How to disassemble exterior door handles?

[gummycarbs]

Anyone know how to disassemble the exterior door handles? I saw several discussions here about removing the handles, but none about disassembling them, and nothing about it in the FSM.

 

[chap79]

I would guess move the spring and turn the pin and push it out. But why? Given the age the plastic might break.

 

[greentruck]

They came as an assembly, which is likely why there's not breakdown info on them in the FSM. IIRC, my use of past tense is because at least some of these in the various colors are no longer available.

 

[Tapage]

why you want to set it apart ...?

 

[gummycarbs]

I want to disassemble the door handles to paint them (along with the rest of the rig).

Once I unhooked the spring, the pin moved around freely. It looks like they've deformed the end of the pin in a press in order to keep it from coming out:





Since I don't want to wallow out the plastic and there's not really any hope of me pressing it back into a round shape, I'll just have to make do. At least with the spring removed, I can move the handle enough to get good paint coverage.

 

[inkpot]

I would grind down the end of the pin to remove it, then either smash it with a hammer and punch when reassembled or tack it with a quick weld. Not really much side load on that pin.

 

[BILT4ME]

I would do like @inkpot suggested, but to put it back together, I would add a tiny flat washer and drill a hole for a cotter pin or similar to prevent it from coming back apart. You can drill the pin in a vise externally. Welding next to it may damage the work you just did.

Also, if you take lots of pics and write up a procedure on what you do, you just might make the FAQ section for those that need to rebuild in the future.

 

[panamacruiser]

Man, just tape the thing and spray paint it
or buy a set from amazon, don't do the pin thing, you will break it

 

[2fpower]

I painted the face, then used a clamp to hold the handle open and sprayed them.