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Topic: 86 GV... broken interior door handle.. (Read 718 times) previous topic - next topic

86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Hey all.... i will add photos when i can.  But we have broken off the metal interior door handle for our 86 GV...  on our recent trip to Santa Fe. In addition to 2 blown tires we were locked inside for a period until we used a flat bladed screwdriver to open the latch....  I hope we dont have to replace the entire plate and mechanism.... any advice you all can provide.. 
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman

Broken interior door handle 86 GV.

Reply #1 –
Hello all.  In addition to (2) blown tag axle tires on a 900 mile round trip to Santa Fe... we broke off the door handle in the socket in the plate mechanism... any replacement parts available for this kind of unique handle... how long were these handles used... if its broken off from the metal plate we might have to replace the entire plate and working mechanism. ??? 
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #2 –
A few have seemed to have had that happen and If I recall have eliminated that latch and just use the deadbolt on the door. I do not use mine at all. Just the deadbolt when I leave the coach. I have nothing worth stealing anyway so that pretty much sums that up...
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #3 –
We had the same 'fun' as you; had to crawl out the port window to get the door open. If you take the latch apart, you'll see where it broke (if the inside handle came free) I borrowed a tap and replaced the piece of junk 'keeper' with a stainless threaded screw. So far, so good! Post a pic or two.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #4 –
10-32 tap and correct size drill bit, not to hard to drill and tap, then install 10-32 flat head screw and fender washer. There are two types of those handles ones that are broken, and ones that are going to break. Cost about $10, or buy a new one from FT for $90 which will also break soon.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #5 –
Understand maybe.  The door was closed when the handle broke off.  So now when we close it ( after using a screw driver) it latches to the door frame.  Would rather use the dead bolt..  do we need to just permanently hold back the latch somehow ? 
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #6 –
Post a Picture of what  broke so we are on the same page//
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #7 –
It's a Winnebago door. Call Winnebago for a new one.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Subsilked –
  do we need to just permanently hold back the latch somehow ?
It's not a big deal to pull the latch out, you'll see where it broke. I now give it some silicone spray and take great care closing it. Looks like you have a different version than ours: only the inside latch mechanism has to come out, as well as the ' stiffeners' on the right. You can see where the PO installed keepers to prevent problems. When I put the white stiffener back on. I used epoxy, as they were loose as all get out.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #9 –
Handles are pot metal, and held into place by deformed or swagged pot metal. Hole is already there to enlarge and tap. OEM Works great unless you pull on the handle to shut the door.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #10 –
Tap drill for #10-32 tap is a #21 drill bit.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #11 –

Quote from: Twig –
It's a Winnebago door. Call Winnebago for a new one.

Keith and Joyce posted a link (still a good link) to a large .pdf Winnebago Catalog that may have some part numbers:
Winnebago Industries Catalog Link (Everything on a RV)

Good Luck, Dave A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #13 –
This community is amazing.  Thank you all for the comments, responses and the solutions.... 
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #14 –
If you look at photo #2 in stumps link you will see exactly why a new one will fail soon also, there is absolutely very little deformed metal to hold it in place if you use it to pull the door closed. That's why you have to tap it and put the machine screw and fender washer in place.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #15 –
"OEM Works great unless you pull on the handle to shut the door."

That sounds great, but how are you supposed to pull the door shut without the handle?
Mines working so far, but maybe I probably better drill and tap just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the idea phred.
Michael j
Livermore, Ca for now

1987  Grand Villa 2900 Rear Bath Front 460 Gas Engine.

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Michael j –
"OEM Works great unless you pull on the handle to shut the door."

That sounds great, but how are you supposed to pull the door shut without the handle?
Mines working so far, but maybe I probably better drill and tap just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the idea phred.

It WILL break upon hard closing, trapping you in the coach!  This is how I 'escaped' :
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #17 –
That's exactly how we also escaped.... we opened from the outside and used just the screen door for the remainder of our Santa Fe trip...  traveling we needed to latch the exterior door and we were able to use a flat blade screwdriver into the handle hole and pop the latch open....  what a mess... two blown tires and locked inside with a broken handle... LOL.
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman
 

Re: 86 GV... broken interior door handle..

Reply #18 –
Our door (and the same type latch in previous Airstreams) work's perfect if we are a little off level on the roadside (2/5 inches)  Otherwise, 'PULL & SLAM'. Something about 'wracking'.  :facepalm:
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'