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Topic: Bay door latch not working (Read 800 times) previous topic - next topic

Bay door latch not working

One of the latches on my large (71.5") driver side bay door is not latching.  The latch at the other end of the door works fine.  I tried to see what was happening with the latch and its pin with a flashlight, but the door closes before the two engage. 

So I got my camera out and took this video:

Bay latch

As you can see from the video, the pin is too short to engage with the lock.  The disk on the end of the pin hits the lock opening.  I noticed this problem after working in this bay on a totally unrelated project.  Both the latch and pin are tight and I didn't stress the bay door that I know of.  Either the door or pin seem to have moved laterally, but why?

Any ideas as to why this would happen? 

The coach has been sitting for 6 weeks.  I checked and it is level. 

Thanks in advance.
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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #1 –
It seems like the pin is sliding away from the door as you push on the door to get it closed.  Has that bulkhead moved somehow?
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #2 –
The pin hits the left edge of the lock and this causes it (the pin) to flex back a bit.  If the pin was about 1/16 further to the left (in the video), the lock would engage the pin. 

Frame flex does come to mind as a cause.... that is why I checked the coach to see if it was level.  I think the front bulkhead is about 4 feet forward of this bay.  Maybe the door was flexed today.  I'll check tomorrow.

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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #3 –
Video is a clever way to see what is going on and it shows the bracket that holds the pin is not firmly fastened in place allowing the whole bracket to flex back away from latch. Manually push the bracket with your hand and compare to other brackets. Of course pin is adjustable (in & out) with a hex wrench.

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #4 –
Everything was tight.  But I removed the pin and added a couple of washers to move the pin out.  See the attached photo.  The door latch now works.  Still wonder why this problem developed. 

Thanks for the input. 
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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #5 –
I've had to adjust the striker or the latch in several cases.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #6 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Everything was tight.  But I removed the pen and added a couple of washers to move the pen out.  See the attached photo.  The door latch now works.  Still wonder why this problem developed. 

Thanks for the input. 

I remember Jack Bradshaw doing what he called the Foretravel Bump on my bay door when it was a little out of line like that. He bumped the door with his butt from back to front and that little bit of movement put it back in line. He said he read it in the Tech manual.  ???
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #7 –
George and Barry,

Thanks to you both as we were driving I-10 heading west towards El Paso when D-4 bay door opened. Luckily noticed it right away-did lose a 90 degree sewer connector but no damage. I also received paperwork from PO yesterday morning and DW noticed he had the same problem with that door. Will have to do the same camera filming as that bay is the aqua-hot. I now use the electronic locks before we pull out...(although if it isn't latched lot of good that will do)

Timely subject and thanks again.

We should be in Tucson no later than Saturday...
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #8 –
George,

Could the cable operating the latch be too short to allow a release?

Jim
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Bay door latch not working

Reply #9 –
Quote
Still wonder why this problem developed.

George, if you didn't notice it until now it's possible it's been like this since the day it left the factory.  When I worked at CC I devised tooling to position the inside latch so it would be centered (both up and down and side to side) on the bolt.  The problem is each door installation can be slightly offset relative to the jambs making an exact distance from the door edges impractical - which was the old process of doing it.  The tool would clamp onto the bolt and had two pointed tips.  The door would then be closed whereby the tool would leave dimples indicating the exact location for the latch mounting screws.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho