Main Door Handle Breaking

[tbettes]

We have a 84 31' Excella and the main door handle is beginning to break. Anyone know where I can get a replacement handle. Local dealer suggested replacing the whole mechanism with a newer different size version. We would like to keep this lock and handle working.

Thanks
Tom

[dscluchfc]

Inland RV has the replacement handles.

Airstream Innovations at Inland RV Center, Inc. (951) 734-8130


There is some slight modification needed to the door frame and trimming of the templates to get the new handle/lock to fit properly inside the door and to the door frame.

The old handle/lock is slightly larger than the replacement and will leave a hole that is too big in your door....thus the templates for inside and out.
Take out the old handle/lock from the door. You will notice the hole is too big for the new unit, AND the new unit has the dead bolt in the door handle.
Slightly modify the door frame to accept the deadbolt and new striker plate.
Trim the template aluminum pieces to fit under the midline rail.
Remember you can always trim a little more, but it impossible to add aluminum back on after it is cut off. <smile>

Installation takes a couple of hours unlesss you are skilled with sheet metal work and have ALL the right tools, then maybe you can install faster. Once installed, a few Olymic rivits to the templates and some Vulkem will seal things up nicely.

I like the new door handle on my 84 Excella 31 footer....I bet you will too.

[tbettes]

I will go there when this one breaks. I have enough other things to fix first.

I enjoyed your Moab pictures. I did a workshop with Moose Peterson there a few years ago.

Your delicate arch picture is very nice. Did you go to Dead Horse Overlook or point for a sunset? ANother awesome place for shots.

I appreciate the help.

Tom

[dscluchfc]

Tom, Thanks for the kind words on the pics.
I was at Dead Horse Point State Park during the monsoon season, and the shot I took from there is in a panorama on page 3 of the flickr site, (large version link below)
Flickr Photo Download: Dead Horse Point, UT

There was a t-storm in progress over the canyon in the distance. I thought it turned out pretty nice. This is actually the center cut of a 270 degree panorama. in the full pano you can actually identify the curvature of the earth.

My door handle began cracking in the pot metal on my trip to Hovenweep last Summer. By the time I got home, I was having to open the door with a screwdriver. The replacement handle is much nicer.
If you would like, I can try to take a shot of the replacement handle as it appears today, installed, and post here.

[John Burkey]

Hello,

Just to let yoy guys know, I make a stainless steel replacement handle for 1978 to 1993 entry door. I made the first one for me and decided to make it available to others.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by John Burkey

Hello,

Just to let yoy guys know, I make a stainless steel replacement handle for 1978 to 1993 entry door. I made the first one for me and decided to make it available to others.

I just finished installing one of John's stainless steel handles. It is a very nice piece of work and installation is not difficult. He furnished good instructions.

My handle had only begun to crack, but failure was inevitable sometime in the future. It's nice to get something done proactively vs. reactively.

Forgive the blobs of Alcoa Gutterseal around the lock. I went to get my MEK to cleanup and found that I was out. I'll cleanup better in a few days. Right now I am glad to be done today and inside out of the nearly gale force winds.

[tbettes]

Originally Posted by John Burkey

Hello,

Just to let yoy guys know, I make a stainless steel replacement handle for 1978 to 1993 entry door. I made the first one for me and decided to make it available to others.

John

I would like to get one of the door handles. I will measure ours tomorrow to make sure it is a fit and send you measurements but I am guessing it will be. How much do you want for one and do you have any made up. There is no hurry but I started this thread and would like to have the door fixed before we start a big trip in mid summer.

Thanks
Tom

[nicholaskmt]

Originally Posted by John Burkey

Hello,

Just to let yoy guys know, I make a stainless steel replacement handle for 1978 to 1993 entry door. I made the first one for me and decided to make it available to others.

John, I would like to buy one of your stainless steel replacement handles for my 1978 Excella 500. Please furnish me with more information on price, shipping and exact size. I bought one many years ago and replaced a broken one and now that one is broken. Thanks for making it available!!

Nicholaskmt

[airnewby]

Trying to contact John Burkey of Mogadore, Ohio. Need handle for 84 Sovereign before I am locked in or out. A Newby

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by airnewby

Trying to contact John Burkey of Mogadore, Ohio. Need handle for 84 Sovereign before I am locked in or out. A Newby

I PM'd you John's contact info including email.

[c44link]

Dear john, Would like to buy one of your door handles. My e-mail is clickthelinks@comcast.net Thanks Curt

[Dog Doc]

John, I need a door handle as well for my 79 AS trailer. My e-mail is gentrychris95@yahoo.com
I tried to PM you but it would not let me cause I am a new member

Chris

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by Dog Doc

John, I need a door handle as well for my 79 AS trailer. My e-mail is gentrychris95@yahoo.com
I tried to PM you but it would not let me cause I am a new member

Chris

Hi Chris,

I emailed John your contact info so he should be in touch.

Welcome to the forums. I'm just southeast of Little Rock near Wrightsville. Good to have another member in the area.

[bnbsommons]

John,

Please send info on how I can get a handle for my 86 Excella 32 footer. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
~Bruce

[belaca]

Thanks John,
You did a great job on making the exterior door handle for my 1986 Sovereign.

Judy

[JimAspinwall]

I need a new handle as well. Left a PM for John, awaiting reply.

[JoeKim]

Hi John...are you still making entry door handles? We have a 31 foot 1983 Airstream travel trailer with a broken entry handle (big surprise). How much do you charge for the replacement? Also, there is a crack on the inner plate around the inside handle. Have you had anyone ask about a replacement or repair for that? Thank you! Kim

[JimAspinwall]

... but the tabs on the internal slider plate that pulls the bolt back.

I ordered one of John's handles - a work of art... but it is the wrong dimensions for my 1988 Excella. I also ordered the entire mechanism with filler plates just in case.

While stressing over whether or not to bite the bullet and do the new lock mod I took apart the original lock and determined that the protuding tangs on the door handle were OK, they simply had nothing to make contact and pull the bolt back.

See picture... obviously the metal tabs are gone. Look to either side of the oval hole in the middle. The irregularities in the squarish holes are evidence something was there.

I would have had my neighborhood "metal magician" weld on new tabs but he was off in the Baja racing his buggy so I had to get creative, at least temporarily.

Just above the square holes is barely enough room to put replacement tabs of sorts. I could have used some small angle brackets, but opted for a pair of 1/4" hex standoffs.

I removed the plate, drilled and countersunk (on the back side) holes for flathead 6-32 screws. Mounted the standoffs of the front side - tah-dah! Good as new.

Apparently I do not have pics of the disassembly, drilling, etc. but a pic of the final result as seen from the handle-view.

I hope, if you can get it all apart, you can figure out what I did.

Replacement plates may not be too difficult to make - if you can find someone will to take the time to probably laser or water-jet cut all the holes, etc. but I think welding on a new stainless tab may be cheaper, quicker and easier.

This does not help the possibility that my handle will eventually break

[Tony Burton]

Hi John,

I need a new door handle for my 1983 Limited. Please send me contact information.

Tony

[perryg114]

I have been making the Keeler brass door handles on a limited basis. I don't have any at the moment but that may change. PM me if you want details.

Here is a related thread.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f453...dle-87188.html

Perry