gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Oct 15, 2015 13:27:47 GMT -8
My door latch only catches about 3/32". If I pull out and jerk the door to the left it comes open. I can pry the door to the left with a screw driver or strong stick and it comes open. There does not seem to be any adjustment.
Anyone know how to fix the door latch on a 1955 Phoenix?
We are going camping 5 days chrome hub caps or not. Sure would like to have an awning too.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Oct 15, 2015 14:15:30 GMT -8
Put a padlock through the hasp.
Just kidding.................. but you may have to just to get by.
I think this is the main reason we find so many of these trailers with hasps securing the door closed.
Looks like a you have a Bargman L-66 or L-77 lockset, which I know nothing about.
Sometimes you can shim out the strike plate a bit, sometimes you can shim out behind the door hinge, sometimes both. Maybe you can loosen the latch and see if you can shift it closer to the edge of the door.
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Post by bigbill on Oct 15, 2015 17:43:26 GMT -8
What I usually find is the door is deteriorating allowing flex. I always figure on disassembling the door on any trailer that I start on, it is a fairly easy job and reaps great rewards. I normally reframe with hard wood and add additional bracing.
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Oct 15, 2015 18:05:01 GMT -8
I was thinking, the door use to be right but now it is not, WHY?
So I did a CSI investigation and looked at the door closer. From the front side I can not see the latch it is hidden by the part of the door that over laps the side of the trailer.
From the back side I can see the door edge is not straight there is a low spot near the door handle. A straight edge shows the door edge is pushed in almost 1/4". I put a block of wood inside the door handle hole and hammered it out to force the aluminum out. This reformed the door edge so the low spot is gone and the whole door edge is flush with the straight edge.
I put the handle in the door again, push it toward the edge then tighten the 4 screws that squeeze it together like a clamp. Now the door latch goes into the latch hole 1/4". Wow that is much better. The door locks and unlocks from both sides and functions correctly. It works good, its fixed.
I am not sure I want to remove the door hasp yet. I have seen trailers going down the highway at 70 mph with the door wide open.
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mobiltec
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I make mistakes so you don't have to...
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 17, 2015 18:35:21 GMT -8
I was thinking, the door use to be right but now it is not, WHY?
So I did a CSI investigation and looked at the door closer. From the front side I can not see the latch it is hidden by the part of the door that over laps the side of the trailer.
From the back side I can see the door edge is not straight there is a low spot near the door handle. A straight edge shows the door edge is pushed in almost 1/4". I put a block of wood inside the door handle hole and hammered it out to force the aluminum out. This reformed the door edge so the low spot is gone and the whole door edge is flush with the straight edge.
I put the handle in the door again, push it toward the edge then tighten the 4 screws that squeeze it together like a clamp. Now the door latch goes into the latch hole 1/4". Wow that is much better. The door locks and unlocks from both sides and functions correctly. It works good, its fixed.
I am not sure I want to remove the door hasp yet. I have seen trailers going down the highway at 70 mph with the door wide open.
That's a suicide door so you do not want it coming open at speeds over 10mph. By the way.. These trailers were not built to travel at 70 mph. If you tow it that fast you stand the chance of the front top part of the radius being bent in by the wind. Normally there is not much framing in that radius if any at all and you'll end up with it all being caved in there if you tow it at higher speeds. 55 is the fastest I will tow an old trailer like this. And also, to me it looks more like a 64 than a 55. Just guessing from the parts I'm looking at. |
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Post by bigbill on Oct 18, 2015 4:53:48 GMT -8
I was thinking, the door use to be right but now it is not, WHY?
So I did a CSI investigation and looked at the door closer. From the front side I can not see the latch it is hidden by the part of the door that over laps the side of the trailer.
From the back side I can see the door edge is not straight there is a low spot near the door handle. A straight edge shows the door edge is pushed in almost 1/4". I put a block of wood inside the door handle hole and hammered it out to force the aluminum out. This reformed the door edge so the low spot is gone and the whole door edge is flush with the straight edge.
I put the handle in the door again, push it toward the edge then tighten the 4 screws that squeeze it together like a clamp. Now the door latch goes into the latch hole 1/4". Wow that is much better. The door locks and unlocks from both sides and functions correctly. It works good, its fixed.
I am not sure I want to remove the door hasp yet. I have seen trailers going down the highway at 70 mph with the door wide open.
I don't think it is fixed, I think you have just made a patch that will help for a while but will fail in the long run. Another one of those things I have learned the hard way. Good Luck. |
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