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Topic: disassembly of outside door assist handle? (Read 804 times) previous topic - next topic

disassembly of outside door assist handle?

I broke my transparent glow in the dark assist handle outside the door and my new transparent handle part arrived today from Foretravel. Unfortunately the transparent part broke off nearly even with the bottom chrome part so I can't grab it with pliers or anything. Do any of you know how to get the transparent part out of the bottom chrome part?
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #1 –
what about putting in a screw and pulling on that.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: John S –
what about putting in a screw and pulling on that.
Yep drill a small hole and either put in a screw or break it apart I replaced mine day before yesterday.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #3 –
I did that but hesitated to break it because I thought maybe there was a light bulb or something under it.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #4 –
There is a bulb.. thought it was in the top part. The reason I think that is because power came from the cabinet where the door bell is. The lower part might be too low..

If ya got the top part off.. mine was yucky.. cleaned it up.. light worked.
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #5 –
Scott, isn't the bottom piece attached with 2 or 3 screws? To put the new handle on you've got to remove either the top or bottom bracket anyway.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #6 –
The transparent part broke off even with the bottom chrome part, so I need to extract the broken remains of the transparent part.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #7 –
You will have to remove the bottom cover to get that plastic out, and It will have to be off to put the new handle in.
Gary B

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #8 –
We just had the handle on our 1999 U320 replaced because it had the original owner's name on it, rather than Foretravel.

Don't know if this will be the case with your broken handle/replacement handle, but watching Brad Armstrong do ours at TN RV, the bottom of the two transparent parts was different.  The "new" Foretravel-inscribed handle had a groove — maybe 1/16"? — across the width of the piece, left to right (forgive the descriptions; wish I had photos).  The handle Brad took out appeared to have a mitered bottom (again, wrong word and forgive the description, but it was NOT flat with a groove, but had a partly diagonal end).

Someone who has been through this and can describe it better, jump in here and help!  <smile>  The point:  Brad had to modify the end of the "new" Foretravel-inscribed handle to make it fit.  Don't know if this applies to yours, but thought I would add this comment in case you run into something similar?

Meanwhile, we're trying to get the light for our doorbell to work — so if anyone reading the thread has thoughts, they'd be welcomed.
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #9 –
Someone posted here a source for the complete handle assembly.  Required mods to the plastic part to fit the distance Foretravel used for their version of that handle.

Light works. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #10 –
I drilled out the largest hole I could with the drill bits I have with me, then I carefully busted out the remaining transparent plastic with a hammer and chisel, and I had to file down the edge on the top of the new transparent part to get it to go into the top chrome part... but it works! I installed a red LED bulb in it so I can find the keyhole at night without ruining my night vision. The new transparent plastic part has "Foretravel" on the outside of the plastic instead of inside like the old one did. I like the old one better but at least it's fixed. It looked terrible with a broken handle. Thanks for the help.  ^.^d
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #11 –
When I bought my 280 the entry handle had the owners last name embedded in it. I replaced it a couple years later....after buying their home,  found the original in the garage.  :))
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #12 –
On the Doorbell issue just pull it out from the hole and check contacts etc. If you cannot get it to work/light just go to Lowes or H Depot and buy a new one but LED and wire it up and push it in (with a touch of silicone or?)
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #13 –
One of our favorite things on our coach is the doorbell. I'll post a picture when I can. Its a silver metal, half golf ball, hinged at the top. You push the ball to ring the bell.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #14 –
@Jeff we definitely need a picture of that!

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #15 –
Scott I changed mine out with one from FT. You will have to "fit it" with a file /grinder. I think I just removed the top bracket on mine.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
On the Doorbell issue just pull it out from the hole and check contacts etc. If you cannot get it to work/light just go to Lowes or H Depot and buy a new one but LED and wire it up and push it in (with a touch of silicone or?)
JohnH
I replaced mine also, but with a totally waterproof model I bought from (I think) Digikey. It is small and black.

Re: disassembly of outside door assist handle?

Reply #18 –
With a new simple round Lowe's etc. doorbell button, we find that putting grease (dielectric may be better?) on the inside and wire screws.  The grease prevents corrosion, which has shortened the life of previous buttons.
We also remove the inside bulb if present.