First time in 3 weeks I have been back out to my coach and I tried to open the pass through door and one side was loose but the other side was stuck. Well I pulled the handle and reached down and tugged on the bottom of the door and it opened BUT this is what happened. :o
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foretravel/Forums-post-1/i-NZ7fw2j/0/33fdf536/L/20180522_120253-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foretravel/Forums-post-1/i-FGXrQ9z/0/389ba358/L/20180522_120259-L.jpg)
What might be the best way to fix this? Oversize the holes and fill with epoxy and chopped glass and use screws or some sort of insert?
Depending on the amount of stress on the fastener. Clean out hole first.
If not too much just epoxy a wood dowel onto the hole after making it to size.
Better is to mix up epoxy with glass fibers and fill with that.
Marine Tex is a very good hole filler and sets rock hard. Can be drilled and tapped. Get at a marine store or from Westmarine.com. Used it on my boats and it's never failed. Just make sure that you get plenty on to form a good hold on back.
Keith
Thanks Keith, I still have some 404 High Density and 407 Low Density chopped glass left over from working on a boat but both parts of my epoxy is shot. I guess of it unlatched correctly that should not be much pressure on it.
guess I can open it up with a Forstner bit and then see if I can under cut it some and then fill it with epoxy mixed with high density glass and re-drill it.
Cut a plate of aluminum, 3/32" to 1/8" thick, bigger than the latch base. Use glue or 3M VHB tape to fasten it in place plus four pop rivets, one in each corner. Position the latch and pop rivet it in place. I did this on Rudy's coach several years ago and it is still in place. You may need to adjust the latch pin in a bit.
It would be good to see what screw end that pulled out looks like. I can't quite tell in the second photo but it looks like an insert of some kind. You might just try to bond the whole latch with the screws and inserts attached as is.
On another thought, I would suggest using a magnet to see if there is a metal plate installed just under the skin on the door. If so you could shift the latch and striker up or down 3/8" to 1/2" and attach to the metal that is under the skin.
I had a different repair on a door that might be constructed differently than yours but you can see how FT used a metal plate for the latch. Cargo door inner skin delam repair (91 U300) (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=31699.msg280645#msg280645)
Thanks Roger, that sounds like a doable plan. ^.^d
Thanks John, I will check for a metal plate. the latch we just held on with pop rivets.
Steve,
Had this happen to me on the way home with my new (to me) Foretravel. I started a thread (see link) and had several people help with recommendations and posted my own repairs. (Pictures start at reply #9.)
Door Latch on the Front Driver-side Door (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=22160.msg171352#msg171352)
Hope this helps,
Trent
Thanks Trent, great write up