Chroming and mounting doorhandles

[jan lauwers]

Gentlemen,

I am preparing all the chrome parts to be redone. I have dismantled the door handles... (cylinders out).. so far so good, nothing lost, nothing broken.

Now I cant manage to put everything back together.... I am struggling, trying to put the cylinder back in the door handle. My question: there is a clip in the form of an open circle that needs to slide in a groove in the body of the handle. Is there a trick to do that? I cant simultaneously hold the cylinder with the spring down AND put that clips in the groove. Is there trick or a special tool for this?

Thanks guys!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

[Peter]

there is a clip in the form of an open circle that needs to slide in a groove in the body of the handle.

Hi Jan,

I’m not aware of a trick.

What I did was putting the cylinder etc. in its place and hold it with one hand down.

Then put one side of the open end of the “open circle” a deep as possible in the groove.
This helps also to keep the cylinder down.
Then place a small screwdriver in the groove near the other open end (which is not in the groove yet) and bend the screwdriver such that you push the rest of the “open circle” in the groove.

It worked for me pretty well.

Success and Happy Holiday.

[jan lauwers]

Thanks for your answer, Peter. In the meantime, I made a little auxiliary tool which keeps the spring of the cylinder depressed, so that I had my 2 hands to work the circlips in the groove. So that hurdle is behind me now.

While I was taking the handle apart, I have taken photos, but apparently, still not enough pics, so that I am unsure now how to put everything back correctly. I have scanned the forum, but I can’t find anywhere a pic or a drawing of the door handle that is detailed enough. Does anybody have such a picture (or an exploded drawing)?
E.g., 2 questions come to mind:

1/ When the key is in the horizontal position, is it correct that the fork is horizontal too? (see pic 2)
2/ (pic 1)… I know where that little round spring goes, but I don’t know EXACTLY how it should sit and what its function is.

Help appreciated, please.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Jan

[doitwright]

The spring you show is intended to keep the key slot centered vertically in the button.

[EeVeeWee]

I made some pictures before I disassembled them, hopefully they can help you.

[Peter]

Some other pictures

[jan lauwers]

Thank you Peter, Frank, and EeVeeWee for the pics, they certainly helped a lot.

I spent the afternoon today, putting one doorhandle back together...I think I have succeeded, but then again, the result does not feel right. Please see the attached video clip. I can turn the key one-quarter circle clockwise and then it jumps back to vertical. I can only pull the key out when it is in the vertical position. Should there not be a locked (horizontal?) position in which the key can come out? What have I done wrong?

I can't just figure this out and I really hope that someone here has the wisdom. I can not try this out on my doors since they have been taken out for a repaint.

Thanks again, gentlemen!

Jan

[chumps]

Hi Jan. I just happen to be standing next to my car when I read your post. I tried my key in the driver's door. It turned 1/4 turn to lock it, then snapped back to vertical - 1/4 turn to unlock then snapped back to vertical.  Hope this helps.Chumps

[jan lauwers]

Thanks, Chumps... so, what I have done might be correct after all.

Best wishes,

Jan

[Peter]

Hi Jan, this looks good, it means you installed the spring correctly, see picture.

[jan lauwers]

Thanks guys!

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Jan,
I am not sure if I understand your question correctly. I am in the UK and not with my cars, but here goes.
If I remember correctly, there is a small screw that goes in here where my arrow points on your photo, holding the handle in position.
Unfortunately, I cant remember if it is on the Pagoda, E Type or 190 SL
Regards
Chris

[jan lauwers]

Hello again guys,

I have learned so much these days about Pagoda door handles. Still one thing I don't understand, and I can not check it because my doors are dismantled.
When you turn the key on the door handle, the fork tuns. The fork that sits on the doorlock however, can not turn, it can only move vertically. I suppose that the 2 forks have to grip in each other. How is this possible if they can not turn both?

I hope I am explaining this clearly.

Thanks again, guys!

Jan

[Peter]

The “fork” right and left side (part of the cylinder-lock) will push the vertical moving part of the door lock mechanism with one side up and the other side down. When you mount it, you have to check if this is happening. I had the problem that it did not fit well and had to weld a small extension to the door-lock part.

[mbzse]

.../...Pagoda door handles.../... When you turn the key on the door handle, the fork turns.../...

Please note also, there are two types of design for these handle forks, early and late. The change over was July 1967; mid 250 SL production.
Not interchangeable (the lock mechanism in the door is also different design)

Vendor SLS has some useful schematics on their website:
https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/72-door-89-locking-system-c-3_2344_127

[jan lauwers]

That’s interesting. Thanks a lot Peter.

Jan

[mbzse]

The “fork” right and left side (part of the cylinder-lock).../...it did not fit well and had to weld a small extension to the door-lock part

The extension (or retraction) of the fork is adjusted with the slot head screw at the end of the fork. You screw this in/out and test, until you have your door locking mechanism working smoothly.