[Mgs] Window crank

[Richard Lindsay]

Hello Mike, *et al.*,
   My '72 Tourer suffers with the same issue, if without the broken handle.
I pull up on the glass to ease the crank mechanism. But let me comment
further.
   I just addressed this same issue on my '71 Volvo 1800E. Here's how.
   Carefully remove the handles and the door panel. Take the upper trim bit
off first by removing the four screws. BTW, this is a good time to polish
the chrome bits at the ends. And yes, buy one of those plastic tools to pop
the attachment pins loose. They're genius. With the panel off and any vapor
barrier that still exists lifted away, access to the lock, latch and window
lift mechanism is pretty straight forward. Aside: If the vapor barrier is
missing or damaged, as happens with many PO's, a cheap shower curtain liner
cut to shape, makes an excellent replacement.
   With the panel and barrier off one can clean and lubricate the
mechanisms. With a crank handle back on, the lift mechanism can be run
through its range a number of times, cleaning and lubing as it goes. (Any
oil that drips down into the door will just serve as rustproofing. :-P)
   Feeling how easily the window now moves will tell you whether the glass
tracks are a problem. Visual inspection will reveal just how worn those
tracks might be. Also, keep in mind that POs have often been in our 50+
year old car doors and may have misaligned the tracks! Yeah, just another
thing to check.
   If the glass now moves smoothly, or adequately well, you've solved your
problem. For the glass tracks, worn or fresh, I wash them with SimpleGreen
both above the door top and the bits down in the door. Once dry, test the
glass motion. Better? I've even applied a little lubricant on the tracks
but oil can get messy. So can graphite but both help old tracks if applied
quite sparingly.
   Of course, the problem could be worse yet. The glass tracks could be
damaged beyond simple cleaning. When that is the case there is nothing for
it other than removal, cleaning the frames, and replacement. Moss, etc.,
sells new glass tracks and after proper adjustment and mechanism
lubrication, the glass will move as new!
   Worth adding that this is a good time to clean and lubricate the lock
and latch mechanisms. Adjustment may be needed too as wear or some
ham-fisted PO may have messed with these bits. A flush of WD40 into the
keyway will help too, if making a mess until it dries.
   Good luck! I've done this job a number of times on LBCs and LBOthers.
It's always rewarding, if a bit laborious. And now I'm about to do it again
on my '72.

Rick, '72 MGB Tourer, etc.

On Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 1:19 AM Michael MacLean <springer.mike51 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I have broken the plastic window crank several times trying to roll up the
> driver's side window.  Where is the best place to lubricate the mechanism?
> Or, is there an adjustment I can make to the mechanism to take the pressure
> off the window crank?
> Mike MacLean
>
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