Door handle

Al,
If you still have the 108-0 handles and doors, there is a screw in the center of the inside handle as well as a screw on the little lock latch. Then to get to the latch mechanism you have to take the bottom window molding off and the upholstery.
The latches usually break from folks that are used to Cessnas and slamming slam the Stinson doors. They should be gently pulled tight with the latch handle down and then released to latch the door.
I had to make a new bolt that I fabricated from a commercial door lock and installed it in the latch mechanism. Probably did that about 40 years ago so don't remember all the detaisl. I have a pair of 108 doors in Indiana, but don't remember if they still have latches in them.

Larry

No sign of a screw in the handle... It's the lock mechanism that isn't engaging, but until I get it apart I don't know if it's the lock or the latch. I'll look and see if there's a cover on the handle.

Al

Al,
Maybe they put -3 doors on your plane when they put the -3 rear windows in it. Does it have flush outside handles? If so, it is -3 doors.
Attached is a photo I took a few minutes ago of my inside handle. You can see clearly the screw at the point of rotation and securing to the square shaft. The similar screw on the lock lever is hidden behind the handle in the photo.

Larry

This is my door handle

Al

Those are not like mine, but they are similar to my car. At least not that I recall, I would have to check.

The way those work are to push or pull the base plate, and there is a pin underneath that can be removed to release the handle. I would check to see if you can shift that middle section back to reveal the pin.

To be honest, Larry’s look like they were replaced long ago.

Brian

Brian,
Remember, my plane is an original 108-0. Al's fuselage is a 108-0 but at some time in its life it appears to have been assembled from other planes as it has parts from later dash numbers.
Brian, your inside handles have to have the trim ring compressed against the door to gain access to a pin, about 1/16" that goes through the smaller part of the handle and through the square shank of the latch. I have a brand new, never removed from the wax coating inside and outside handles like yours and the inside handle has the pin hole. It appears that you have Station Wagon wood trim which probably makes it more difficult to compress the spring that is usually behind the chrome trim ring, and yes, it is like many automotive inside handles and even my '65 Mooney has a pin securing the inside handle.
But I am absolutely sure that my inside handles are original and have never been changed. Apparently the change came when they changed over to the 1947 model year in October, 1946, along with several other changes including the bolt to the door frame assist handles instead of the welded loop, changed control wheels from the aluminum loop to the molded control wheels that the rest of the series sported.
My outside handles are just like yours.
Most likely they replaced Al's original 108-0 doors with a pair off a later plane. They all fit, but have different window locks and some other small mods too.
What you are suggesting to Al is correct if he has inside handles like yours and not like mine.

Larry

Those pictures are of my door handles... and yes, it has the Station Wagon interior.

I've tried compressing the trim ring but it hardly moves - I'll get a bigger hammer...

Al

Ah. Larry, I didn't know they made that type of change for the straight 108 to the 108-1. Always good to know.

thanks, and good luck Al.
Brian

Sorry, Al,

I thought Brian had posted photos of his door handles. You might just try using a screw driver or knife blade between the smaller diameter ring and the handle. You will be pushing towards the door against a spring. I have not needed to do that on any plane with handles like yours. Mine are easy to get off, obviously.
Good luck.