Inside door handles
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
Inside door handles
I have owned a bunch of OBS trucks, and a lot of them had broken inside door handles when I got them, or they broke on me. This is mainly due to the door hinge pins and bushings that we all know wear out and makes the doors harder to open, so we jerk harder and harder on the plastic door handles and......snap!
This our plastic handles.....
All of you may know this already, but the '80-'86 model trucks had metal door handles that don't break as easy and they bolt right in place of our plastic ones.
This is the early '80s handle......
They are chrome too, if you want a little bling in the cab....
Just a little FYI thread.....I just put hinge pins and bushings in mine this evening, and replaced the door handle I broke the other day
This our plastic handles.....
All of you may know this already, but the '80-'86 model trucks had metal door handles that don't break as easy and they bolt right in place of our plastic ones.
This is the early '80s handle......
They are chrome too, if you want a little bling in the cab....
Just a little FYI thread.....I just put hinge pins and bushings in mine this evening, and replaced the door handle I broke the other day
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
Yep, it's usually just a matter of time LOL!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
I have heard that the chrome ones are just pot metal and that they brake almost as easily as the plastic one. Has that been your experience as well Bill?
Another thing that can cause the handles to break is that the mounting tabs on the door can break and let the bracket for the handle move out far enough that the door latch mechanism doesn't release fully, causing you to have to pull harder and farther on the handle. The cable can stretch too, in which case twisting it in the direction that the cable is wound shortens it back up again.
This is a good reminder though.
I don't know why, but quite possibly my two favorite things about these OBS trucks are 1- the wing windows and 2- the door handles (inside and outside). They just work and look like they should on a real truck!
Another thing that can cause the handles to break is that the mounting tabs on the door can break and let the bracket for the handle move out far enough that the door latch mechanism doesn't release fully, causing you to have to pull harder and farther on the handle. The cable can stretch too, in which case twisting it in the direction that the cable is wound shortens it back up again.
This is a good reminder though.
I don't know why, but quite possibly my two favorite things about these OBS trucks are 1- the wing windows and 2- the door handles (inside and outside). They just work and look like they should on a real truck!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 17
From: Gambrills
I use to snap them things ALL the time. Finaly, I replaced my door hinge pins and I haven't broke one since! Open your door door then lift it up. Did it raise up? If so, watch the hinge pins and do it again.
I'd change the pins. It worked for me
Good luck!
I'd change the pins. It worked for me
Good luck!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 1
From: Maysville, Kentucky
The metal ones don't get as brittle in the cold. That's mainly when I have broken the 5 between 2 trucks. Metal now and no such problem yet.
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Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
I have heard that the chrome ones are just pot metal and that they brake almost as easily as the plastic one. Has that been your experience as well Bill?
Another thing that can cause the handles to break is that the mounting tabs on the door can break and let the bracket for the handle move out far enough that the door latch mechanism doesn't release fully, causing you to have to pull harder and farther on the handle. The cable can stretch too, in which case twisting it in the direction that the cable is wound shortens it back up again.
This is a good reminder though.
I don't know why, but quite possibly my two favorite things about these OBS trucks are 1- the wing windows and 2- the door handles (inside and outside). They just work and look like they should on a real truck!
Another thing that can cause the handles to break is that the mounting tabs on the door can break and let the bracket for the handle move out far enough that the door latch mechanism doesn't release fully, causing you to have to pull harder and farther on the handle. The cable can stretch too, in which case twisting it in the direction that the cable is wound shortens it back up again.
This is a good reminder though.
I don't know why, but quite possibly my two favorite things about these OBS trucks are 1- the wing windows and 2- the door handles (inside and outside). They just work and look like they should on a real truck!
I figured about everyone on here already knew this, but changing my pins and bushings just made me think about posting this as a FYI for those who didn't know this was an option.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,111
Likes: 1,544
From: western SD
I broke 2 of the handles on the 97, as the cable was streching. Twisting the cable helped a little, but when the second one broke, my son made one out of a short piece of angle iron, and a length of 1/2" rod. He bent the rod into the shape of the handle, and welded it to the angle. A little red neck, but it works great, and no fear of breaking it.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
I broke 2 of the handles on the 97, as the cable was streching. Twisting the cable helped a little, but when the second one broke, my son made one out of a short piece of angle iron, and a length of 1/2" rod. He bent the rod into the shape of the handle, and welded it to the angle. A little red neck, but it works great, and no fear of breaking it.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
I hear ya, the hinges in the cable assembly itself get worn and bind too i have noticed, then its 120 bucks and it works like new. I have installed 2 cable assemblies in 2 different rigs and both work great, a little pricey but worth it in my opinion. Some of you may not believe me but a friend and i acutally casted the plastic style handle out of aluminum, sounds crazy but it worked, looked cool and has held up great so far.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
I usually just use a white lithium grease spray on the hinge pins and bushings. It's a little messy, but it does a great job of keeping the hinges lubricated.
