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Topic: Making battery door latch work better (Read 826 times) previous topic - next topic

Making battery door latch work better

I tried to find who came up with idea, it was brilliant and thanks. I did this alteration today and the opening and closing of the
door is 100% better. I made the piece for the other side and will install it when I get the coach away form the fence.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #2 –
1996 U295 need this???
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #3 –
Probably if your doors behind the rear wheels have simulate latches. Difficult to open. Easy to reach under thou
Scott

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #4 –
I have had to go under the coach to open the door before, but why. This is the way it should have been made in the beginning and
this fix is so easy. It is way better than new.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #5 –
I installed MisterEd's nifty kit awhile back. What a difference! Both rear doors open effortlessly. Here's a before and after of what was my Rube Goldberg latch.
jor

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Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #6 –
Would someone be so kind as to explain just what the additional piece does to the mechanism. I am interested in getting this for my coach. Am I to understand that it is the same for my 2001 battery door. Wouldn't I want one for the driver side door near the rear wheel, as well. I have had MAJOR problems with that one, twice. It likes to get stuck in the closed position. Thanks.
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #7 –
Glenn,
  Hopefully, MisteED will chime in with a good explanation but it simply changes the geometry of the linkage. It's easy to install and afterward, both of your rear doors will operate perfectly. This is one of those really nice little fixes.
jor
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95 300
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99 320

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #8 –
Jor,
I am flipping back and forth to see what you did.....
Did you add two of the extensions?
A diagram would be great
I must not be seeing this clearly, and my coach is thirty miles away
Maybe a little explanation would help
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #10 –
Barry's is a great solution, however, I used the little kit that MisterEd has posted in the Classified forum. You just buy one kit for each door. Here's the link.
jor

Log in
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Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #11 –
What it does is lengthen the distance the lock mechanism moves. Before I did what MisterEd suggested the lock mechanism would
move maybe an 1/8 of an inch and now it moves over 1/2 an inch. I mostly had trouble locking mine. It works great now. I will do
the other side when I move my coach. I already have the link made.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #12 –
Thanks John, like the machined side to keep lever from moving. Do you have a photo of MrEd's part installed?

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #13 –
I just learned the doc file has a couple of photos, just a great idea with a straight forward install by anyone.

Wonderful improvement, that needs to be widely promoted. 

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #14 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I have had to go under the coach to open the door before, but why. This is the way it should have been made in the beginning and
this fix is so easy. It is way better than new.
Good to hear you got your latches working well and, I agree, this is how it should have been made from the factory. That being said, IMO, there is very few nagging flaws on our coaches, especially when compared to most SOBs. Your explanation of why/how it works is spot-on. As for being able to reach under the rear doors to get them opened, yes, that's not too hard to do. I had to do it the day we bought or coach, while staying at a RV resort... made me feel like we didn't belong there :-[  Then there was the roadside bay door that tended to open on it's own, when parked in the sun. Due to thermal expansion of the FG door? I adjusted the latch so it wouldn't open on it's own, but then I had to pull excessively hard on the handle to get it to open.


Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Here is our thread from 3 years ago on the door latch mod:

Important modification for single latch small rear compartment doors

Works great, easy to do.
Barry,
I hadn't seen your fix before reading this thread. Nice solution you came up with. 8)

BTW, the kits are currently out of stock. ...due to renewed interest generated by this thread? I'll be making more to ship, early August.

Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #15 –
Greg, I would be interested in purchasing  3 of your kits when available.  How would you like me to proceed with an order?
Chuck Wiggy
Coloma, Wisconsin
Sold my 1999 U 320 40 Ft. M11 450 hp
Build # 5468
2009 Silverado

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #16 –
Quote from: muskyman475 –
Greg, I would be interested in purchasing  3 of your kits when available.  How would you like me to proceed with an order?
Hi, Chuck,

Just send me a PM with how many kits you would like, and your mailing address. Before I have your kits ready to ship I'll send you a reply with an invoice. Payment info will be on the invoice: PayPal, Check, money order; your choice, and at your convenience.

Thanks for your interest,
Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Making battery door latch work better

Reply #17 –
Finally installed Greg's fix it kits on two rear doors. Easy, peas. Work like a charm.
Thanks, Mr. Ed !!!
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT