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05-10-2011, 04:35 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Moho generater door
I'm trying to repair my generator door. I know there are two horizontal spring loaded pins that hold the bottom of the door and I assume act as a hinge to open the door. Mine are gone and I'm trying to fabricate new ones.
My door has been held on by four screws and wing nuts with are tacky and a pain in the rear to access the generator.
My question is what is the bottom of the door supposed to look like? Mine has about a 1/2" flange bent down and a similar flange bent down on the edge of the compartment floor. It looks like when the two flanges hit it would keep the door from opening very far. Maybe you open the door a bit and reach in to release the pins and remove the door for access? I can build the hinge pins so that the bottom of the door sticks out a bit to allow the door to open farther but I don't know exactly how it is supposed to be.
It almost looks like the bottom of my door is bent done a bit compared to the curve of the coach. If it was curved up a little more the flange might swing up above the floor of the compartment when opened.
I've attached a couple of pics. can anyone tell me how it's supposed to work or maybe post a picture or two?
Thanks, Dan
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05-10-2011, 05:55 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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I made up some tempory hinges to see what it looks like. If I match the bottom edge of the door the way it looks like it should. The bent down flange does clear the compartment floor and the door opens nicely. The problem is the door is now 3/4" to 1" too tall. Have I got the wrong door? I can't imagine they made these in different sizes. Am I missing something here?
I'm open to ideas.
Thanks, Dan
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05-10-2011, 06:31 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
1977 28' Argosy 28
Bullhead City
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 393
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Well I don't know if i will be any help since I'm an Argosy . But my generator door doesn't have hinges the flange on the door just sits inside the body between the body and another flange it also locks at the top. If you want I can take some pics.
Jo
__________________
Gypsy Jo 1977 Argosy 28' Motor Home
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05-10-2011, 06:46 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Jamestown
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 577
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hello S. S.
I would start the fit at the top
secure the top well and then work down to the bottom forming and shaping the door.
I think a hinge at the bottom. swing down door.
with a Positive latch of some form at the Top would give you good access.
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05-10-2011, 07:00 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1977 28' Argosy 28
Bullhead City
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 393
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Generator door
Looks like I am missing the solid piece that covers the screened area.
For what it's worth here are pics. The bottom of the door just sits inside the 2 L bracket looking things and then the lock is at the top .
Jo
__________________
Gypsy Jo 1977 Argosy 28' Motor Home
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05-10-2011, 08:22 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Thanks Gypsy Jo and John. It's interesting the little differences in these units when they all look pretty much the same. I like the idea of the whole door flange interlocking with the compartment floor. Mine is supposed to be held with 1/4" pins that are spring loaded into holes in the frame. Tin Crumpet had their door come off on the roadway. I'm working on a positive lock for the pins. The pic is the lock that I got from Inland RV. It fits the hole in the door which is now covered with a reflector. I'm a little concerned because the lock is heavier than the whole door.
I found this old pic of a creative solution for a door that decided to go it's own way.
My door is actually two pieces riveted together in the middle. I guess I can shorten it at that joint. It just drives me nuts when stuff like this doesn't fit.
Thanks again, Dan
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05-11-2011, 10:45 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Silverton
, Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,102
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My generator door has a segmented piano hinge, front-side of the unit, and the door is one piece. I have to lift up a little on the latch side to get it to close, and the latch is horizontal when closed. My 'flanges' inside the door are not flared...m
__________________
Michael & Tracy
1989 345 Motorhome
CHARTER MEMBERS: FOUR CORNERS UNIT, AND PROUD OF IT!!!
We live for the moment, 'cause when you get there, it's gone...
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05-11-2011, 12:14 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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That's strange, Dan. My lower door is screwed on and I think it's factory. Ya got me!
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05-11-2011, 05:33 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Foothill Ranch
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,695
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Mine is two piece too, but different to what I have seen here...
My upper is a flimsy piece of pressed Aluminum, and the lower is bolted, I think 3 placed per side... Top bolts are between the rub strips, and you can see the hole for the mid one cos its missing..
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05-11-2011, 05:48 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keyair
Mine is two piece too, but different to what I have seen here...
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What's with the Buck Rogers vents? I've never seen them before, wonder what good they did/do?
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05-11-2011, 07:49 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Foothill Ranch
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary
What's with the Buck Rogers vents? I've never seen them before, wonder what good they did/do?
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LOL, Are they not Factory?
I know they let the smoke from my oil leak out good!
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05-11-2011, 08:23 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keyair
Mine is two piece too, but different to what I have seen here...
My upper is a flimsy piece of pressed Aluminum, and the lower is bolted, I think 3 placed per side... Top bolts are between the rub strips, and you can see the hole for the mid one cos its missing..
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I have to admit I'm surprised at how many variations there are for mounting this simple door. One of the things that concerns me is how flexible the door is. With the original hinge that mine had on the bottom the door is so flexible that it would be very easy for it to flex enough that a latch at the top would simply pull past the latch tab. I think that is why some added the latches on the sides.
The piano hinge with the bottom secured and only the top half folding down solves that problem. To do that I would have to split my door and modify the inner baffle. By the way nobody else seems to have the inner baffle that is on my door.
ScrapIrony seems to have the best set up with a hinge on the leading edge and a single latch at the rear. Because of the curve the door doesn't flex in that direction and as long as the latch can support the door vertically this should solve all the problems and keep the whole thing pretty simple. Tomorrow I'm going shopping for a piano hinge.
Pretty interesting scoops there Keyair.
Thanks guys, Dan
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05-11-2011, 08:46 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartstream
Pretty interesting scoops there Keyair.
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Ahh, "scoops" rather than vents, I didn't think of that. Maybe we need to put arrows denoting fore/aft in our close-ups.
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05-11-2011, 09:30 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Foothill Ranch
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,695
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LOL, for the pedantic Classic owners....
They are forward facing... so scoops..
Now I am all worried that the extra drag is why my MPG is low...
Maybe NACA Scoops are better?
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05-11-2011, 09:39 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keyair
They are forward facing... so scoops..)
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Anyone got a clue why scoops?
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05-11-2011, 09:56 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary
Anyone got a clue why scoops?
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Just to make you ask why Mike.
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05-12-2011, 03:10 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Foothill Ranch
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary
Anyone got a clue why scoops?
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My guess would be to keep the unit cool if you run it while driving....
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05-12-2011, 03:50 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keyair
My guess would be to keep the unit cool if you run it while driving....
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What! You guys in the 34 footers have 20kw gensets?
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05-14-2011, 08:37 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Foothill Ranch
, California
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,695
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Here is how my hinge looks...
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05-16-2011, 03:50 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Well guys, here is the finished project. I used about a foot of aluminum hinge and used a proper compartment latch. I didn't get a picture but I did bend a piece of aluminum flat stock and riveted it to capture the lock bar and support the rear edge of the door. I may pull the bottom half of the door and shorten it a bit so it fits a little better but that will have to wait because we're going camping tomorrow.
Thanks for all the pictures and suggestions, Dan
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