Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 09, 2025 ...

Bay Door jammed shut..cannot access Generator release handle

September 26, 2017, 08:48:58 pm

Bay door under the drivers side seat will not open.  Yesterday, opened this bay compartment to ensure the Aquahot Racor filter fuel lines to and from the filter were OK.  Hit the remote locks and left.  Today,  went back to the RV to replace the said filter and the bay door would not release.  I can hear and feel the lock engaging and releasing if I put my hand over the handle but the door is shut tight.  What do I do to get this thing unlocked?

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Re: Bay Door jammed shut..cannot access Generator release handle

Reply #1 – September 26, 2017, 08:52:51 pm

I used a flat piece of thin metal in the past, and worked it up to unlatch. it's not easy
Chris

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Re: Bay Door jammed shut..cannot access Generator release handle

Reply #2 – September 26, 2017, 10:23:30 pm

Did you try pushing the door in on the edges where they latch? Also, does the handle have a key? Try the key release instead of the remote actuator. Just thoughts...

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Reply #3 – September 27, 2017, 06:07:09 am

Try banging on the compartment door itself over the latch with your closed fist- sometimes that releases the actuator.
Ed

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Reply #4 – September 27, 2017, 06:59:53 am

One that door you can reach in from the rear and pull the release cables.

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Reply #5 – September 27, 2017, 08:07:44 am

Or you can go in from underneath with an 18 inch long 1/8 inch wide screwdriver and pop off the plastic holding the lock arm.

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Reply #6 – September 27, 2017, 09:21:15 am

Are the latches releasing when pulling the handle?  Is the handle even moving? Use your key to unlock the door.

We had a member with a similar problem. When pulling the handle the door would not unlatch and we used a piece of wood the width of the handle and hammer.  We lightly tapped the handle up, it will move.  Tap on the outer edge of the handle. You may be able to move it enough for the latches to open.  Tap and then pull on the latch a little at a time. Once opened you will need to adjust the latch ands cable release stroke.

John M.

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Reply #7 – September 27, 2017, 10:15:12 pm

SUCCESS! Got the door open;  as it turned out there's only one latching point in the bottom center of the door.  Checked one of the other like doors and found the contact point to release the latch.  Inserted a thin metal strip and got it done.  Posted some pics of the angle of the metal strip to make proper contact with the latch release.
The reason for the door not releasing is the holes in the flat metal connecting rod had worn to the point where they were not pulling the release far enough.  Removed the connecting rod and put a couple of twists in it to shorten the throw, now works OK.  I will check the other bay doors for similar problems waiting to happen.  It was sudden for me as the day before I opened that bay to inspect the lines connected to the fuel filter;  next day, would not open.

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Re: Bay Door jammed shut..cannot access Generator release handle

Reply #8 – September 27, 2017, 11:46:25 pm

ALL single latch compartment doors, like our two rear small doors should have this mod made, as the handle barely pulls the latch lever far enough to reliably release without the modification:

Important modification for single latch small rear compartment doors

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