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Topic: Compartment Door Latch Broken (Read 592 times) previous topic - next topic

Compartment Door Latch Broken

Folks, I've searched here and on Beamalarm and am striking out - so I'm starting a new topic in the hopes that someone will enlighten me.

One of my compartment door latches is broken, and allows the door (in this case, the little one that allows you to access the engine batteries) to randomly open.  (This most recently occurred in Houston on 610/Westheimer, which is a whole other story.  EEK) 

The handle is just loose (just flops around and does nothing to the latch any longer), and it looks like a rod used to go between the inside of the handle and the latch mechanism - but the rod is now missing.  Does anyone know the best fix for this?  I haven't tried getting a new one from FT yet. 

Thanks,
Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #1 –
Chris,

Have you compared it with other latches?  Could you have one of your guys make up a new rod if that is what is missing-- suspect you have the metal on hand!

If you can post a picture of a "good" latch and one of the bad one/one missing parts.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #2 –
Will get a photo, yes.  And comparing it to other latches is what led me to believe something was missing, but frankly it was hard to tell for sure as it was getting dark and I haven't been able to look at it in detail since the weekend.  Plus, I think I was still trembling after negotiating traffic and concrete barriers with a door sticking 3ft out of the side of the bus!  I'm glad I still have a door to work on.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #3 –
Is there any way to tie it shut temporarily, or use tape?
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #4 –
Oh yes,, thank you, I taped it and that has worked to get me home. Just trying to get the permanent solution now.  Never leave home without your duct tape if you're an RVer.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #6 –
Here are two photos, the first of the broken latch and the second of one that works properly.  Both are from the small doors behind the rear wheels.  I cannot tell a difference between the two, but maybe someone here will notice something that I've missed.

Again, the handle on the outside just moves freely, as if it is not attached to anything in the latch mechanism any longer.

First think I need to do is clean, apparently!  These doors catch all the road funk.  Barry's look fantastic compared to mine.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #7 –
the second pic has a tab on it ( top right) .. not sure if that makes a difference or not... check the latch.. maybe its not the handle its the latching mechanism?

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #8 –
Quote from: bogeygolfer –
Will get a photo, yes.  And comparing it to other latches is what led me to believe something was missing, but frankly it was hard to tell for sure as it was getting dark and I haven't been able to look at it in detail since the weekend.  Plus, I think I was still trembling after negotiating traffic and concrete barriers with a door sticking 3ft out of the side of the bus!  I'm glad I still have a door to work on.
A very timely post.  I had the fuel door open this weekend.  At least it is not one that sticks out 3 feet.  I know I closed it, but the road was pretty rough, so guessing that led to it coming loose. 

I also have the opposite problem of some doors being very difficult to open when you want them to open.
40ft 1997 U320
 

Re: Compartment Door Latch Broken

Reply #9 –
DayDreamer, I'm also having that problem with one of my larger compartment doors (mine are bus-style doors).  The handle felt like it was "stuck", and I didn't want to force it.  I had to give it an extra "Foretravel Butt-Bump", and then it released.  I'm thinking I just need to properly lubricate all the latches (which I've never done), in addition to figuring out how to fix the broken one.
1996 U295 36' WTBI