Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Lance Camper on November 09, 2014, 02:56:07 pm

Title: Screen door handle
Post by: Lance Camper on November 09, 2014, 02:56:07 pm
The allen screw on my screen door handle has stripped the metal from the hole and doesn't hold any longer. Also the door latch is bent, see the photo.

Can anyone tell me where I can get a new handle. I hear getting someone in parts can be tedious at times.

thanks
ed
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: Dave Katsuki on November 09, 2014, 03:18:44 pm
I think the latch plate may have been bent to provide the right clearance for the screen door.  Ours was bent and I bent it a little more to tighten up the screen door.  Just needs to clear the slot in the side of the frame.

If you have trouble finding a replacement, you can drill and tap the existing set screw hole to the next larger size and get a larger set screw at a hardware store.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: toyman on November 09, 2014, 03:23:14 pm
Or fill the hole with JB weld & re-drill/tap it.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: J. D. Stevens on November 09, 2014, 08:48:27 pm
The screen door handle is available from FOT. The replacement includes the entire assembly.

I had a loose screen door handle for four years. The set screw was stripped. I searched many hardware stores. :headwall: At last I remembered that FOT has replacement parts for most of the OEM installations on our coaches. :facepalm: I replaced the handle in just a few minutes while parked at Camp Foretravel.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: J. D. Stevens on November 09, 2014, 08:51:43 pm
I hear getting someone in parts can be tedious at times.
My experience getting parts from FOT has been excellent when standing at the window in NAC, and good when ordering by telephone.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: Harvey Nelson on November 09, 2014, 10:07:51 pm
My experience getting parts from FOT has been excellent when standing at the window in NAC, and good when ordering by telephone.

Ditto !!!
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: Jim Frerichs on November 10, 2014, 08:20:40 am
PTL Engenering in Lapeer, MI  makes the screen door handle for my 2002 coach. They also make the Posi-Lock, scissor-like device for the top of the main door.. These handles come in long and short shaft... the difference is the length of the base where the set screw is located; affecting its fit into the door holder / receiver  for it. In 2012 my replacement handle cost $8.39 plus $7.00 shipping. I'm not sure what older coaches use.

Give them a call at 810-664-2310.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: Lance Camper on November 11, 2014, 10:08:04 am
Thanks to all

I can't see the need to spend close to $100 for a good tool and die set. Luckily my buddy stopped by to see our new to us Foretravel and took the door handle to repair.

thanks again
Ed

Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: John Morales on June 15, 2016, 08:13:37 pm
I know this is an old post, but I still was able to get enough information to resolve my handle issue from the previous comments.  No need to order a new handle.  The set screw in the handle that was stripped out was a metric M8.  M10 was going to be too large so I used a American Standard 3/8-16 set screw.  I drilled it with a 5/16 and I shorten the set screw on the bench grinder.  Set screw was 53 cents and the 3/8-16 tap was. $7.99.  I think the handle replacement with shipping would have been much more than what I spent.  I probably could have gotten the tap cheaper at Harbor Freight instead of going to Ace Hardware.
John M
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: nitehawk on June 15, 2016, 10:32:38 pm
The set screw design is a poor compromise when it comes to holding a handle onto a shaft.
There isn't enough wall in the handle to provide enough thread length engagement to last. And the constant torqueing of the handle will quickly cause failure again.
A much, much better solution is to put the handle on the shaft in the required final location, then drill a hole thru both parts at the outside parting line of the two parts. The hole should be sized to accommodate an appropriate size roll pin. Now the pin serves as a anti-shear device and torque resister, without any threads to strip out.
This method is/was called a "Dutchman's pin" and is used often in machines where failure is extremely undesirable.
Title: Re: Screen door handle
Post by: Dave Cobb on June 16, 2016, 11:53:21 am
And once again, and almost every day, this Foreforums adds value to my Foretravel.

Thank you everyone on this thread, and especially nitehawk, for the fine examples of the huge and wide base of knowledge that is so kindly shared.