The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Dwyer, ...here's the puzzle: That door handle pn 2102254 already in your possession has fit every model 170 I've ever referred it to.
I'm wondering if you 1- didn't quite install it properly, or 2-if your shaft splines have been damaged, or 3-if Chevys of the 40s didn't send you an improperly labelled part.

I have a spare shaft I could send you to see if the handles fit it, and you can use to compare to your existing shafts.
PM, email, or call me with your address if you desire that avenue.
My email is gahorn (at) cessna170.org or contact info is also on the front page of your Flypaper.

The early handles and the late handles all fit the same shaft. So if you want a functional handle it will (should) work.

But no matter how hard you imagine the early handles will not look like the late handles. That's probably why he's looking for the later handle rather than the one he got.

Oh, Dear! NOW I see what happened! I mis-read your earlier response, Bruce, not realizing your comment about the shaft was an old response to Pete and not a current response to Dwyer!
OK, I see now, his complaint is NOT the fitment of the part number which was shipped to him..., but the appearance of the handle...(apparently he did not note that the part was depicted earlier with a photograph)... he ordered the part anyway apparently hoping it might look different than the picture of it I posted.

Dwyer, disregard that last post I made to you then. I suggest you shop the old car parts suppliers for what you want, but be aware that once you find a handle identical to the damaged one from your airplane, the replacement has the possibility of not fitting the door shaft if the splines have a different pitch. Keep us posted of what you discover.

Hello Fellow C-170 Members,

I have recently been having a problem with the passenger door of my 1959 C-172. Since the 172 doesn't have an opening passenger window the only way to close the door when inside is to use the door handle as a pull handle.

Recently, the door handle has been popping off in my hand as I use it as a pull handle to close the door. It doesn't appear that the splines are worn. I can unlock the door when it is closed. There is a rather flimsy wire type of circlip that holds the door closed. The door shaft has a channel that the circle fits into to prevent the handle from being pulled off when closing the door and it doesn't appear to be buggered up. Is this a problem anyone is familiar with? The wire circlip doesn't look to be a standard type of circlip.

Does a circlip come with new door handles? Or has anyone installed some type of pull handle directly onto the door? This may not be a 170 issue with its opening window.

Regards,
Pete P.
1959 C-172

Another, MORE expensive but well worth it IMHO, is to replace your right hand door with a later model 172 door that has an opening window. I looked long and hard at installing an opening window in my '56 172, but not being an engineer or aircraft builder, I never could determine how to do so. I purchased two later model 172 doors and had my IA install them. He did make the comment that he felt Cessna must have hand fit all their doors as it took him quite an effort to get mine installed. However, it is and has been well worth the effort and expense to have made the conversion.

I think it is a bad idea to close the door by pulling on the door handle. Someday it will fail. I always open the window and use the door frame to close the door. Where there is no window, some other method should be devised to pull the door closed. Since I don't know what those no-window doors look like it is hard to suggest any specific door pull handle. But I'm sure something could easily be figured out from a simple strap to an arm rest type handle.

My friend here in Murfreesboro has a 1960 Cessna 172 with that same screwed up Cessna, non opening right hand window. A prior owner installed a simple cabinet door/drawer handle just below the window and at the aft portion of the door. It is secured by two screws and works very well. Cost= almost nothing. (Not sure if the cabinet pull is FAA/PMA'd or not )

Both of my interior door handles have the splined shaft worn out/stripped. This has apparently been the case for a long time and the handles are held on the shafts by set screws which constantly loosen up.

What is the degree of difficulty in replacing the shafts on these handle mechanisms? A quick search shows some used ones.

I think my handles are fine but I am the proud owner of a set from the Convention Auction if not.

Thanks,

Bob

rnealon1 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2024 10:48 pm Both of my interior door handles have the splined shaft worn out/stripped. This has apparently been the case for a long time and the handles are held on the shafts by set screws which constantly loosen up.

What is the degree of difficulty in replacing the shafts on these handle mechanisms? A quick search shows some used ones.

I think my handles are fine but I am the proud owner of a set from the Convention Auction if not.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob..this is a subject which has been discussed several times. The interior door handles from some 1940’s Chevy pickup trucks are what Cessna used…and they are available at very reasonable costs from Chevys of the 40’s website. https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/89 ... _4048.html

(some of the very late 170’s used a different handle from the Ford/Mercury cars… those are identifiable as they have a large, flat escutcheon incorporated into the handle rather than as a separate part situated between the early handle and the door-panel.)

See these threads: http://cessna170.org/forums/viewtopic.p ... ve#p122842

viewtopic.php?t=15087


This is the early handle from the Chevy….
The handles are attached to the splined-shaft inside the door panel and held by a C-clip…. (pkg of 10 available from most NAPA auto parts stores (aviation section)

A shop rag…slid behind/between the door handle and the door panel will usually “snag” the clip and pull it free and allow you to remove the handle. Install the clip into the new handle’s “slot” BEFORE reinstalling it on the shaft and ti will lock onto the shaft.

There is also a special tool for removing these handles…but the shop rag technique frankly is easier. THIS thread discusses that:

viewtopic.php?t=12949

Here is a typical escutcheon which sits between the handle and the panel in “deluxe” interior installations.
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/89 ... _Ring.html

Footnote; I have NOT confirmed this but I suspect THIS may also fit the later 170s which used the “mercury” type interior handles.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1949-196 ... ,3100.html

Vice Grips work great, and you always have a handy tool when your fuel selector handle breaks off

GAHorn wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 4:30 pm (some of the very late 170’s used a different handle from the Ford/Mercury cars… those are identifiable as they have a large, flat escutcheon incorporated into the handle rather than as a separate part situated between the early handle and the door-panel.)

Some of the very late 170??? Really George, you mean ALL 170s '54 model serial 26039 and beyond and several years of the 172 after that.

See this thread for pictures of the '54 handles. viewtopic.php?t=13473

It could be the steel door handle shaft splines are gone Bob. But it is much more likely the splines in your soft metal handle are gone. Look at the pictures in the thread I linked. Early splines have the slot for the clip in a different place than 54 and later because the clip is in a different place in the tow handles used. One of the handles the clip will not hold and it will not go in the slot, the other would but would be a loose fit I'd doubt anyone would like.

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

rnealon1 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 12:50 amThe 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.Next remove the cotter pin that holds the clevis pin that attaches the door latch strap. That's it.

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

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.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.