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Dino door latch help

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by pnin, Sep 19, 2014.

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  1. pnin

    pnin Rookie

    Oct 29, 2008
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    Westchester NY
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    Michael
    #1 pnin, Sep 19, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The passenger side door latch on my 1971 Euro Spec 246GT was not installed correctly from when I purchased the car. The loose washer that the handle normally rests on is attached (soldered?) to the shaft about 1/2 inch below the handle, preventing the assembly from dropping down to its correct position. Before I take it apart I would like to be sure Im not missing something ?
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  2. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 11, 2003
    2,365
    Frederick, Maryland
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    Brian Brown
    #2 Motob, Sep 22, 2014
    Something is not right. Originally the lever pivots in a bushing (top hat shaped), that is slid into the top of the door. The bottom of the lever rests against this bushing. Someone did some modifications. You will only know what is wrong after you take the door panel off and inspect what is going on inside.
     
  3. pnin

    pnin Rookie

    Oct 29, 2008
    3
    Westchester NY
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    Michael
    #3 pnin, Sep 22, 2014
    Thank you for your response. I looked on the Dino restoration site and one of the images is of the lever assembly including the shaft ( TAV 109 Doors | Dino Restoration ) and it shows the "top-hat" shaped insert. It appears to be a captive part between the shaft and the level. I seem to be missing this part. Do you know if this part is available? Also, is the lever handle press fit onto the shaft and can be separated ? Much thanks.
     
  4. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Sep 3, 2002
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    Rob C.
    #4 Nuvolari, Sep 22, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    By looking at your photo I wonder if the top hat shaped bushing was not installed upside down thereby spacing the lever up in the air rather than having it rest on the top of the door. It would be a massively idiotic oversight by the previous installer but I have seen worse.

    Below is a photo of the assemblies taken out of the doors where you can see new top hats and shafts as well as complete assemblies. The top hats are encapsulated between the handle and the step on the shaft making practical removal very difficult. In some instances the handle is pressed onto the shaft while in most instances it is soldered on and then the assembly is chromed as a whole. Correcting your issue may require a trip to the chrome platers to strip the part, re-solder it, and finally re-chrome it.
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  5. pnin

    pnin Rookie

    Oct 29, 2008
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    Westchester NY
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    Michael
    #5 pnin, Sep 23, 2014
    Thank you Nuvolari & MotoB for your help. Closer inspection suggests that the top-hat bushing is on the shaft in the correct orientation, but not in the right position. It is also captive ( bonded) to the shaft. I suspect the lever/shaft/top-hat assembly was plated without disassembly, bonding the top-hat to the shaft. Given the not so great options they proceeded to install it and call it a day? Now the question is how to best salvage the parts....
     
  6. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Rob C.
    #6 Nuvolari, Sep 23, 2014
    We bought new shafts and top hats from Superformance and then sent them off to the plater along with our old handles for re-doing. Be sure to pre-fit the top hats to your doors before plating to check their fit and factor in a little extra dimension for the chrome layer that will increase their diameter slightly. With parts readily available this is not a terrible repair you are faced with.
     

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