Hi all, i can't get at my inner sliding door handle (LHD) when it's shut, fridge / cupboard draw unit in the way which i don't want to move. I'm sure i seen a door fitted with a handle each end on the net somewhere. Is there a kit/ conversion available out there?. Ta in advance for any info.
If your handle is already vertical, then you are stuffed, with an awkward interior design that did not forsee this problem. On my Devon, the gap between the door and the cooker is about 6cm, just enough to get at the handle even with the cooker hood up. The handle is also a Devon special - it is vertical, but the hole in the handle is offset forwards from the handle slightly to make an L shape. If you make the handle longer and vertical, it will not be able to pull in the back of the door if you have an older style door, as the handle will hit the bulkhead behind the seat. The handle at the back is to yank the back end in, it does not operate any mechanism, it is just bolted to the door. The only way out would be to convert the existing door handle into a lever that fits where the handle went, with a push rod from a second handle placed somewhere further back along the door. Or make an L shaped handle, that goes back, then up, so you push and pull on the top of the vertical bit..
You can fit another handle at the back end, Westy-style, but that’s just to pull the back of the door in. It can’t operate the lock. You need to move the furniture to be able to get at the handle at the front.
Hmm , food for thought. . At the moment i use a long 'stick' with a vee cut into the end to open the door from the inside, but it's more a 'in an emergency' and first thing in the morning type thing. The curved white opening handle points down.
