I need to rebend the shaft back into line & don't want to stuff it up. There are a couple of good suggestions in the 3 existing threads on reassembly e.g. peening again, circlip & machine screw but if the shaft is hardened steel one or all of these could be an issue. Anybody pulled one of these apart & (successfully) put it back together? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter email me I may be able to help
G Mills

George you have mail. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I have never removed the square shaft from the handle. I do not believe that is possible.
I have stripped the shaft and handle down to just that, for plating and successfully reassembled them.

If the square shaft is bent, you should be able to straighten it, in a vise, without damaging the plating.


Jim B.
JA Benjamin

There is a pin in the handle for the square shaft but I agree with Jim its not a serviceable part.

Not fathoming how the handles could have been bent. I did have one bend on my car when my wife fell on it. Don't ask.

BTW does anyone have the technique to swedge the collars back on again. I had mine plated and they wanted to remove the spring etc. I put it all back on again and held it in a vice and tried to put an indent in the shaft like original. Nothing really dented it. I got it peened over a bit but I fully expect my handles to rocket off the car at any moment.
Christopher Couper

I cut a grove at the base of the old sewage and used a snap ring.

Jim B
JA Benjamin

Thanks Jim. I better get some snap rings before my handles fall off.
Christopher Couper

The offset handle was like that when purchased new. I don't understand how it could have been bent either & can only assume it was assembled incorrectly when it was manufactured. I intended to straighten it in a vise but wanted to ensure I could do this without damaging the handle. Chris's experience suggests that the shaft is made of pretty tough stuff, probably a high carbon steel so I may have to insulate the handle & apply heat. Jim's suggestion of using a snap ring, circlip or retaining ring seems like the way to go as I doubt I'll be able to drill it to either tap it or to fit a split pin & washer. The shaft also appears to be larger than the hole in the spindle follower possibly due to the plating & will need to be ground down to suit. Attached are a couple of pics showing the relationship of the handle to the shaft & also the peening & spring detail. The pic doesn't show the degree that the shaft is offset to the handle but when compared to the other NOS handle it is pretty obvious. TFYH. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Second pic

P Hehir

Peter, the square shaft in your pic looks like a refurbished handle. My NOS handles do not look like that, the square shafts are not pitted.
Rod Brayshaw

Looks like I was dudded again Rod. I'm hoping I may now be able to get my hands on a pair of genuine NOS handles from one of the guys on this forum. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter: You can wrap p the handle in a towel and put it in a large vice and then give it some taps with a big hammer on the shaft side. Do it once or twice and then inspect your progress.

Heck if it doesn't work you were going to toss it anyway. The picture shows the cup bracket twisted a bit which is what its supposed to do as well as a small amount of bend in the shaft. Be careful what you are visualizing.
Christopher Couper

Here is a picture Chis

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

Nice mod Jim. Thanks Chris. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter

I know photos dont necessary depict the true picture, I am of the same opinion as Chris. It appears the cup is just twisted on the shaft making the shaft appear to be bent.

Suggest you fit the handle up to the door skin with the screws fully tightened and then determine the condition of the shaft. Before you do the fit up ensure the spring in the cup is clear to rotate.

Graeme
G Evans

Hate to say it, but that looks like a re-chrome of a rusty mess. The original shaft and washers, etc. were not chromed I think. There was certainly no pitting like in your picture. George
George Butz

Graeme & Chris, I thought that as well but I showed them to a few T Type gurus on the last M.G. Restorer's run & they all agreed the shaft was bent. Quite obvious when one is compared to the other. I've since seen a pic of a genuine NOS handle & both Rod & George are correct. Mine almost certainly have been rechromed. The shaft also appears to be too long so it's probably not even off a TD! Possibly off a Morris Oxford? About 45 years too late to take them back though.. Like I said, dudded again. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I would love longer shafts.
By the time I get through shimming my catches the shaft shaft projects only part way through the door catch.

Jim B
JA Benjamin

Could you weld an extension on Jim to the desired length & grind the weld smooth? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Door handles similar to T Type ones were used on many cars and were probably made by Willmot Breeden. They often crop up at autojumbles. I have seen two types though, one has a smooth handle and the other is ribbed. The shaft length does vary. I know from my Morris 8 days that the it is possible to twist the shaft with heat in order to set the angle of the handle. I bought a pair on line about a year ago and they are brass rather than monkey metal. I recall that someone else posted they had also bought a set.


Jan T
J Targosz

Peter,
They are around at swap meets. I saw a reasonable pair at Bendigo for $15 each. I had mine re-chromed and put them back together using push on clips as per an earlier thread.
Max Irvine

Well I'm stoked to advise that I have a pair of genuine TD NOS ribbed handles still in the original wrapping arriving shortly via the Oz postal service! I've offered the TF owner a bespoke TD/TF hessian tool roll faithfully reproduced in every detail by yours truly, to original specifications, in exchange for the handles. I'm able to report that both parties are exceedingly happy! Thanks guys. Gotter love this site!! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 14/05/2015 and 16/05/2015

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