Door Hinge Pins

[Al and Missy]

My entry door hinge pins were backed out about 3/8 inch when I bought the trailer. After about 1000 miles, the top one has backed out again. I don't see any way to drive the pins out from below so I assume they are supposed to be permant and 13 years of use has loosened them a little.

I'm thinking of putting a little loc-tite on them when i drive them back in. Any reason not to do this or better solution out there?

[Del Gurney]

The pin's are made fast by 4 deforming punches top and bottom of the pin...thus securing it within the body of the part of the hinge attached to the trailer.
Questions are:
Does your door "fit" properly in the frame and "close" snugly...
with out wobble? If so good....re-punch. Loctite may work but not for long.
Are the pins worn enough in the body of the hinge to cause any play?
If so...not so good....replace pins and plastic bushings.
As your hinge pins are loose already the hard part is already done for you
and you may (possibly) be able to remove the door to facilitate this task.
Removing the part of the hinge attached to the trailer is NOT easy and requires
cutting into the interior panel to access the nuts.
The pins may be replaced with long bolts and acorn nut but won't look as good
or smooth.
Keep all exterior hinges and moving parts lubricated to ensure long life.
Good luck

[dkottum]

Or go to Airstream dealer and get the newer style hinge ins with a slot for a split ring that holds them.

[Al and Missy]

Del,
Thanks. Did you mean punch marks on the top and bottom casting? I don't think the bottom end of my castings are drilled through. I can punch the top. Punch marks on the top of both castings would keep the pins from coming out.

Everything fits good and it takes a good whack to drive the pins in, but they probably do need oiling.

Al

[Al and Missy]

Just saw Doug's reply. Thanks. Another good option.

Al

[Siegmann]

Al & Missy, I dealt with the rising hinge pin issue for almost 10 years by knocking it back in at every stop. Two years ago I got Centramatic wheel balancers. The pins haven't moved since. Coincidence.... maybe?

[cwf]

Yup... Strange similarity... Centramatics also and I also peened as mentioned. So hard to know..for certain.

[overlander63]

You can always use Terry's 30 cent hinge pin repair.
Drill a #30 hole through the hinge and pin from front toward the back, and partway through the back side of the hinge and tap a 1/8"x1/2" roll pin into the hole. Put a dab of aluminum color Parrbond over the end of the roll pin to keep it from rusting. The roll pin costs about 30 cents.
I have demonstrated this at the last two Alumapaloozas. So far, not a single one has backed out again after this repair.

[Knudsvig]

Originally Posted by overlander63

You can always use Terry's 30 cent hinge pin repair.
Drill a #30 hole through the hinge and pin from front toward the back, and partway through the back side of the hinge and tap a 1/8"x1/2" roll pin into the hole. Put a dab of aluminum color Parrbond over the end of the roll pin to keep it from rusting. The roll pin costs about 30 cents.
I have demonstrated this at the last two Alumapaloozas. So far, not a single one has backed out again after this repair.

Will this method work for our problem?

[Knudsvig]

Originally Posted by cwf

Yup... Strange similarity... Centramatics also and I also peened as mentioned. So hard to know..for certain.

Our bottom hinge is loose. Bwoodtx looked at it. He recommended drilling thru inside

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Or go to Airstream dealer and get the newer style hinge ins with a slot for a split ring that holds them.

This permanently fixed mine. Only one was backing out, so the other one is in my spare parts kit.

[Al and Missy]

Centramatics did not fix mine. Going to try the punch route.

Al

[Siegmann]

Knudsvig, is the hinge loose at the door frame, or on the door? If the former, see my earlier post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f453...ge-122387.html

[Knudsvig]

At the hinge not door

[Knudsvig]

Originally Posted by overlander63

You can always use Terry's 30 cent hinge pin repair.
Drill a #30 hole through the hinge and pin from front toward the back, and partway through the back side of the hinge and tap a 1/8"x1/2" roll pin into the hole. Put a dab of aluminum color Parrbond over the end of the roll pin to keep it from rusting. The roll pin costs about 30 cents.
I have demonstrated this at the last two Alumapaloozas. So far, not a single one has backed out again after this repair.

The 1/8" is diameter? 1/2" is length?
What is parrbond?

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Knudsvig

Our bottom hinge is loose. Bwoodtx looked at it. He recommended drilling thru inside

Dynamic balancer for wheels. Cut down on vibration and tire wear, at least per the advertising. I got a set and the trailer seems to ride smoother but it didn't solve my hing pin problem.

Al

[bike 2 eat]

I tried lock tight it did not work