replacing the door handles and dust removal

Post by **morris53** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:39 am

Hi
I'm trying to replace the door handles on my morris with nice newly chromed ones- but I can't work out how to get them off short of angle grinding away part of the door! I have undone the bolts in the end of the door, and everything is loose, but I can't get it to wriggle out of the hole!
Can anyone help?

Also, my morris has been used extensively on our farm, collecting red dirt in every crevace, and ditto because our roads are unsealed gravel. Over the years the dust has stuck to old fish oil remnants, and as a result inside the doors etc are filthy, and it is almost impossible to scrub off. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks

PS Thanks to everyone who helped me with Morrie's paint- I've started sanding him back with 2000 paper and he's looking nice again (only about another six months work I think!)

Post by **Matt** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:48 am

There is a metal pin(which i think acts as the pivot) that you probably have to drift out....

Post by **Chris Morley** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:50 pm

Over the years the dust has stuck to old fish oil remnants, and as a result inside the doors etc are filthy, and it is almost impossible to scrub off. Does anyone have a suggestion?

If the oil is holding onto the metal (with the dirt caked on top) maybe it will burn off or become gooey if you use a heat gun? That's what I use to help scrape off waxoyl, dum-dum etc. It might be difficult to aim the heat gun inside the doors though and you could end up taking paint off as well. It might be worth spraying penetrative oil or white spirit on a test area and leave it to seep in for a few days before seeing if it helps?

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:59 pm

Try WD 40. It certainly dissolves oil, but will make painting afterwards very hard - it has silicone or something in it...

Post by **246gts** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 5:55 pm

Does this magic formula of fish oil and red dust act as a barrier to rust and if so might it be better to leave it there?

Post by **Skeggysteve** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:16 pm

Would agree with 246GTS - you could end up selling that stuff

BTW Andrew WD40 has been silicone free since it was first invented, well thats what it says on the tin. But you still can't paint on it

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:41 pm

Thought you couldn't - not silicone, then but something that paint reacts with

Post by **Scott** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:54 pm

You'll need to remove the rear section of the window frame to enable the handle to come out.
2 door handles need to be in the unlocked position also before removal/fitting.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:43 am

bigginger wrote:Thought you couldn't - not silicone, then but something that paint reacts with

Hydrocarbon type grease and oils in WD-40 would be enough to stop paint sticking!

Post by **chrisd87** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:31 pm

The Haynes manual tells you to use a rag soaked in petrol to get rid of bits of tar and such like, so maybe this might work?

Post by **morris53** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:59 am

Thanks everyone!

PS It is SO frustrating looking at all your beautiful clean Morries! Very very jealous!

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:42 pm

If it makes you feel any better, Rebecca's now covered in a lucious mixture of road-salt and mud...

I got out when I got home and thought 'my god, she's filthy' (obviously, not so much as to make me get a bucket and wash her, no, but very dirty all the same ;) )

Post by **Chris Morley** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:36 pm

PS It is SO frustrating looking at all your beautiful clean Morries! Very very jealous!

Clearly you don't mean to include my car

- some of the paintwork is very scabby indeed! And the usual dirt & road salt needs to be washed off soon.