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01-04-2004, 03:52 PM
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#1
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Non hinged compartment doors
The exterior compartment doors (fridge and battery access) on my Caravel simply detach when opened and are usually a PITA to get back in place. Would it be a major job to install piano hinges or such?
It may sound like a minor inconvenience but once the flanges get bent, getting the doors back on can cause a guy like me to nearly exhaust his cussword vocabulary.
Has anyone else found this to be a problem in need of a solution? Any and all suggestions welcome.
Rog
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01-04-2004, 04:26 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Remove the "J" hinge from the door.
Put the door back in place, but upside down.
Install a piano hinge at the bottom of the frame and attach it to the door as well.
Takes 10 minutes.
No more bad words, and no more ill fitting hinge.
Andy
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01-04-2004, 04:45 PM
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#3
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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TY Andy
That sounds like great advice as usual. I'm unclear as to what a "J" hinge is but perhaps I'll understand better next time I examine the doors (the trailer is stored 10 miles from my home).
Rog
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01-04-2004, 05:14 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Rog.
The "J" hinge is at the top of the door. An upsidedown and reversed "J" hinge is at the top of the frame.
It is that combo thats making use up your vocabulary.
When you see it, you will have but one word. "DUH"
If you look at later year trailers, you will see what Airstream did.
Also, with a piano hinge at the bottom, you won't lose the door, nor can you run over it.
I bet you will change every one of them, pronto.
Actually, everyone should change them.
The lock works the same, it's just at the top of the door instead of the bottom.
Andy
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01-04-2004, 05:41 PM
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#5
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Thanks again Andy
Sure is nice to have a resident AS expert on board. I'm betting that others will also benefit from this very helpful info.
It all makes sense now, or, in my case, to quote the lyrics from a famous song:
"I can see clearly now, the brain is gone".
Or something like that.
Rog
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01-04-2004, 10:49 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 403
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Thanks to Rog & Andy for this GREAT improvement to a poor design.
Hart
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01-05-2004, 03:51 AM
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#7
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Just out of curosity...when did Airstream make the switch? BTW my 75 has the piano hinges on the bottom.
Aaron
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01-05-2004, 04:33 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 366
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Thats how I lost my refrig access door.! (Insert expletive here.)
Need new door and piano hinge.
Dick
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01-05-2004, 08:40 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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It appears that some 73's and most of the 74's, had the hinge at the bottom of the access doors.
We have attached a photo for reference.
Andy
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01-06-2004, 12:05 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 403
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Andy,
Could you post a pic with the door open so as to see the way the hinge mounts to the AS.
Thanks
Hart
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01-06-2004, 09:32 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Hart.
The other half of the hinge in the photo is mounted underneath the rub rail.
Andy
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04-01-2008, 03:41 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1971 29' Ambassador
Merritt
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 38
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Hinges on compartment door
[Lightning flashes, thunder crashes] "It's alive... the thread is ALIVE!!!"
I want to put hinges on my compartment doors. A trip to the local building supply store had piano hinges with a nickel coating. Can I use that on aluminum, or should I get aluminum piano hinges? Any suggestions of suppliers?
Thanks
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04-03-2008, 11:55 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1971 29' Ambassador
Sunny South
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
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Me too, me too, I need piano hinges. Can sure relate to the frustration of trying to get that @#$% little door back in its little hole with the bent "J" hinge! I was thinking of hiding the kitty litter near a compartment door so it would slip out easily. I'm interested to hear any answers to ayresdream's questions.
Thanks, Gwen
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04-04-2008, 11:07 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ayresdream
[Lightning flashes, thunder crashes] "It's alive... the thread is ALIVE!!!"
I want to put hinges on my compartment doors. A trip to the local building supply store had piano hinges with a nickel coating. Can I use that on aluminum, or should I get aluminum piano hinges? Any suggestions of suppliers?
Thanks
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You should use aluminum hinges, but plated is ok too.
Andy
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02-05-2009, 08:11 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 272
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How/Where to Attach New Hinge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Remove the "J" hinge from the door.
Put the door back in place, but upside down.
Install a piano hinge at the bottom of the frame and attach it to the door as well.
Takes 10 minutes.
No more bad words, and no more ill fitting hinge.
Andy
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What a great fix. I have this exact problem to. My "J" is bent, coming loose and not securing the door very well. I want to fix before I lose one or more.
Are rivets the best way to attach new piano hinge? Does anyone have a close up photo of this already done. I hope I have room without having to put under rub rail.
thanks
James
__________________
____________
1970 Overlander
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02-05-2009, 09:10 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Flintstones
What a great fix. I have this exact problem to. My "J" is bent, coming loose and not securing the door very well. I want to fix before I lose one or more.
Are rivets the best way to attach new piano hinge? Does anyone have a close up photo of this already done. I hope I have room without having to put under rub rail.
thanks
James
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You can use Olympic rivets.
Andy
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03-08-2009, 08:38 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
1974 Argosy 24
Science Hill
, Kentucky
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 427
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Okay, having same problem with one more challenge.....Can add the piano hinge to the bottom but the PO did not have the key and tried to drill out the lock....well guess what it now has some part of it still stuck in and you can't get it out. I took the whole door to a lock smith and was told to just replace the door...yeah like that is so easy on a 1974.....anyway what could be a solution to this problem?
__________________
Kevin & Monique
New to A/S---Not to Honey Do's
Sweetie (lab) Snickers (lab) Blackie(lab)
Dotz(daschund) CB (daschund) Oh and 3 kids!!!
TAC# KY-3
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03-08-2009, 09:19 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mouth012006
Okay, having same problem with one more challenge.....Can add the piano hinge to the bottom but the PO did not have the key and tried to drill out the lock....well guess what it now has some part of it still stuck in and you can't get it out. I took the whole door to a lock smith and was told to just replace the door...yeah like that is so easy on a 1974.....anyway what could be a solution to this problem?
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We have the replacement locks.
Andy
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03-09-2009, 05:41 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,800
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Won't work on a 1966
Though I'm sure there is a fix (and I'm still looking for a good one) I don't think this "J Hinged" thing will work on a "1966" trailer (which Rog0525 profile says he has). On the 1966-1968 (I know 1966) there is "no" hinge to remove or replace. I know on the 1966 model (I own three of them) the top "lip" of the door slides into a channel in the frame holding it into place, the door lock (at the bottom)then holds the door shut. This is the "BIG" problem with that style. On a 1966 even a "J Hinged" door would be nice! I have seen people attach a cable from the frame to the door (does not hold it in place, just keeps it out of the ditch if it comes un-done going down the road).
That fix works very well on the 1969 trailer on that did use the "j hinge".
__________________
Paul Waddell
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03-09-2009, 05:46 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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access doors.
64 to 68 access doors, do not have a hinge.
The door fits in a small slot at the top of the door frame.
Unfortunately, there is no fix. To open that access compartment, the door must be removed.
A hinge cannot be used, that would also allow the door to seal correctly.
My earlier posts were referring to 69 and newer access doors.
Andy
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