Door hinge pin removal

[lpl87]

How hard is it to remove the top door hinge pin to install a hinge mirror on a 1930 coupe ?

[Rowdy]

That is a loaded question. Somewhere between not too bad to next to impossible. Several variables like rust, wear paint. Since your car looks restored it may not be too bad depending on what was done or not done during restoration. Re-using worn pins can cause sharp ridges for the pin to catch on. Using standard sized pins with worn holes they may slide right out. Boring for oversized pins could be very tight, but smooth once moving. Removing is always a crap shoot. Rod

[lpl87]

Mac's has a door pin removal tool for $25.99. Would that be $ well spent ?? I wouldn't be reusing the old pins because the mirrors come with new ones.

[Mitch]

Ok i'll start with that many have good luck using the tool. Now there is more than one style of tool being made, and i am not sure which one your talking about. If the paint is a concern you need to be very careful that you do not nick it when using a tool. Like Rod said sometimes they pop right out and sometimes they have grooves from the internal hinge uneven surfaces which lock them in.

Below is how i do them::


Drill through each side of the pin about an inch then knock it through with a punch that fits the hole you drilled properly.. The pin metal is soft so they drill pretty easy.. Taking it to about 5/32 will suffice.. No need to go the exact size of the pin... Do yourself a favor and protect around the work area / body with some painters tape and some towels...

I have had the tool fail me many times ... This method always works..
Be careful not to break a drill bit in it as your up stepping the sizes

The idea is after drilling in each direction the pin collapses in on itself when punching it

Usually the head of the pin break right off which is a good thing when going the drill route

[Mitch]

May i add that having the tool work is hit or miss. I just drill them all now plus as mentioned with this method the paint is much safer!

[BNCHIEF]

Great tip Mitch this method never occurred to me

[plyfor]

The tool can work but as stated also can scratch the top and bottom hinge surfaces even when taped if it wobbles. Hopefully you have touch up paint for your car. Also protect door and rain gutter with cardboard, etc. On some cars, a jobbers length bit or rt angle drill attachment may be needed to get the bit aligned.

[lpl87]

No I wish I knew where to find touch up paint. Not for sure what color it is called.

[Mitch]

Take your car and have the paint digitally scanned
from that they can make touch up

[DaWizard]

Not knowing your skill level with a drill, I have made a tool that works really well and does not ruffle the paint. It can be found in the tool section, but I will also post a picture here.

Hinge tool small 1.jpgHinge tool small2.jpgNote, the holes are offset to allow clearance of the body, and it is reversible depending on which side you are removing.

[DaWizard]

Just as an update since this came up again, I am up to 9 hinges without a paint chip!!

[lpl87]

Nice looking tool but I'm afraid it is beyond my skill set.

[Mitch]

If your looking at this style tool don't buy it (JUNK)

Did you at least try to knock it out first with a small drift? maybe you'll get lucky

[lpl87]

Yep that was the tool I saw. Haven't tried to get it out yet because I don't have the new mirrors. Was just looking for advice.
Where can I find touch up paint ??

[Mitch]

Here is a link to a better tool, but the drill method is more effective, safer and cheaper.

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/hinge-pin-tool

[CarlG]

I have the tool in the link that Mitch mentioned. It hasn't failed to work for me yet.

[lpl87]

That tool does look better. Will remember it as a backup. Thanks

[Tom Wesenberg]

If your looking at this style tool don't buy it (JUNK)

Did you at least try to knock it out first with a small drift? maybe you'll get lucky

The best use for that tool is to use it as a drill guide to keep the bit centered as you drill 1" into the pin.
You'll have to make an insert that screws into the tool to guide the bit.

[lpl87]

Mitch I just now noticed the paint note. Who does the digital scans ??

[Mitch]

I use a professional body shop paint supplier.

[lpl87]

Thank you !! I will check with my body shop.

[DaWizard]

lpl87, how about some location information? If you are within 50 miles of me I will deliver the tool and even help you use it. If not, well.....

[slammin]

I purchased hinge mirrors for my 29. It had a frame off restoration in the mid 90s, but had been driven less than 500 miles since, always stored indoors. The doors weren't removed before paint, so the hinges and pins were painted, like a window in an old house. I tried tapping the hinges out with a drift punch. Then tried to drill them. No luck. I built a press to remove them. They still wouldn't budge. I was ready to return the mirrors. One last try, I PB Blastered them. Put the press on, tightened it up and smacked the bottom several time with a hammer, tightening between blows. Out they came, coated with 88 years of rust!

[old victoria]

door hinge repair kits ebay.

[Mitch]

I saw this in one of those newsletter tech posts. Figured to add it here as well...




pin.jpg

[JohnB15632]

Original Thread

Please allow me to give a shout out to Snyder's for their hinge pin remover tool, A-46335-T.

I had two stuck hinge pins on the rear driver's side door. I ordered this part on Thursday, received it late Friday. I install the tool but decided to wait until today to work with the tool. I was able to move both pins with this tool and now the pins are able to be removed. It was the easiest tool that I have used to remove hinge pins.

Thanks,

[Mitch]

From a News Letter tech tip!

067087F4-A70D-4F44-BE02-BA0C4A2B35CC.jpeg

[Fixitphil]

Thanks much Mitch
Phil

[Fixitphil]

This above hinge pin removal procedure worked well for me on my Sport Coupe. I just needed the particulars. I first cut the paint around the head of the door pin so it wouldn't tear the paint, soaked it a couple of days with penetrant. I didn't use that big roto-hammer (all though I did have one in my arsenal) just a small $12.99 air impact hammer kit from Harbor Freight. I sharpened the tip a little on the pointed chisel and pre-drilled a dimple in the bottom of the door pin. I taped cardboard to the car to protect the finish and a couple of short blast on the trigger and out they came. Maybe they were loose all ready but a lot of penetrating lube and heavy hammering with a drift did not do the trick.
I'm going to help a friend do this procedure tomorrow and hope it works as well. I'll let you know.

[Fixitphil]

It worked as well as before. I just covered the body with some card board for protection, Cut around the top of the pin with a box knife so it would not tear the paint, dimpled the bottom of the pin with a counter punch and rat-a-tat-tat, it came out. I had to turn my pressure down to about 60 psi as it was a little to strong on the "hammer" (slipped off).
Both the owner of the car and I had tried to drive it out with a drift but that did not work. I do have to say that at neither times were the old pins I took out were worn (grooved) so that could add another problem to the job??
At least give this a try. It's just a small investment at Harbor Freight for the impact hammer and of course you have to have a small compressor (3 gallon 1/3 hp). Very smooth operation!!

[benson]

The thing about hinge pins to remember is that the original hinge pins on Sport Coupe are 15/64ths so using a 1/4 inch (16/64ths) drift or air hammer tool doesnot work very well.

The pins on other models are different sizes.

BTW Berts manufactures and sells a version of the tool.

https://modelastore.com/index.php?ro...&category_id=0

They manufacture many different tools and parts for Model A's.