Hi all,
I have just purchased a 2000 U320 and I am so excited! The Coach is beautiful but not perfect! Being I had to duck tape a bay door down in order to get in to Cummins for a Chassis inspection I figure a latch repair be my first project.
Can anyone give me a few pointers on reattaching the latch mechanism to the bay door?
I had that happen on the road so I got some fender washers and carriage bolts and drilled thru the latch and sidewall. I had xtreme fix it later on.
Some pretty good advice on the repair in this post:
Cargo Bay Door latch (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=25636.0)
Good Luck, Dave A
This post shows my and others repair: What type of rivet for latch repair (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=34575.msg319137#msg319137)
I have done them as Folivier shows except use 3M VHB tape instead of the 3M 5200. Either will work, no setup time with the tape. Use screws or pop rivets. Zip Dee uses rivets like these with bigger heads and expanding shanks that fold open.
You may need to adjust the latching pin for best fit after fixing the latch this way.
This is the 3M VHB tape that I use. Lots of varieties of this but this one gets used a lot. Handy to have in your kit.
Amazon.com: 3M VHB Heavy Duty Mounting Tape 5952, 0.75" width x 5yd length... (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y7H5GO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1)
This is a cleaner/primer/adhesion enhancer for the 3M VHB tape. It really helps improve the result.
Amazon.com: 3M 111 Clear Tape Primer - Liquid Bottle - For Use With 3M VHB... (https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00745Z8BK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
You can get it in single use wipes as well.
Amazon.com: 3M 4298 Adhesion Promoter, 5 Sponge Applicators (Choose 3, 5 or... (https://amazon.com/3M-Adhesion-Promoter-Sponge-Applicators/dp/B01G2BHLG6/ref=pd_cp_229_2/144-4180943-9336537?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01G2BHLG6&pd_rd_r=17556d70-7a66-4060-bcff-919c5b424b36&pd_rd_w=pGzZa&pd_rd_wg=caD6p&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=0VVCJN0R0373MQA3FNWH&psc=1&refRID=0VVCJN0R0373MQA3FNWH)
My side bay door had a break in attempt that completely tore out the nut inserts that had previously been installed, leaving 4 large holes. I cut a piece of 1/8" aluminum plate about an inch bigger that the latch mechanism on all sides. Sanded the area around where the latch went, drilled a few holes in the aluminum away from where the latch mounting screws would be, and a few small (3/16) holes in the door where the plate was being mounted. Put a thick layer of JB Weld on the door and on the aluminum plate. Clamped it firmly allowing the glue to seep through the holes in the plate as well as into the holes in the door. After it all set up and completely dried, installed the latch back with sheet metal screws into the aluminum. Has been holding strong ever since.