Exploded view of hatch handle internals needed!

[lolife99]

I'm trying to remove my hatch handle to get it re-keyed. Mine is solid rust. (I have it soaking in penetrant now)
Anyway,... shouldn't I be able to remove the "handle" itself, by just removing the two outer screws?
I've done this before and don't remember it being this tough. What am I doing wrong?
Here's what I'm looking at: (someone elses picture)

[losangelesk5]

In theory, the handle should come right off..... In this case it looks like the shaft of the handle is rusted frozen the the assembly. All you can do is let it soak in "liquid wrench" and hopefully it will come loose. I got pissed off at mine and ended up cutting the shank, Then I had to put the latch assembly in a vice and drill out the rusted shank, and with a small chisel, knock out the rest of the shank to square it up again.......... Pain in the.... Good luck!

[BobbyK]

Yes,it "Should" come out with the 2 outside screws removed.
It's prob. rusted in there.

I added a cotter pin to the inside to make it not as easy to remove the handle.Just a little added theft protection I guess.




Added then to the latch rods too. I had problems with them slipping out of the handle bracket leaving it almost impossible to open the back hatch.

[lolife99]

Thanks for replies.

[swyfor5]

Cool thread! I will have some repairs to do in this area also!

[lolife99]

I guess I need to post a WTB ad. I reassembled everything tonight. There is no way to get the square shaft of the handle out,... without doing some cutting.
I need a new set of internal parts before I try any more. I know these parts are hard to come by,... so if anyone has a junk hatch with a good handle assembly, please PM me.

All this work to just have a lock on the handle that a prybar will destroy, in 5 seconds. Ha.

[Beelzeburb]

I had mine apart a couple of months ago (re-key too) and thanks to BobbyK I've now got a good idea for keeping those latch rods where they are supposed to be. Too bad I didn't take any pictures or I could have been of more help to the OP.

[71jimmy]

If I remember there is a pin that holds the handle onto the square shaft. If you get the pin out, remove the handle then you should be able to remove the square shaft with the piece it's rsusted too. Put it in a vice and have at it. Let us know if it works.

Also, if you can't get it that way. If your using a "garage door" handle the shafts are the same diameter, lenghts are different. Just remove new handle from new shaft and place new handle on old shaft. Just an idea, I know you probably want to replace all that crud while your in there.

Later