MK1 Escort Door Handles HELP!

[jamescornell]

I am sure this post will tickle some people but I am at my wits end. I want to remove the door cards from my MK1 4-door to refit the material and grease up the door mechanisms but I cannot remove the door handles or window winders. I have read the Haynes manual which refers to a non existent "central screw" and I have read some other posts which mention a cir-clip, which is also no present.

I have tried to gently wiggle the handles off but they are definitely secured with something and I don't want to force them too much. Can anyone give me some advice because I am not sure what to do now.

[exboyracer]

There is a circlip around the base of the handles on that type, you need to push them off with a thin screwdriver between the handle and the door card.

[jamescornell]

I must be missing something, both me and "longmans" mulled over the handles for about 20 mins and we could not see anything What is the best way to approach the handles? i.e. where to put the screwdriver in 2 o'clock etc.

[essyrwd]

I hate these things

your right though nasty c clip thingy you cant get too ,been a long time since ive had a fiddle .
Think you get to it between the handle and the black back plate .
Which ever way you get to it you will need to slide a thin flat plate or scrapper between the door card back plate or handle to expose the clip to find out which side you you need to be pushing it off from .
The problem with pushing something in between to expose it is you put load on the clip which makes harder to get off ..
It might pay to get some one else to apply pressure to the door card ,push it in with something that wont damage it with the door shut and from the inside.
Might be better for you to open the window and look down and in from the outside as its hard to get your head and eyes close enough to the door card to see what you are doing Or use a mirror from your hand bag
This is how i would tackle it and im sure someone else will tell you a better way or let you know if there is some special tool for the job.
Hope this might help you with your fiddling

[jamescornell]

That's smashing advice, I will ask Lizzy to hold the door card back and I will get some sheet steel (de-burred) and try and slide the little sucker off!

[Dave]

Steel ruler is very useful.

[jamescornell]

Good call dave! it's only £1 from wilko even if I bend it

[POO SLINGER]

m8 had same problem on his 4 door. i think pushing the door card in will reveal the dreaded clip.

[jamescornell]

I know it is a dreadded little task, I keep putting it off at the moment

[mullz]

if you put a hook on a piece of welding wire you can hook it behind the clip and pull it out from the side. to replace just put circlip on handle and push it on the spindle

[trig]

These tool piss them off

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313

[jpblue]

Try a sock...like a condom...slide over the handle and rotate it around a bit it usually catches the circlip and frees it up. If you don't know how to use a condom your on your own.

JP

[Dave]

The fact that I didn't know how to use a condom is the entire reason I am not alone.

[jamescornell]

Nice one trig, tool ordered. For the sake of £6 it is not worth knackering the door card by pushing it too hard. Can anyone remember which way the clip comes out, for example do I need to put the tool in from 12 o'clock going down? or 3 o'clock going sideways?

[jamescornell]

Quick delivery and ready to play, I might have a go at lunch time if I can get home quickly

[glasgowgolfer]

Hi There
Did this tool do the job ok?

cheers

[katana]

The OP hasn't been around for about a year so unlikely to answer you!