Crank handle or cardan joint — which one is broken?
The crank handle is the part you hold in your hand. It has a metal hook in a white sleeve, a white shaft and a crank arm with a grip. The cardan joint is fixed under the shutter box. It has a rod, a mounting plate with two holes, an X-shaped joint and an eye at the end. What you see tells you what you need:
| What you see | What you need |
|---|---|
| The crank handle is broken or lost, and the eye is fine | Crank handle |
| The eye or the joint is broken, and the crank handle is fine | Cardan joint with eye |
| You have neither part | Cardan joint and crank handle kit |
| The crank handle turns, but the joint does not | The problem is at the eye or the hook — send a photo |
| The joint turns, but the shutter does not move | The problem is inside the box — send a short video |
📲 Send a photo of your crank part on WhatsApp
Power cut, and your electric shutter is closed — how do you open it?
📲 Send a photo of your crank part on WhatsApp
Look under the shutter box. If you see a metal eye, the motor has manual override. Hook the crank handle into the eye and turn it. If you do not have a crank handle, order a crank handle. No eye? Send a photo of the motor label. If the motor has manual override, we send the joint and crank handle kit. If it does not, the shutter cannot be opened by hand, and these parts will not work with it.
Not every shutter motor can be opened by hand in an emergency. Only some motors have this feature. This is why you need to know if your motor has an override before you order.
This is a general note about types of motor. It is not about one specific motor. Standard motors and motors with manual override are explained in Tubular motor in Egypt — standard and manual override.
What to send so the part fits
- A close photo of the eye, or of the place where it was if the joint is broken.
- A photo of the shutter box from below.
- The height of the eye from the floor. It tells us the crank length.
- A photo of the motor label, if the shutter is electric.
Crank part names in Egypt
| Part | Names in Egypt |
|---|---|
| Manual override | manfala · منفلة · منفله · منافيلا |
| Crank handle | dera’ manfal · دراع منفل · ذراع · كرنك |
| Cardan joint | wasla X · وصلة اكس منفل · كردان |
| Kit | joint and crank handle in one order · وصلة اكس مع دراع منفل |
Who are these parts not for?
The joint and the crank handle are only for manual crank shutters and for motors with manual override. They are not for strap shutters, which use a strap winder. They are also not for a standard motor without override.
Fitting
We supply only. An aluminium window technician fits the joint. Our technical support is on WhatsApp if you have questions about the part.
Crank handle and cardan joint questions
How do I know if my shutter motor has manual override?
Look under the shutter box. A metal eye there means the motor has a manual override. If you are not sure, send a photo of the motor label on WhatsApp and we will confirm.
My motor has no override. Can I open it with a crank handle?
No. A motor without manual override cannot be opened by hand, so the crank handle and the joint will not work with it.
Do the crank handle and the joint work on strap shutters?
No. Crank parts are only for manual crank shutters and motors with manual override. Strap shutters use a strap winder.
How do you choose the crank length?
From the height of the eye above the floor. Send this number with a photo of the eye, and our sales team will confirm the right one.
Should I order the crank handle alone or the kit?
If the joint and the eye are fine, order only the crank handle. If the crank handle is fine but the eye or the joint is broken, order the joint. If you have neither, order the kit.
The crank handle turns but nothing happens. Where is the problem?
Watch the joint while you turn. If it does not turn with the crank handle, the problem is at the eye or the hook. If it turns but the shutter does not move, the problem is inside the box. In both cases, send a short video and we will tell you what is available.
Are wasla X and cardan the same part?
Yes. In Egypt, the cardan joint with eye is also called wasla X manfal, wasla manfala or cardan.
Abu Seif Steel has supplied roller shutter spare parts and automatic door parts in Egypt for more than 12 years. The crank handle and joint photos in this article are from our own warehouse. Delivery within hours in Cairo and Giza and shipping to all governorates in 3–5 working days. Pay cash on delivery, by bank transfer or by InstaPay.
Send a photo of the eye and its height from the floor. We will confirm the part and the length.
📱 Order on WhatsApp 01098470908