85"720 Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 Has anyone every replace or fix there tailgate handle. How hard/easy is it to fix Quote Link to comment
laotsu Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 what model? Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 1985 720 base cab Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 If it won't close or open properly probably an adjustment. If in an accident, this, or replace the tailgate. I think all years are interchangable but not exactly same design. Quote Link to comment
720inOlyWa Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 They are a bit of a funny beast. If you adjust it up tight, it doesn’t really like to open easily. And if you adjust it to open okay, it shakes a little against the bed when latched. (Disclaimer: unless I am missing a rubber part, somehow.) Fortunately, I don’t hear that rattle in the cab. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 My tailgate handle broke on one side and I have to open it with screwdrivers on the sides. Quote Link to comment
millican Posted September 10, 2014 Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 They're not all exactly the same. I bought this blue one from a salvage yard for my 82. The linkage bolts are in different places, so the blue tailgate doesn't fit the pickup, but the lavender one does. I still have the blue one. Maybe I'll hang it on the wall in the shop as a fold-down workbench? Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2014 That's where I put the screwdriver at to open it. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Why don't you just take the 8 or 10 screws out that hold the cover on and look at what is wrong, if it is the handle then put another one in it and put it back together. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 The handle is broken.Is it easy to replace Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 There are only 2 nuts holding the handle on, it's easy, it's not connected to anything. Just take the 10 screws out holding the cover on and remove it, you will see how easy it is to replace the handle. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Is that a 85 if so ima do that. Thanks for the pics it helps out alot Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Is that a 85 if so ima do that. Thanks for the pics it helps out alot No, that one was an early 1981-82, but I am fairly sure they are close to the same, just pull the cover off and take a look, the cover doesn't do anything except cover the inside of the tailgate, and I would bet that the handle is held on the tailgate by 2 nuts on all the 720 model years. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Do you have a before pic of the tailgate? Quote Link to comment
laotsu Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Do you have a before pic of the tailgate? go look at yours, you can take a pic if you want. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 No I don't have a photo of the tailgate down with the cover on it, I didn't see the point of getting that photo, it's just a tailgate, they are all basically the same, so many sheet metal screws hold the cover on(10 on my tailgate), all you need is a phillips screwdriver to remove the cover, nothing is connected to the cover once all the screws are removed, it takes all of 10 minutes to remove, another 10 minutes to remove and replace the handle if you have one ready, and another 10 minutes at the most to put the cover back on, the handle is not even connected to anything either, a lever on the handle just rests against the opening mechanism, remove 2 nuts and it drops out. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Thanks wayno for the help Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 I have a 1980 and a 1986 and the tailgate handles are the same. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Mine is different. Mine has a 4 bolt cover and it only reveals the handle. Quote Link to comment
JoeCool Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hell, mine has no cover but has some bolt holes for one. The handle also only works one side. The other no longer has the rod. So I pull the handle and smack the right side to bang it open. Not bothering to try and fix it, need another tailgate. Mine is badly rusted out in the bottom and bent up at the top. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Mine is different. Mine has a 4 bolt cover and it only reveals the handle. It doesn't sound like a 720 tailgate. Quote Link to comment
85"720 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I can't take the whole tailgate apart. The only thing that comes off is the little cover Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Post pictures. 1 Quote Link to comment
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