On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 6:55 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> In case anyone is wondering whether the window cranks are made of the
> type of zinc alloy that you can bend somewhat -- they're
> not. �They're made of the kind of zinc alloy that looks you straight
> in the eye and then snaps in half. � �I needed the bend to clear a
> speaker, so I backed it up with a bent piece of 1/2 x 1/8 HRS with a
> .040 rabbet milled into it so the screws wouldn't have to do all the
> locating work. �Hey, I wanted to use the new (Taig) mill anyway... :)

I'm sure the new mill is quite nice,   :)   but FWIW, I was able to
bend the window cranks on my '81.

I heated them up with a standard propane torch. I kept flame moving
and applied light pressure until crank started to bend. It didn't take
much heat to do this but the plastic cover may melt a bit. In my case
not a problem as I bent mine too far and cover wouldn't stay put
anyway.

Ready in the vise

http://tinyurl.com/ygq9qpu

Bent a little too far, but cleared speaker grill nicely:

http://tinyurl.com/yzpdyqh

plastic cover shown but didn't stay put:

http://tinyurl.com/yzr3jcl

I assume it's a fine line between heating enough to bend and doing damage.

I don't know if metal content changed in later MY cranks.

And of course, YMMV.  :)

Neil.

-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines