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Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

January 30, 2021, 02:50:45 pm

Pulled into the campground today and went to open the utility bay door (bus style mechanism) and it would not open.  Determined it was the top left latch that is stuck closed.  I cannot get to it from either side or cross compartment.  Any ideas on how to get that latch open? 

Thank you,
Oscar

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #1 – January 30, 2021, 03:09:41 pm

I have one hatch that gives me trouble. The door opened on the highway at 65 mpg. Some one signaled me of the problem.  I got it to close and locked the latch with a key and carefully drive to the park.

This is a new coach to me.  I made some minor adjustments and it stuck shut. Mine is a 2006 so it may be different than yours.  I got it open by pulling up on the handle and pushing in and banging on the side that was stuck and after a while It came unstuck. 

I used some silicon lubricant.  "Tow bar lube"  Seems to have helped a whole lot.  That may have been the main problem because it had problems locking and unlocking.  Other than that ??  Hope the lever did not come loose from the latch.  I do not know how you would get to it to open it.  Maybe get someone to pull one side open while you lie on your back and look through the crack to see what is wrong.  Difficult chore at best. I have some other doors that are cantankerous.  I think I will lube them all with the silicon.

WARNING: WD40 will help but it will not last.  It will get gummy and make it worse.  I have learned WD40 is not a long term solution. I use to buy WD40 by the gallon.  No more.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #2 – January 30, 2021, 03:27:27 pm

Thanks!  Tried locking and unlocking and banging on the outside of the latch that will not open but no luck.  I, unfortunately, do not have the old style wire hanger to try to catch on the upper latch cable and pull to release.  That is of course if it is still attached to the latch to pull on .  Luckily I have enough water on board and solar and lithium battery charge to get me to Venice, FL.  I will see if I can get a wire hanger there and if I still cannot get it open I know an RV tech in the area that might be able to help me out.

Thanks again!
Oscar

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #3 – January 30, 2021, 03:28:02 pm

WD-40 is a cleaner not a lubricant.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #4 – January 30, 2021, 08:32:37 pm

Take a block of wood which you can place within the handle and use a hammer to hit the back of the wood to move the handle to open.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #5 – January 30, 2021, 08:40:25 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – January 30, 2021, 03:28:02 pm

WD-40 is a cleaner not a lubricant.

WD-40 is a Water Displacer ie; WD, not really a cleaner, lubricant or penetrant




Keith

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #6 – January 30, 2021, 08:49:11 pm

WD40 missed its calling as a cleaner for when you spill a whole can of wood stain on the carpet. Ask me how I know.

"Like dissolves like"

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #7 – January 30, 2021, 08:57:49 pm

If you are caulking and it gets all over your hands WD-40 will clean them right up.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #8 – February 02, 2021, 10:12:29 pm

Make sure you post how you got your door open.  When you finally do.

If it happens to you it will happen to someone else. :-}

Good Luck.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #9 – February 03, 2021, 08:55:27 am

When I arrived in Venice, FL at the campground where we will be staying for the next few months I got the utility door open.  The bottom two latches would open so I had my DW pull the bottom of the door away as much as she could from the coach while I got my fingers inside the opening to unlatch the sewer/utility drop door.  I then got on my back and reached up to the top left latch and pulled on the wire cord and unlatched it.  Luckily I have long arms or it would have been a "no-go".  When the weather warms up and the wind stops blowing I will take the panel off the door to see why that cable is not working to the latch.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #10 – February 10, 2021, 10:10:20 am

The fix was to tighten the inner nut of the latching system.  The loose inner nut made it so the latching system was not fully engaging so it did not pull the release wires enough to release the latching mechanism.  You have to take off the outer nut (I had already taken it off when I took the pic) and pull the retaining bracket out of the way to tighten the inner nut.

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Re: Utility Bay Door Left Top Latch Will Not Release

Reply #11 – February 10, 2021, 12:53:49 pm

Oscar,

Thanks for the follow-up with the solution. 

Richard

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