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JBinKC · 07-21-2010, 06:56 PM

Friends: I'm looking for recommendations on stopping corrosion on outside storage latches and preventing corrosion on ones that are still good. Should I use a Dremel? Then how do you protect them? I'm thinking the best solution is to replace them but is there an interim fix? Thank you! Best wishes, John

barts · 07-21-2010, 07:11 PM

In general, no steel surface should be in contact with aluminum in the presence of water... so the long term is to replace such latches with stainless ones, just as replacing steel screws in clearance lights, etc, is a good idea. Dissimilar metal corrosion can be a real problem.

In the mean time, gently cleaning w/ scotch-bright and painting is prob. your best bet.

- B art

2airishuman · 07-21-2010, 08:33 PM

clean those up with scotch brite or steel wool or a metal detail brush.

then mask off and spray with your favorite rust binder paint.
________

OR rivet on some new ones and spray them with boeshield t-9.

i wipe a bit of b/t-9 on them 2-3 times a year, no rust or crud.
________

after CLEANING the old ones might be fine still, with a coating of t-9.

cheers
2air'

Bob Thompson · 07-31-2011, 10:21 PM

Does anyone know of a stainless steel replacement for these latches? My OEM latches are rusting and replacing them with stainless steel units would cure the problem.

Looks like they are known as: Corbin Catch 340023-01
And available with OEM finish here: http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=257

I'll keep looking for stainless steel replacements.

Bob Thompson · 07-31-2011, 10:57 PM

I found very similar ones:National Mfg CoModel: N208579

Here: Zinc Lockable Draw Catch by National Mfg Co - N208579 - More Door Latches at doitbest.com

ROBERT CROSS · 08-01-2011, 06:15 AM

Inland RV has this on sale now....

Bob Thompson · 08-01-2011, 07:38 AM

$19.50 at Inland seemed pricey so I checked elsewhere. Found them at McMaster Carr for $7.49 in stainless: http://www.mcmaster.com/#draw-latches/=dfhems When the website comes up, move to Catalog page 2946 Part No. 1590A45. The dimensions I checked were an exact match.

Wingeezer · 08-01-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Thompson

$19.50 at Inland seemed pricey so I checked elsewhere. Found them at McMaster Carr for $7.49 in stainless: McMaster-Carr When the website comes up, move to Catalog page 2946 Part No. 1590A45. The dimensions I checked were an exact match.

Hi Bob,

Are you going to order them? If so, would you be kind enough to let us know when you get them if all works out fine, as I would like to do the same, but if you are goig ahead, I might as well wait to be sure you are happy before I order and have them shipped to Canada!

By the way - did you used to be on the Yahoo group for Award trailers some years back? Name sounds famliar! I used to frequent that forum when we had our 1993 727 Award. Sold it about three years ago.

Brian.

Bob Thompson · 08-01-2011, 10:17 AM

Yes, I ordered 6 of the SS latches from McMaster-Carr. They always ship fast so I should have them in a couple days. On their website, you can access a CAD drawing of the latch and I used the dimensions off the CAD drawing to verify they were identical. Will let everyone know how the SS versions work out.

Yes, I used to own an Award 23 and was active on the Award Forums. Owning the Award is what made me want to switch to Airstreams.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-01-2011, 10:34 AM

Thanks Bob, will be following the results.

Tired of cleaning and touching-up every Spring.

Bob Thompson · 08-03-2011, 01:33 PM

Ok....Here's the results. I ordered 6 latches from McMaster Carr on Monday a little after noon. Part no. is: Catalog page 2946 Part No. 1590A45. Like I said above, they ship fast. I got them via UPS on Wednesday at 2:00PM. When I got them, I removed one of the OEM latches and compared them side by side:

I could find no difference between them except the new ones are stainless steel. So I mounted one to the access hatch:

Looks Great!

McMaster Carr at $7.49 each is still pricey, but way more affordable than the Inland on sale items for $19.95.

The mounting holes matched perfectly.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-03-2011, 01:57 PM

We can handle that...

Thanks Bob

JBinKC · 08-03-2011, 05:32 PM

Thank you, Bob! For those of us who don't own a rivet gun, could you craftsmen go into detail on getting the old latches off and re-installing the new ones, please? I'm weighing buying the tools to do this job with having a pro do it the next time the trailer is in the shop.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-03-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBinKC

Thank you, Bob! For those of us who don't own a rivet gun, could you craftsmen go into detail on getting the old latches off and re-installing the new ones, please? I'm weighing buying the tools to do this job with having a pro do it the next time the trailer is in the shop.

You would drill out the old rivets, and install with

this.

Not hard at all. Probably use 1/8"X3/8 or 5/16" aluminum rivets.
BT can chime in with the details.
How to Use a Pop Rivet Gun | eHow.com

Wingeezer · 08-04-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Thompson

Ok....Here's the results. I ordered 6 latches from McMaster Carr on Monday a little after noon

The mounting holes matched perfectly.

Thanks Bob, I'll be doing likewise - those rusty old latches always annoyed me!

It is little touches like this on the Airstream that bug me - you'd really think that in the interest of keeping their image, it would be worth the few extra $ to do it right in the first place.

Same as the crappy original skylights that I just replaced with Maxim polycarbonate ones.

Still, I guess everyone needs to cut costs.

Brian.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-04-2011, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

It is little touches like this on the Airstream that bug me - you'd really think that in the interest of keeping their image, it would be worth the few extra $ to do it right in the first place.
Brian.

Bug's-a-lot.

The "little" things make a difference.

First thing I did with the Classic...replace all exterior fasteners with stainless.
11 bucks @ HD

(mothership..how much would these latches cost if say, you bought 1k at a time?)

These stupid latches have bugged me since they rusted over first Season.

Bob

Wingeezer · 08-05-2011, 11:05 AM

Unforunately no luck for me so far on this good lead.

McMaster Carr say that due to export regulations, they don't ship to Canada other than to long standing customers. Seems odd.

I'll see if I can find a local source and if not maybe see if I can have them shipped this winter to a chum who spends the winter in Florida. Don't like to impose though!

Brian.

JBinKC · 02-08-2012, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

clean those up with scotch brite or steel wool or a metal detail brush.

then mask off and spray with your favorite rust binder paint.
________

OR rivet on some new ones and spray them with boeshield t-9.

i wipe a bit of b/t-9 on them 2-3 times a year, no rust or crud.
________

after CLEANING the old ones might be fine still, with a coating of t-9.

cheers
2air'

Friends: I took 2air's advice last year and cleaned the latches with a green scratch pad and sprayed them with Boeshield T-9. They're a little discolored on close inspection but this is a good solution to stop corrosion without having to replace the latches.

ROBERT CROSS · 02-08-2012, 05:14 AM

Thank's Bob for the heads-up on McCarr....

Bob

MountaineerStreamer · 06-10-2016, 11:31 AM

Just had to comment on the info in this 4 year old thread.

Having gotten aggravated about the poor condition of the compartment latches on our 5 year old Classic, I found this info and placed an order with McMaster-Carr about 4:40 yesterday afternoon. The ordered latches arrive in WV at 10:00 this morning. High quality stainless, still priced as noted above - plus $6.50 shipping by Fed Ex Ground.

Airforums and its members continue to be an amazing resource. As an aside, both compartments are now refurbished after 45 minutes of gentle effort.

Thanks All!

Bill