Door handle

[rnealon1]

Hi all and thanks for all the info. It is actually the splines on the shafts and not inside the handles that are worn. There are no c clips on the existing handles just a set screw, but I have a second set of the escutcheon type with clips. The same problem exists because the shaft splines are worn.

The question is how hard would it be to remove and replace the shafts if they could be obtained.

I will provide some pictures when able.

Thanks,

Bob

[n2582d]

The question is how hard would it be to remove and replace the shafts if they could be obtained.

After removing the handle and the interior panel remove the four screws securing the door handle bearing plate assembly. Remove the cotter pin that holds the latch stop clevis in place.

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Next remove the cotter pin that holds the clevis pin that attaches the door latch strap. That's it.

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[rnealon1]

Thanks Gary,

It appears from the IPC that the shaft is the same for both sides although I have seen them listed as LH or RH. If anyone has a good source let me know.

Thanks,

Bob

[n2582d]

Bob,
One needs to put on a Sherlock Holmes’ hat to discover the part number for the shaft on the right hand door. There are two figures that show the parts breakdown for the right hand door, depending on serial number, figure 34 and 34A. The main difference between these two is that the later 170B’s do not have a right door window that opens. But, if you’re looking for the interior door handle shaft, compare where you would expect to find the shaft to where it is actually found in the IPC. On both figures it’s item #21 which I’ve circled in red.

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To further confuse, Cessna says there to “see figure 33-26” which gives only one p/n for the shaft — 0511227. But on fig. 34 and 34A that hard to find part number is 0511227-1. The difference is the arm is reversed. The shafts for the left and right doors are not interchangeable. Looking online, these shafts are rather expensive. Looking closely at the part, it is actually an assembly of several parts silver soldered together. I think one could heat the part and pull out the spline shaft and replace it with a new 16-spline 7/16” shaft which has been machined to match the original. So far I have been unable to find such a stub shaft online.

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[n2582d]

If one is more concerned with quality than originality, for $200 McFarlane offers a machined billet aluminum handle. Further details are found in their ICA.

[dstates]

There are a couple of the shafts on ebay right now and I've seen them there off and on over the years. The two that I see there now are pricey for the questionable condition. You might want to call some of the scrap yards like BAS and see what they have...

If you are looking for the actual handle, there are quite a few of those on ebay.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/225436174338?m ... media=COPY

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225436108322?m ... media=COPY

[GAHorn]

Hi all and thanks for all the info. It is actually the splines on the shafts and not inside the handles that are worn. There are no c clips on the existing handles just a set screw, but I have a second set of the escutcheon type with clips. The same problem exists because the shaft splines are worn.

The question is how hard would it be to remove and replace the shafts if they could be obtained.

I will provide some pictures when able.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob, could you post a pic of your handles? There are existing (from auto parts stores) some aftermarket door handles which have nylon or plastic inserts and set-screws. They are sold as car-part replacements for mis-matched car door sets. I suspect that is what you have instead of genuine Cessna (Chevy) door handles.
In other words, we may be chasing a door mechanism which is worn-out, or is damaged or modified from the use of “incorrect” door handles.

This is something occasionally which throws a monkey-wrench into the works…. the airplane is assumed to be original and the owner wonders why substitute parts don’t fit…when sometimes the opposite is true…the airplane is modified so that parts won’t fit. In This Case, I’m thinking someone substituted the aftermarket car-part because they couldn’t locate replacement parts, …or the door-mechanism was worn or modified. A pic of the existing handle and door shaft/mechanism might be revealing.

[rnealon1]

George I suspect you are correct and I see log entries about the door handles being loose going back many decades.

If I loosen the set screw and push the handle in far enough the splines “grab” but otherwise the shaft is too worn.

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[rnealon1]

Also here are the handles received at a previous convention auction. My IA experienced the same spline/slipping situation so left the existing ones with the set screw.

Thanks,

Bob

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[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Bob you have a 1954 serial 26181. According to the IPC and my detective work your airplane originally came with and your splines match with '53 Mercury. NOT any Chevy handle as George insists on. George's favorite Chevy handle was used on all 170s prior to serial 26039.

Bob your pictures don't clearly show us what handles you have. The first with the single handle seems to say FOMOCO. According to my research late '50s and early '60s Ford Motor products used the spline. Some of these '50s versions had clips, later '60s versions used a allen screw. I can't tell for sure but the single handle in the picture looks like it might be from a Ford Mustang.

