I broke my transparent glow in the dark assist handle outside the door and my new transparent handle part arrived today from Foretravel. Unfortunately the transparent part broke off nearly even with the bottom chrome part so I can't grab it with pliers or anything. Do any of you know how to get the transparent part out of the bottom chrome part?
what about putting in a screw and pulling on that.
Yep drill a small hole and either put in a screw or break it apart I replaced mine day before yesterday.
I did that but hesitated to break it because I thought maybe there was a light bulb or something under it.
There is a bulb.. thought it was in the top part. The reason I think that is because power came from the cabinet where the door bell is. The lower part might be too low..
If ya got the top part off.. mine was yucky.. cleaned it up.. light worked.
Scott, isn't the bottom piece attached with 2 or 3 screws? To put the new handle on you've got to remove either the top or bottom bracket anyway.
The transparent part broke off even with the bottom chrome part, so I need to extract the broken remains of the transparent part.
You will have to remove the bottom cover to get that plastic out, and It will have to be off to put the new handle in.
Gary B
We just had the handle on our 1999 U320 replaced because it had the original owner's name on it, rather than Foretravel.
Don't know if this will be the case with your broken handle/replacement handle, but watching Brad Armstrong do ours at TN RV, the bottom of the two transparent parts was different. The "new" Foretravel-inscribed handle had a groove — maybe 1/16"? — across the width of the piece, left to right (forgive the descriptions; wish I had photos). The handle Brad took out appeared to have a mitered bottom (again, wrong word and forgive the description, but it was NOT flat with a groove, but had a partly diagonal end).
Someone who has been through this and can describe it better, jump in here and help! <smile> The point: Brad had to modify the end of the "new" Foretravel-inscribed handle to make it fit. Don't know if this applies to yours, but thought I would add this comment in case you run into something similar?
Meanwhile, we're trying to get the light for our doorbell to work — so if anyone reading the thread has thoughts, they'd be welcomed.
Someone posted here a source for the complete handle assembly. Required mods to the plastic part to fit the distance Foretravel used for their version of that handle.
Light works.
I drilled out the largest hole I could with the drill bits I have with me, then I carefully busted out the remaining transparent plastic with a hammer and chisel, and I had to file down the edge on the top of the new transparent part to get it to go into the top chrome part... but it works! I installed a red LED bulb in it so I can find the keyhole at night without ruining my night vision. The new transparent plastic part has "Foretravel" on the outside of the plastic instead of inside like the old one did. I like the old one better but at least it's fixed. It looked terrible with a broken handle. Thanks for the help. ^.^d
When I bought my 280 the entry handle had the owners last name embedded in it. I replaced it a couple years later....after buying their home, found the original in the garage. :))
On the Doorbell issue just pull it out from the hole and check contacts etc. If you cannot get it to work/light just go to Lowes or H Depot and buy a new one but LED and wire it up and push it in (with a touch of silicone or?)
JohnH
One of our favorite things on our coach is the doorbell. I'll post a picture when I can. Its a silver metal, half golf ball, hinged at the top. You push the ball to ring the bell.
@Jeff we definitely need a picture of that!
see ya
ken
Scott I changed mine out with one from FT. You will have to "fit it" with a file /grinder. I think I just removed the top bracket on mine.
We replaced our outside grab handle with a new style, one that Foretravel has recently used:
keyless entry key pad (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=16700.msg108186#msg108186)
'03 exterior grab bar needed (split from Part Number Collection) (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=17652.msg118675#msg118675)
I replaced mine also, but with a totally waterproof model I bought from (I think) Digikey. It is small and black.
With a new simple round Lowe's etc. doorbell button, we find that putting grease (dielectric may be better?) on the inside and wire screws. The grease prevents corrosion, which has shortened the life of previous buttons.
We also remove the inside bulb if present.