1972 Safari Cabinet latch assembly.

[JM7]

I know I am making this far more challenging than it should be but.........

One of the cabinet latches broke on a wardrobe door in my 1972 Safari. I have ordered a replacement latch from Vintage Trailer, but can't find assembly instructions anywhere. I have a shop manual for my AS but I'm not seeing it in there. I have also searched this forum for "1972 cabinet latch assembly" and other similar searches and found everything but.

Any advice or links would be appreciated.


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[JM7]

Bump.....


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[JM7]

I even emailed Airstream customer service and this was the response;

"Good Morning Jay,

I apologize but I do not have a good illustration on how those latches go together. I do know that replacements are currently available. I have included a couple of links to where you can get replacement parts. Please let me know if you have any other questions. thank you."


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[DaAairstream]

Have you solved it yet? I just ran into the same issue on my 74 Overlander. Same catch. Plenty of people selling the part, but no one can tell me how to assemble.
Thanks.
Andy

[JM7]

No one ever responded.

I ended up reverse engineering on of my existing. If you want I can send you a go by with some pics.

We are currently on our way home from Minnesota home in our AS so it may be a day or two before I can get back.


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[DaAairstream]

Thanks. I could use the help. While ordering some parts, on the phone yesterday, I brought the subject up to the guy who was helping me. He said hey refer to these catches as "Rubicon Latches". I believe it. He thought they might have some photos, but wasn't sure. I see how the parts sequence but not how to get the spring in and the slide mounted. Whatever you can send whenever you can would be appreciated.
Andy

[JM7]

Sorry for the delay.

The white plastic push drops into the black carrier with the tab towards the shroud (piece that sticks out-not sure of the exact terminology.). When actuated the tab pushes directly against the latch.

Slide the white push till it is hidden under the shroud.

Place one of the end the spring in the latch and the other end against the shroud/stop.

Keep pressure between the latch and the black carrier and compress the spring till the latch drops into place over the carrier.

You are done. .

I have attached one pic showing the basic layout.

Hope this helps you out. As you can see by my spring I tried many variations, destroying the spring in the process.




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[CaCraig]

I have one of these I need t get apart but what is the white thing and where do I get one? Airstream said they're still available? I was told they've been NLA for many years.None of the vendors list them on their sites.

[DaAairstream]

Thank You. I was having trouble with, not only, the sequence of the internal parts, but also slipping the slide onto it's base. This helps a lot.
Andy

[DaAairstream]

It was included in the kit I purchased from Out of Doors Mart, but others also sell the same item. I've never seen the small part listed separately though.

[CaCraig]

It looks like the latch is sold as part of this brown cabinet latch but I can't find it sold separately.

Andy has them separately but they are really expensive.

Cabinet Catch Assy 1971-74 Brown 201148-01 [201148-01] - $15.95 : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

[JM7]

Getting the latch apart is a pain. Slide it to the "full open" position and use a flat blade screw driver to pry it apart. At times it feels like it will snap, but I haven't broken one yet.

The white part is the push that connects the front slide to the latch on the inside of the door. I've never purchased them separate, always in a kit from oodm or vintage trailer.

Hope this helps. J


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[CaCraig]

Ahhh ok. I thought the white piece was needed to take it apart.