Frozen Door Handles ?

[54blackhornet]

We have had below zero temperatures since last Friday, negative 17 ! Yesterday I tried to open the door on my C/20 but the button would not budge. Years ago I would have tried and probably broke something inside the door. Getting older I’ve learned to just walk away and give the situation a think before doing damage. Any suggestions on what is actually stuck ? Is it just the push button or the inner door parts ?

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Any lube that isn't graphite or teflon will harden at some temp, is there grease in the mechanism?
Maybe try a hair dryer or a desk lamp to gently warm it. All those little metal parts are going to be awful brittle and grumpy

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Daughter left a little water in her car yesterday, in Texas

[HO455]

From my experience it is usually moisture frozen around the small shaft that goes through the handle and pushes the latch. Green arrows point to areas that freeze together.

Spraying WD40 in can help as can warming the button with a propane torch. (But not both!)

Torch on low just to warm not to hot. If it's too hot to touch its too hot.

When the shaft gets rusty like in the 2nd photo they attract moisture.

[too much stuff]

I just give them a smack with the palm of my hand. Sometimes you have to hit them kind of hard. Do it 6 months out of the year up here seems like...

[HO455]

I used to hit mine but not anymore. I learned (The hard way) about how weak the tabs that hold the button in place are. If the shaft is frozen the force of the hitting the button is transferred to the tabs. I've had to repair 2 handles on mine.

See links for more information on broken handles.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=693760

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=382093

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=770366

[54blackhornet]

Thanks guys for reinforcing my theory that hitting it might break something internal. The truck is parked away from power and buried in snow again, been snowing off and on since Saturday. I think I will just hold off until it gets at least into the mid thirties before I try again….appreciate the input.

[KQQL IT]

Alcohol should melt it

[dmjlambert]

When I (rarely) get stuff frozen on the truck, I go in the house and get a 1.5 quart jug and fill it with warm water from the faucet and slowly pour it on the frozen item. Water is nothing that wouldn't get on the truck anyway, so it won't hurt anything. I most recently had to do that when my gas cap was frozen and I couldn't add gas.

[FirstOwner69]

I can't add to the comments already provided other than I think the picture you posted is gorgeous.

[54blackhornet]

Thanks First ! We have been off grid for the last thirty years. More elk and deer than neighbors. The temperature has risen to 28 this morning so I am going to attempt to get a door open. I need to get the lead side battery post out of the glove box so I can try to jump my diesel tractor. We are trapped because of the drifting snow blocking our driveway. Wish me luck.

[HO455]

Good luck and be safe! To bad all those 4 legged neighbors won't help shovel the snow!

I don't know how far south and east of me you are but I've seen some single digit temps on the weather reports this week. With the wind I'd bet the wind chill factor is below zero.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

I can't add to the comments already provided other than I think the picture you posted is gorgeous.

Thanks I know many folks really appreciate a rusty car part.
Seriously I thought the same thing when I first dropped in. Like a post card.

[sixty8HDC30]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

When I (rarely) get stuff frozen on the truck, I go in the house and get a 1.5 quart jug and fill it with warm water from the faucet and slowly pour it on the frozen item. Water is nothing that wouldn't get on the truck anyway, so it won't hurt anything. I most recently had to do that when my gas cap was frozen and I couldn't add gas.

This is the way