Those damn European hinges

[PatLee]

elBrillante - I found a tiny screw, kept it in my pocket and a couple of days later, the bottom hinge on left curved sink door came loose and would not reattach. Realized the hinge on inside paneling was loose and saw there was a little hole inside it where that screw went. Checked other hinges to confirm. It's hard to see.

[PatLee]

Hermes - did you use the smallest ties you can buy? Just wondering what the sizing was on your package. Thanks.

[EKB847]

Pack of 100 from Harbor Freight for $1.99
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-w...-pk-60257.html

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by PatLee

elBrillante -....It's hard to see.

In our unit, it's almost a stand on your head approach. I too am having the same loosening issue with this screw (only the bathroom). I'm grabbing some locktite when i get to Maine in a few days.
B

[Caffeinated]

Originally Posted by PatLee

elBrillante - I found a tiny screw, kept it in my pocket and a couple of days later, the bottom hinge on left curved sink door came loose and would not reattach. Realized the hinge on inside paneling was loose and saw there was a little hole inside it where that screw went. Checked other hinges to confirm. It's hard to see.

That is exactly the same hinge I’m having problems with. Bottom left hand curved door under the sink. I’m thinking locktite too.

Mike

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by PatLee

Hermes - did you use the smallest ties you can buy? Just wondering what the sizing was on your package. Thanks.

I don't have the original package but pretty well any sufficient size and length will do; tighten well (I use pliers) and then cut the excess.

[Air Team]

StuartsDad was correct. Call Airstream and request little plastic clip that prevents hinge separation. I did and received free supply to fix all hinges. No hinge problems since. This is the most simple and correct fix. Good Luck!

[PatLee]

Thanks, Hermes

[Spartanguy]

These henges...I couldn’t get the door under the bed back on the henge and in its time off my cat pal found a new favorite hiding spot, so I just have a door laying on my dinette indefinitely I guess. Have owned my AS since April these cabinet hinges are my greatest disappointment so far.

[Cobalt]

I’ve taken my AS back twice for connection issues. The last time I had to go back into the repair que because they did not have any in stock! Unbelievable. Drove home and zip tied every one that gave me problems until they were fixed.
I believe they are fundamentally well made, if you can get one in your hands and work it, you can easily reinstall them in your cabinets when they pop off. The metal clip covers also pop off easily.
They will protect your cabinets by releasing before cabinet damage occurs from hard opening to inside components being slammed against them during hard stops or braking, so I would understand this before I zipped them. Believe me, they have caused a lot of frustration with me also.

[VT Wanderer]

(2014 flying cloud 27ft) I was thinking about piano hinges on the cabinet under the galley sink and the main hall closet. Any thoughts from all you folks??

[Gulliver72]

I have removed all the awful Euro hinges and replaced with either flat hinges or piano hinges, depending on location. It just another example of AS designers not USING their designs.

[Hermes]

Had the three hinges on our clothes closet door replaced (the one with the heavy mirror) when it fell off to the floor. Brought it to a cabinet shop and they replaced the original three hinges with five Blum hinges (still european but better design). Have not had any problems since.

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by CruizinDux

In our unit, it's almost a stand on your head approach. I too am having the same loosening issue with this screw (only the bathroom). I'm grabbing some locktite when i get to Maine in a few days.
B

Just a heads, read the packaging. Went to the hdw store for som Locktite, but it had a warning re temp req for removal (500 deg) for the red? Noticed the permatex (blue) is labeled medium and removable, so grabbed it. Will inst tomorrow. May try a drop of gorilla on the cabinet door latch screws too.

B

[JonDNC]

Correct red is semi permanent. Blue thread loc is what you want

[waninae39]

i changed 4 door from euro hinge to piano hinge

it gives us more space

see post #17 here

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f38/...-155936-2.html

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by waninae39

i changed 4 door from euro hinge to piano hinge

it gives us more space

see post #17 here

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f38/...-155936-2.html

Hmmm, tempting.

Used the blue permatex today...tip o the day...as the subject screws are very small (the two outside ones, the middle being vertical adj)...use a magnetic tip phillips makes it much easier to screw back into the bracket plate. Also larger #2 seemed to get a better grip.

Also added a drop or two of gorilla glue in the door screw holes as they were almost to the point if stripping.

B

[SYC2Vette]

I am one who likes these hinges. Nice action, easy to remove and replace doors quickly. There were two that we would often knock loose occasionally so we zip-tied those two, otherwise no problems. Part of it is learning the technique for quick release and reconnect maybe, seems very easy and quick to me, but our last home with custom cabinets used the same hinges so I knew how they worked.

[WesVasey]

Sorry for the delay piling on (just coming back from a great five week New England tour in our 2019 25FC). Add me to the list with Daquenzer, Caffeinated, and El Brillante with the problem of the screws falling out. I found them the first time and managed to reassemble the hinge, but they fell out again and I haven’t located them yet. I’m looking for a permanent fix. Locktite has been suggested, and I’ll give it a shot after I source the screws. But if so, why doesn’t AS apply it during construction? Too many of us having the same issue IMO.

Great suggestion on the zip ties ( cuz I’ve got that problem too). Will definitely go with that fix.

[Kalashnikov]

Originally Posted by WesVasey

Sorry for the delay piling on (just coming back from a great five week New England tour in our 2019 25FC). Add me to the list with Daquenzer, Caffeinated, and El Brillante with the problem of the screws falling out. I found them the first time and managed to reassemble the hinge, but they fell out again and I haven’t located them yet. I’m looking for a permanent fix. Locktite has been suggested, and I’ll give it a shot after I source the screws. But if so, why doesn’t AS apply it during construction? Too many of us having the same issue IMO.

Great suggestion on the zip ties ( cuz I’ve got that problem too). Will definitely go with that fix.

Manufacturing time would increase by a lot. I'll bet they just slap the hinges on, likely takes 30s to install one.

The hinges are great when they work, all the cabinets in our house have them. Then they separate it's a PITA to figure out what to do! They're certainly not designed for RV use, I think it's a poor choice. At the dealer lot they work great - right?

Planning on carrying a bottle of wood glue and another of blue loctite on our trips. Will do the ziptie solution today.