Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Bay Door Lock Replacement (Read 864 times) previous topic - next topic

Bay Door Lock Replacement

I went to replace my bay door lock actuators.  Had 3 of them broken and decided to do something about it.  Was locked out of the sewer bin and that was a pretty epic adventure with a coat hanger for 2 hours.  Anyway, I saw the MES actuators and their pricing and decided it wasn't happening.  I looked at the dimensions, stroke and functionality and found a match on ebay. 

New Universal Power Door Lock Actuator Motor 12 Volt 8 8lb w 2 Year Warranty... 

Only $5 each and I can confirm that they work.  I bought a few spares as well.  I also kept my old actuators which I'll try to disassemble and repair.  Usually when you take 2 or 3 identical broken items you can make a single working unit unless all of the same parts failed.

If you replace these you'll have to predrill holes for the screws in the inner fiberglass (at least on a 320 style door, don't know about 270 style door yet).  You also need to use a pair of pliers to bend and cut the supplied bar to a shape that works.  Finally you can use wire cutters and electrical tape to make the connections.  The supplied screws are too short (I'm really not sure how the vendor thought that was supposed to work).  If you reuse the existing screws Foretravel used they are too big for the new actuator.  If you just blast the screw through though anyway it stays together but might eventually fall apart at the edges of the actuator after the plastic gets brittle (it did crack on the edges because the screw is too large).  If you want to do the right job, have to go to the store and find narrower screws (than what Foretravel used for the current actuators, or longer screws than the new ones come with).

The lengths Foretravel went to to do a good installation on the original actuators is impressive.  It's a shame they were let down by the vendor of the actual actuators.  My hack job doesn't even compare ;)

Re: Bay Door Lock Replacement

Reply #1 –
Thank you for posting a remarkably inexpensive solution to a problem many of will probably have eventually
Mogan David
1999 U295 36'

Re: Bay Door Lock Replacement

Reply #2 –
Quote from: piku –
I went to replace my bay door lock actuators.  Had 3 of them broken and decided to do something about it.  Was locked out of the sewer bin and that was a pretty epic adventure with a coat hanger for 2 hours.  Anyway, I saw the MES actuators and their pricing and decided it wasn't happening.  I looked at the dimensions, stroke and functionality and found a match on ebay. 
New Universal Power Door Lock Actuator Motor 12 Volt 8 8lb w 2 Year Warranty... 
Only $5 each and I can confirm that they work.  I bought a few spares as well.
I ordered two of these and they just arrived. It is an exact match to what I have.  :thumbsup:  Thanks for posting where to get them.  b^.^d
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 Lock Replacement

Reply #3 –
Hi Barry,

Sometimes the polarity is reversed or wire color is different ...such that you might want to check the action at installation. I found the cheap, universal ones work quite well.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Bay Door Lock Replacement

Reply #4 –
I have installed several of those over the past five years and they seem to be working quite well.

Mark
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Bay Door Lock Replacement

Reply #5 –
Barry, you got ripped off! ... you can get this one Universal Heavy Duty Power Door Lock Actuator Motor 2 Wire 12V Gift | eBay for $1.24 with free shipping :P I have no idea if that works or not so don't anyone go buying that one based on this !
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Bay Door Lock Replacement

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Steve –
Barry, you got ripped off! ... you can get this one Universal Heavy Duty Power Door Lock Actuator Motor 2 Wire 12V Gift | eBay for $1.24 with free shipping :P
Where's a cop when you need one.  :giggle:
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"