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Dingo Girl · 06-22-2015, 08:38 PM

How do I fix a worn pin on the Hinge of the entry door? Or is the Hinge itself worn?
I can lift the door about 1/16 - 1/8 inch. the play is in the Hinge. The Hinge itself is solidly attached to the trailer body.
It does not affect the opening and closing of the door, but I would still like to fix this.
It reminds me of an old car I had that had a door that had to be lifted when closing it.
The trailer door does not have to be lifted to open or close it however.
If anyone else has had this problem I would love to hear how you went about curing it.
Thank you!

JLGT5107 · 09-01-2015, 05:33 PM

I have the same problem. I bought some nylon spacers with .25 id from home depot, cut them to 1/8" long then cut a slice vertical so I could push it onto pin. My pin is frozen. I think I will have to wrap it with a couple of winds of small gauge wire to keep it in place over time. It is part of my door rebuild I am just finishing up.

Dingo Girl · 09-01-2015, 05:42 PM

I wondered if C clips could be used, not sure how I'd wedge it in there though.

JLGT5107 · 09-01-2015, 06:58 PM

That sounds good. Maybe clip the c clips with some snips, then drive them with a screwdriver blade. thats what i did with nylon.Also, It might work better after some thai stuffed sweet potatoes.

dbj216 · 09-01-2015, 07:03 PM

My 66 single hinge is also worn and sloppy. I think I have more play than you described.

Here is an article on Vintage Airstream about removing and replacing the hinge pin.

Removing a Single Hinge Door - Vintage Airstream

IIRC, I read where Aerowood essentially "line bored" his hinge and installed a larger pin to make it like new. Maybe if I purchased a long reamer about .03 larger in diameter and then the corresponding drill rod for the new hinge pin.

I plan on rebuilding my hinge this winter, I just don't know how yet.

David

AudioMike · 09-24-2015, 09:44 AM

I have a '66 also and the door sags. Looks like there is play in the hinge pin. I am not sure that would feel comfortable in boring this out myself without making a mess of it. Any suggestions on who could do this, if that is the right way to fix this issue.

Aerowood · 09-24-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbj216

My 66 single hinge is also worn and sloppy. I think I have more play than you described.

Here is an article on Vintage Airstream about removing and replacing the hinge pin.

Removing a Single Hinge Door - Vintage Airstream

IIRC, I read where Aerowood essentially "line bored" his hinge and installed a larger pin to make it like new. Maybe if I purchased a long reamer about .03 larger in diameter and then the corresponding drill rod for the new hinge pin.

I plan on rebuilding my hinge this winter, I just don't know how yet.

David

I only line bored the worn half. I then installed bronze bushing and installed a .250 stainless steel hinge pin which is the stock diameter.

Any competent machine shop should be able to do this.

Inland RV Center, In · 09-24-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioMike

I have a '66 also and the door sags. Looks like there is play in the hinge pin. I am not sure that would feel comfortable in boring this out myself without making a mess of it. Any suggestions on who could do this, if that is the right way to fix this issue.

Replacement hinge pins are available for less than $ 20.00.

Andy

AudioMike · 09-25-2015, 04:05 PM

Andy. I am planning on buying one from you. In your experience does just replacing the pin usually solve the issue?

Dingo Girl · 09-25-2015, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

I only line bored the worn half. I then installed bronze bushing and installed a .250 stainless steel hinge pin which is the stock diameter.

Any competent machine shop should be able to do this.

Aerowood
What size did you bore it out to?
Thanks

Inland RV Center, In · 09-25-2015, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioMike

Andy. I am planning on buying one from you. In your experience does just replacing the pin usually solve the issue?

Usually, replacing the hinge pin takes acre of the loose hinge issue.

If not completely, it still does a good job.

Further adjustments can be made with the hinge itself. We can provide, if you wish, instructions as to how to do that.

Andy

Aerowood · 09-25-2015, 07:27 PM

.310, I then shrank fit .3125 (5/16) bushing. I used liquid nitrogen to shrink the bushing for installation

Inland RV Center, In · 09-26-2015, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

.310, I then shrank fit .3125 (5/16) bushing. I used liquid nitrogen to shrink the bushing for installation

The original hinge pin is .250 inches (1/4 inch).

It should be replaced with the same size.

Enlarging the hole in the hinge, is a difficult task, in that to start with, you would need a drill bit that's at a minimum of 15 inches long.

Then holding the 2 halves of the hinge in the proper relationship with each other, becomes another task.

Removing the original shaft , that has worn, and replacing it with the same size shaft, makes the task as simple as you can.

Andy

Aerowood · 09-26-2015, 02:35 PM

The hinge pin is made of stainless steel going through a cast aluminum hinge half, as the stainless pin is harder then the aluminum hinge half then the wear is on the pivoting hinge half causing elongation of the hinge half holes. As the hinge halves are no longer available, the only option for repair is to ream the elongated .250 holes and bush back to .250. This is not a complicated process and any good machine shop can preform this task. I am not a machinist and was able to do it in a couple of hours with a standard Bridgeport mill.

Dingo Girl · 09-27-2015, 03:44 AM

Thank you Aerowood . I have access to a Bridgeport and the skill set to do the job. It's the shrinking of the bushing with the liquid nitrogen that poses the problem. That is not some thing I have ever done.
Would dry ice work?

Aerowood · 09-27-2015, 09:01 AM

Yes, put the dry ice in acetone. You could also ream to .3125 and epoxy. You will need a long shank ream. The actual reaming only takes a minute, the set up will take a couple of hours

Dingo Girl · 09-28-2015, 03:38 AM

Thank you!

AudioMike · 09-28-2015, 08:39 AM

Aerowood, I am in Denver. Anyone locally that you would recommend to do this work for me?

Thanks

Aerowood · 09-28-2015, 08:44 AM

I really don't know of anyone, just have to do some leg work. Call around there are different types of shops, one that does purely production will be the most expensive. A little mom and pop job shop is the one to look for.

65TW · 04-13-2020, 12:08 PM

Is the 1/4" hinge pin supposed to be stationary relative to the body side of the door hinge? I assume it is since there is a 1/8" (?) drift pin that holds the 1/4" hinge pin in place on the body side door hinge, but wanted to double check. I think my hinge pin is frozen on the door side hinge and it sheared the drift pin. The hinge pin definitely is fixed and rotating with the door side hinge, not the body side hinge. It became really stiff about a week ago, which triggered me to look at this.

Any tips on drilling the new drift pin hole? Before or after installing the new stainless steel hinge pin? Any tips on drift pin material, e.g. stainless steel?

Thanks
65' Tradewind - Full Monty