The picture you show with the two handles looks to be the '53 Mercury handles which if they are, are correct. We need to see a picture of these handles from the side and top to identify them better.

The '53 Mercury with good shaft splines and handle splines and the correct clip work well. Unfortunately '53 Mercury handles are very hard to find in the used car parts world as there was very few '53 Mercury's built. And there for there is no market for anyone to make reproductions of that handle. As I said there were a few other FOMOCO handles that won't match the correct '53 Merc handle but will fit the splines and have the correct clip position and should be tight and secure. I seem to recall these are from T-Birds about '58-"61 area but don't hold me to this.

53 ford Mercury and and the Merc spline it fits .jpeg

53 Ford Merc handle and the spline it fits.jpeg

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Note how the slot in the spline will line up with the slot in the handle when the handle is fully inserted on the spline. Note the spline assembly shown is an actual Merc. spline. The Cessna spline assembly is different but the shaft the same.

Chevy handle and the spline it fits.jpeg

Chevy handle and cessna spline it fits.jpeg

This is the Chevy handle and spline found on all stock 170s up to serial 26038*. The spline shown is from a 48 and 49 170, later splines where an assembly but the shaft the same. Note how the slot on the shaft would line up in the Chevy handle with the handle fully installed on the shaft. Compare the the differences between the early spline shaft and the later and you will see why a Chevy handle wont work on a serial 26039* and later spline shaft and vice versa.

*serial numbers edited to correct numbers

[GAHorn]

Bob you have a 1954 serial 26181. According to the IPC and my detective work your airplane originally came with and your splines match with '53 Mercury. NOT any Chevy handle as George insists on. George's favorite Chevy handle was used on all 170s prior to serial 26039.

Bruce…what doesn’t seem to fit the scenario you describe…is …if you look at the B-model IPC, pg 60/61… the Shaft which AlL the interior handles supposedly fit upon…is the SAME PN…. 0511227 …regardless of serial number. Makes it difficult to explain these door handles that disagree with the splines which are claimed to be different….versus the reality of what is found in the field.

One more “mystery” of the IPC.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Bruce…what doesn’t seem to fit the scenario you describe…is …if you look at the B-model IPC, pg 60/61… the Shaft which AlL the interior handles supposedly fit upon…is the SAME PN…. 0511227 …regardless of serial number. Makes it difficult to explain these door handles that disagree with the splines which are claimed to be different….versus the reality of what is found in the field.

One more “mystery” of the IPC.

George, your right the IPC doesn't list a spline part number change, but if you look just above the spline PN at item 6 and 8 you will see the handle and the clip changed. The new '53 Merc handle and spline takes a square clip.

If you look at the 172/175 IPC page 131-132, you will see the spline is now PN 0511227-7, the door handle and clip are the same PN as those listed for the 170 serial 26039 on. BTW this IPC is still showing an illustration of a 39 Chevy handle which a 172 never had.

I've added a picture to my post above that I'd thought I had posted before, which clearly shows how the later spline and clip slot would line up in the 53 Merc handle and if you compare that to the early spline you should see that the later handle won't work on the early spline and vice versa.

The latch was essentially the same until about 1968, other than the spline and number of springs. And we know that is the case of doors as well with hinge changes. So it is no wonder why you might see later doors and latches in earlier 170s and vice versa. But according to the IPC it was Chevy to SN 26038 and Merc after that and on into the 172 years.

[rnealon1]

Thanks everyone, I think these handles from the convention auction match Bruce’s detective work for my S/N 170B. When I compare the shafts on my doors to Bruce’s photos I see that the splines are next to the door (below the clip groove) and not near the end that goes into the handle. The splines are not engaging with the handle.

I think the shafts are incorrect.

Bob

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[rnealon1]

I could always order new ones...

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[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Bob, I concur, it looks like your airplane has early splines though it should not per the IPC. Your door panel does have the correct metal escutcheon shield on it thought, that is the part on your panel that the spline stick through. This escutcheon shield is part of the change after serial 26039 that would be fully covered by the 53 Merc handle. Earlier 170s with the Chevy handle did not use this escutcheon in favor of another spring loaded style.

At this point, you could collect the Chevy handle, clip and proper escutcheon and install it and your handles would not be correct per the IPC or you could find the correct splines and square clips and use them