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Topic: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.  (Read 261 times) previous topic - next topic

Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Good afternoon friends,

Well- we're at the shop, picking up Fritz from TCE in Kent, WA. A glowing review will come later today.

We can't seem to release the latch on the front door. I've perused the posts and have some idea how it works.
In the meantime they're sending someone out to remove the front door panel so we can disable the mechanism and get on readying ourselves for the migration south.

Anyone got any tips on how to rig it so it opens and closes for the next 30 days?

I'm wondering if we should leave the panel off until we can get it fixed properly.

I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts on this.

Much appreciated!
J.
James and Julie
He's a stringed instrument maker on hiatus, she's a gardener turned Nyingmapa.
Django & Luna- our kitty companions

1997 U270
34' custom shortie
Third and Final Occupants

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #1 –
No. But leaving the window unlocked somewhere might be a good alternate plan to get in

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #2 –
I have a 98 U270 and I adjusted the lock because it was becoming very difficult to open from outside. You had to push in with one hand and simultaneously open the handle and pull. It was steadily getting worse and we could foresee a climb through a window in my future.

The mechanism needed a thorough cleaning. After adjustment the lock stopped working but it opened and closed like a charm. I had the inside door cover removed so I could see that the lock had stopped releasing even though I was sliding it to the unlocked position. After failing to decipher the problem and with evening on my heels, I took a couple of photos and then removed the two links to the lock, put them in a baggie and called it good. I also zip tied that lock in the unlocked position.

Now our door opens easily from both inside and outside and we lock it with the deadbolt. Not OEM but my wife has stopped complaining about the door not opening and we are not in danger of it failing in the locked position. Taking the Inside  door cover off is about a 45 minute job and putting it back about the same. You have to remove a lot of stuff and some of the screws will likely be rusted. That could lead to another project if you so choose.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #3 –
So are you saying that the posi lock is not releasing when you pull the nano, so the door is stuck in the open position. If that is the case. Blaster on the latch mechanism on top of the door and then a screwdriver to move it back and forth to free it up. A ladder is very helpful because you can then be able to see how it works. Hope this helps.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins
 

Re: Front door latch stuck, door won’t close.

Reply #4 –
Just like Realmccoy, stop using door sliding lock, partly as that lock is not as secure as a closed deadbolt, if someone falls against the inside of the door while going down the road. The handle is just not a great lock and maybe your problem supports this.