What's wrong with this window regulator?

[charliec]

I'm still jacking with the windows, doors, division bars, seals, channels, stops, glides, slides...

It's trying my patience to say the least. After much blood and sweat, I've finally got the window frame and door glass in place, the rear channel is in, the lift channel is in and everything is greased. The last thing is the regulator. That's where I'm currently stuck. In order to line up and install the three 1/4" bolts that hold the regulator in, the regulator needs to be cranked around to an almost fully up position. When I crank it to the fully up position on the bench (with great difficulty because the spring is so tight), that same tight spring causes it to re-rotate and snap back on its own to its fully down position before I can get it into the door and bolted in. It doesn't seem right that the window regulator has a "default" position, but that's what its doing.

The strange thing is that the other door regulator doesn't do that; it cranks to whatever position I want it at, and it stays there.

So what's wrong with this window regulator???

 

[69FBCuda]

Photos would help

 

[Murray]

There should be a built-in stop for up & down, limiting the range of the arm.

 

[charliec]

Will post YouTube video shortly.

 

[charliec]

There should be a built-in stop for up & down, limiting the range of the arm.

Yes, there is a stop. This doesn't involve that though. The problem is that it won't stop at any position along the arc of travel from down-to-up. It snaps back to the down positon on its own. See YouTube video when I link it.

 

[charliec]

Here is a video of what's going on.



As I said above, the other regulator (driver side) holds whatever position I crank it to.

 

[Murray]

Good video. Can the spring be reversed?

 

[RAT ROD AL]

Everyone I've stripped out of a door, they stay in what ever position you crank it to. . Either someone messed with the spring tension somehow or you need a different one !

 

[RAT ROD AL]

What is the car ?

 

[charliec]

'68 Dart, 2 DrHT. This is from the passenger side door.

 

[Plymouth 65]

I'll check the one I have and see if it works properly. If so, I'll send it to you cheap. 65

 

[70SwingerGuy]

I agree with the other guys on that its probably the spring. Since you have the drivers reg out as well, does it work as it should? If so, it should be pretty easy to set them side by side and compare spring position to see if the pass side is installed correctly.

 

[charliec]

I'll check the one I have and see if it works properly. If so, I'll send it to you cheap. 65

That would be cool. Thanks.

 

[Syleng1]

1/2 way there on automatic windows Charlie. Sorry sir, just kidding. Cranking hard tells me it is either very dry (which will not effect staying in place) OR the spring is on backwards. It’s supposed to be like a garage door torsion spring. Only there to help balance the weight of the glass for smoother cranking.
Odds are something is backwards. Also, holding the arm that moves is not what should happen. Can you clamp the rivet to door flanges in a vice and crank it that way?

 

[charliec]

I agree with the other guys on that its probably the spring. Since you have the drivers reg out as well, does it work as it should? If so, it should be pretty easy to set them side by side and compare spring position to see if the pass side is installed correctly.

The springs are identical. Both seem to be installed in the correct direction, i.e. not reversed. The only thing different between the one that works and the one that doesn't is that they are opposite hand.

 

[Murray]

Remove the spring and then see how it operates.

 

[Plymouth 65]

I checked the set I have and they work as they should. After looking at it I see where the crank assembly is riveted on w/3 rivets. That crank assembly contains a stop as the spring loads, the stop is deployed once you let go of the handle. 65

 

[charliec]

1/2 way there on automatic windows Charlie. Sorry sir, just kidding. Cranking hard tells me it is either very dry (which will not effect staying in place) OR the spring is on backwards. It’s supposed to be like a garage door torsion spring. Only there to help balance the weight of the glass for smoother cranking.
Odds are something is backwards. Also, holding the arm that moves is not what should happen. Can you clamp the rivet to door flanges in a vice and crank it that way?

That seems like something to consider, but I can't find any difference between the one that works and the one that doesn't. The one on the right is the driver's side, and it works fine. The one on the left is the passenger side, and it doesn't work. A closer look at the springs shows that they are installed identically except opposite hand as they should be.

And, I'm not about the remove a spring when there is nothing obviously wrong with it. That has to be a b&*%ch to put back on.

The only thing about these two assemblies that I can't observe in order to compare them is inside the crank pivot itself. That's the only place I can't see, and its riveted closed so as to be "unservicable" anyway. That has to be where the problem is.

Anyway, Plymouth 65 is offering me one that works at a very reasonable price, so I think I'll just go that way and move on.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I had one like that. Needless to say I ended up getting another one. The one I had the assembly where the handle attaches was bad. Your not going to fix it without major surgery and many curse words, Been there.

 

[Syleng1]

That seems like something to consider, but I can't find any difference between the one that works and the one that doesn't. The one on the right is the driver's side, and it works fine. The one on the left is the passenger side, and it doesn't work. A closer look at the springs shows that they are installed identically except opposite hand as they should be.

View attachment 1716437362 View attachment 1716437363

And, I'm not about the remove a spring when there is nothing obviously wrong with it. That has to be a b&*%ch to put back on.

The only thing about these two assemblies that I can't observe in order to compare them is inside the crank pivot itself. That's the only place I can't see, and its riveted closed so as to be "unservicable" anyway. That has to be where the problem is.

Anyway, Plymouth 65 is offering me one that works at a very reasonable price, so I think I'll just go that way and move on.

That’s awesome news. Great help on here. Good luck and if you ever do figure it out… reply to this thread as it may keep another from going crazy with the same issue.
Syleng1

 

[charliec]

I think Oldmanmopar and I both came to the same conclusion. The only thing it can be is something in that enclosed part where the shaft for the window crank resides. It is all riveted together, so it is not reasonably servicable. Just know that if you run into the problem described above, start looking for a replacement; it's not worth trying to repair the old one unless you have nothing better to do.

 

[charliec]

Well, at least the Driver's side works! It needs adjustment, but it's in and it works.