Today I placed my '53 Commander HT in its winter storage facility today. Since I wanted it parked in gear, I pulled out nice and hard of the OD handle (what the Shop Manual and the Parts Catalog call the OD "Button"). Apparently I pulled too hard because the handle came off in my hand. When I inspected it, I thought I would find a set screw and that all I would need to do was to loosen it a bit, slide the handle back on the shaft to which it attaches, and tighten the screw. But there is no screw. What it does have is what appears to be a brass plug about 1/16" diameter. My guess is this plug is a press fit and that what I need to do is work the handle back onto the shaft, and then with ViseGrips and something like a small ball bearing (smaller than the hole into which the brass plug is pressed) apply enough pressure to force the brass plug back into the notch for the plug on the shaft.
Is this the right idea, or am I totally misreading the situation? Would I be better off to drill the plug out, use a tap to thread the hole, and use a set screw to keep the OD handle from coming off again?
Has anyone out there had the same problem? If so, what is the best solution?
Is this the right idea, or am I totally misreading the situation? Would I be better off to drill the plug out, use a tap to thread the hole, and use a set screw to keep the OD handle from coming off again?
Has anyone out there had the same problem? If so, what is the best solution?
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