M38 canvas curtain to metal door frame assembly at the metal handle and escutcheon.

[TexasM38]

I have assembled the M38 canvas curtain to the left hand and right hand metal door frames but do not understand the next step in fitting the canvas around the metal door handle pieces and the metal door escutcheon. Seems there is cutting of the canvas to fit around the outer handle and under the escutcheon. Are there instructions, a guide or pattern for this part of the installation?

[D Pizzoferrato]

On original factory door frames, the handles need removed by grinding the peening on the interior of the shaft where the handle is attached. Once separated, remove the handles and pry the escutcheon plate away and off. Installing the canvas to the frames should be so obvious that a fifth grader can do it. Once the canvas is on the frame, reinstall the escutcheon plate and poke a hole through the canvas for the handle shaft and reinstall the inner handle to the shaft. There are a couple of ways to deal with the shafts and handles. The best is to find a machinist friend to make you new shafts with the "D" profile. The second best is to find an appropriate diameter and length bolt, file one side flat to obtain the "D" index profile, weld the bolt head to the outer handle after passing the bolt through the handle, install the inner handle to the new shaft and secure with a nyloc nut. Another common trick is to drill and tap the shaft to accept a machine screw with a truss head or large washer and use this method to secure the inside handle to the shaft.