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Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 5 2015, 11:25 AM

My early window regulator is failing. The little button that attaches the regulator to the window was missing. I sourced an AA part but it sucks. Anyone have a good solution for this?

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 5 2015, 11:29 AM

There is no working replacement. The plastic button is a press fit onto the metal and once it comes lose, there is no way to get it back in there tight.

I tried many different things and eventually ended up just buying a used regulator with the button still firmly attached.

Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 6 2015, 02:23 PM

So, Andy didn't give me muuch hope but I tried to figure out a fix anyway.
Looking at the button, it is held on the regulator by a sharp little pint on either side of the square piece that goes up and down. I figured I just needed a button that could be secured another way.
I found an extra VW door stop roller and modified it to fit

Posted by: BeatNavy Jan 6 2015, 02:25 PM

Nicely done!

Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 6 2015, 02:26 PM

Then I drilled a 3/32 hole in one side. This gave me a pilot hole. I held the roller on the regulator and drilled through the regulator and other side of the roller.






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Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 6 2015, 02:29 PM

I used a 3/32x3/4" stainless cotter pin. (I'm a sailboat rigger)




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Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 6 2015, 02:33 PM

The pin was a nice fit, a slight bend secures the pin and the pin secures my new roller to the regulator.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 6 2015, 02:43 PM

I'm pretty sure there's a market for a repair kit!

Posted by: BeatNavy Jan 6 2015, 02:45 PM

What were the actual "symptoms" of your failing regulator, as I have some issues on mine I need to address and wonder if this may be a fix?

Thanks.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 6 2015, 03:03 PM

The symptom is that the regulator will pop out of the button and your window won't roll up or worse fall down inside the door.
The handle will move freely but your window will not (Careful, you can also scratch your window).

Btw., cleaning the regulator wire, channel and button slider plus adding a generous amount of grease can do wonders to the operation of your early windows!

Posted by: BeatNavy Jan 6 2015, 03:23 PM

Thanks Andy. So that's probably not any of my issues, one of which is the regulator tends to pop out of the channel even though I've cleaned/lubed up the channel. That and the window not staying at the top of its travel.

Posted by: OU8AVW Jan 6 2015, 04:18 PM

Maybe Mark will jump on it!

Posted by: Mr Pharmacist Jan 6 2015, 04:23 PM

I hope he does - i need 2 for mine - sick of taking the door cards off to pop them back on!

Posted by: Mikey914 Jan 13 2015, 09:36 PM

Pretty sure this button is close to the ones I currently make for the late. I'd only need to put a slot into it to, instead of the ball socket.


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Posted by: Mikey914 Jan 13 2015, 09:41 PM

Or if you can use the door stay roller ?


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Posted by: Mikey914 Jan 13 2015, 09:42 PM

These are delrin, so they can take some abuse.

Posted by: anderssj Nov 12 2016, 03:38 PM

Thanks for posting this! The button came off the early style (1972) driver's side window regulator (again), so with cold weather coming I was lucky to find this thread.

I have a spare/broken regulator with a button just in case, so I may try drilling and pinning the original style nylon (?) button and regulator. What have I got to lose, right?

The good news is that it's the only new "glitch" in 3 days/>150 miles of post-MX test drives . . .