How do remove vent window latch?

[KCk51974]

Trying to replace the pitted vent window latch, but can ‘t figure out how to remove. It looks like there is supposed to be a peg that needs to be pushed out. But the peg is missing from the latch, and I still can’t remove. Don’t want to break the glass by pulling or turning too hard.

It’s on a 1970 k5. Any tips are welcome. Thanks.

 

[shady]

The pin is probably still in there. That's all that really holds it together. With the pin out mine basically fell apart.

 

[diesel4me]

I'd try to use some kind of a mini-press or drill the pin out ,not use a punch & hammer,that vent window glass will be very brittle and shatter easily being 50 years old..
You may be able to use a C-clamp and a socket to press the pin out using a piece of steel slightly smaller diameter than the pin,similar to the way you press a u-joint out with a u-joint press..
I'd search for a spare vent window just in case though..

 

[KCk51974]

I'd try to use some kind of a mini-press or drill the pin out ,not use a punch & hammer,that vent window glass will be very brittle and shatter easily being 50 years old..
You may be able to use a C-clamp and a socket to press the pin out using a piece of steel slightly smaller diameter than the pin,similar to the way you press a u-joint out with a u-joint press..
I'd search for a spare vent window just in case though..

Thanks

 

[diesel4me]

Good luck!...any safety glass window with a hole made into it is very easily broken...especially old ones..

I have a '93 Caravan sitting in the woods next to my house since 2013,about 3 weeks ago I noticed one of the rear side windows was gone!..it had shattered,and it had a hole made into the glass for a latch,it was the type of window you could pop open one end for better ventilation..

I saw nothing around that may have broken it like a falling branch ,or a stone someone threw--sometimes old safety glass just decides to shatter all by itself for some reason --I remember one hot sunny day at the junkyard I was sitting outside eating my lunch and a side door window on a old Ford Galaxie just "blew out",I guess the heat expanded the glass or something..

Other windows we wanted to break sometimes took several hard blows from a tire iron to break them-so hard we almost couldn't believe it!..it just bounced off several times..we also learned the ceramic off a broken spark plug is one thing that will shatter safety glass like nothing,you don't even have to throw it very hard..

 

[6872xtc]

I knocked mine out with a punch, but finding the correct size could be a factor. But it is definitely easier with the vent window assembly out.
I wouldn't try drilling it out, if it's a steel roll pin like what I remember, it won't drill easily.
You can possibly use a section of a drill bit and channel lock pliers in the press procedure that @diesel4me described. I have sacrificed drill bits like that before, a cut-off wheel works well to get a flat end or shorten them. Just be careful if you use more than just the shank of the bit.

 

[KCk51974]

Thanks, good info. I am beginning to think maybe I just live with the latches. I removed the windows, took them apart and cleaned all the components. They look great, even with the pitted latch.

so I was able to pass a paper clip straight through the latch pin hole. I haven’t tried to drill out with a bigger bit, but do you think the fact I can put a paper clip through means the pin is not the issue?

 

[shady]

Yeah. Paper clip wouldn't fit through the pin. Something else has to be holding it up.

 

[6872xtc]

Thanks, good info. I am beginning to think maybe I just live with the latches. I removed the windows, took them apart and cleaned all the components. They look great, even with the pitted latch.

so I was able to pass a paper clip straight through the latch pin hole. I haven’t tried to drill out with a bigger bit, but do you think the fact I can put a paper clip through means the pin is not the issue?

This should prove that it's a roll pin, hollow in the middle. At least that has been my experience. I would have a hard time believing that dirt and shavings would hold it on through all of that.

 

[ramack]

This should prove that it's a roll pin, hollow in the middle. At least that has been my experience. I would have a hard time believing that dirt and shavings would hold it on through all of that.

I bought locking latches to replace the non-locking on my '77 and '79. I can confirm that the pins are roll pins and not a solid dowel pin. You'll need to find a drift punch the correct size (or make one) otherwise the punch will go inside the roll pin.

 

[KCk51974]

It was a stuck roll pin. Finishing nail knocked it out and the latch came off. Thanks for the help guys.