Interior door handle return spring

Hi,

Does anyone know of a source for the spring that hides behind the chrome pull-up type interior door handle on an early +2. The spring returns the handle to the “neutral” position. Mine has snapped on the driver side and none of the usual suppliers list the item.

Or anyone have a spare they could part with at a price?

regards

dennis

Hi Dennis, Can u me mail me and I will send picture of spring ?
[email protected]

rgds john

Dennis
As a temp. fix you could use the passenger side spring…takes the urgency out of it…

John :wink:

Thanks for the replies guys.

john-c - I have the broken bits and the good passenger side spring, so picture not really required, but thanks for the offer.

john.p - I’m putting the car back together after a respray and am trying to iron-out all the niggles. swapping the problem over would just get me grief from the wife.

will try to get some spring wire and possibly wind a new one.

cheers
dennis

Its a bit of a bodge but when I had this problem I substituted 3 small springs out of ball point pens. They are not very strong but they do actually return the handle (mine is an S130 but I think it is similar) BTW some biros have very much stronger springs than others. I had dozens to choose from in a pot in the kitchen (don’t we all!)

Roy

Dennis, I have a spare spring & catch mechanism which I think is correct item for you ? If u want to email me I can send u pic to be sure. Rgds john

Is this what you need ?

John,

Just the job.
Have sent you a PM.

dennis

I now need one of these springs. Has anyone got one, can anyone suggest a supplier or can anyone fabricate one?

I also need the internal spring which sits on the locking plate behind the outer door handle. It’s a similar type of spring only smaller.

Seems like the winter has finally got the better of a few things.

Appreciated,
Ian

I’ve attached a couple of pictures highlighting my dilemma.
Am I right in thinking this whole internal door release mechanism is from a Cortina on an Early 68’ Elan +2?

Ian



The internal door handle is from an HA Vauxhall Viva, and I would assume that the mechanism is as well. It’s quite an unusual splined shaft, where the handle bolts on. The Cortina is a square section shaft.

Mark

I’ve had a quote to get some fabricated but the cost is 15 for the first one. I need to find a few takers to make it worth the cost.

I think a batch of 10 would work out at about ?4 each.

So if anyone needs an internal door spring for early +2 let me know.

Ian

Hi Mark,
If it’s HA Viva, it should be fairly easy to source as the HA Van ran on for many years.

Mike

Mike, I wouldn’t mind betting that there are more early Plus 2s left that HA Vivas…including vans! I do remember Vivas having about the most rust prone bodyshell of all the Brit cars of the 60s . When you think how rusty Minis, Imps, Cortinas and all the rest became within 5 years of being made, that’s quite an achievement!

Mark

Yes,
You’re probably right, I worked for Vauxhall throughout the 70s and ran HA Vivas and a van and they did rust! Especially the seams along the top edge of the front wings.

Mike