Basement Door Broken Latch

[TechWriter]

Where does one get replacement and/or parts for a 2001 MADP basement door latch gone bad?

BTW, it sure was fun getting the door open.

["007"]

Call Jeanne at Newmar Parts she will fix you up.
If lock latch is frozen use some PB Blaster to free it up. Worked for me on all my locks this spring after traveling on salty roads last winter.

[TechWriter]

I emailed Newmar customer service & one of their parts guys solved my problem in short order -- the internal cam had broke.

For a whopping $2.06 I decided to order five cams.

I'm liking Nemar's service.

["007"]

Good going others have had same problem with cam.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by "007"

Good going others have had same problem with cam.

I was lucky that I could access the back of the door that was broken. That seems to be the only way to remove the latch bracket in order to open the door.

If this had happened on the inverter or plumbing compartment door (both of which have no side access), I think the only way to get in would be to drill out the two latch bracket bolts. Very ugly.

[Max Hubrich]

My cam lever broke when the door dropped and slammed shut-- Sooo my recommendation is to gently lower the doors and raise the latch handle, and then lower it (the handle), to engage the latch as you press the door against the seals.
I also, now have extra cams on hand.

It wouldn't hurt to disassemble each latch and clean and lubricate the mechanisms. Mine were full of silicon spray and dirt from the original owner. He apparently had problems from the get-go. One whole latch had been replaced and I had to paint it to match the color scheme of the rig.

Good luck

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich

I also, now have extra cams on hand.

Amen to that. I think I'm going to replace the lock washers (?) on the bottom of each latch bracket with a nut so the brackets can be removed from the outside.

I'll stop slamming the doors too.

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by TechWriter

If this had happened on the inverter or plumbing compartment door (both of which have no side access), I think the only way to get in would be to drill out the two latch bracket bolts. Very ugly.

What Newmar will do is use a 6in hole saw in the side wall to the problem compartment from the adjoining compartment. They'll then call for the long armed skinny guy to reach in and pull the latch to open the door. The hole will then be replaced using silicone sealant. It'll actually be a pretty clean means of access.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by RVDude

What Newmar will do is use a 6in hole saw in the side wall to the problem compartment from the adjoining compartment. They'll then call for the long armed skinny guy to reach in and pull the latch to open the door. The hole will then be replaced using silicone sealant. It'll actually be a pretty clean means of access.

Good one. I had another latch cam break this weekend and I can't access the door from the inside. So I'll be spending Sunday afternoon sawzalling off the bottom bracket.

[Max Hubrich]

TechWriter,

If your latch is different from mine, I can't help you.

If it's the same as mine, when my cam broke I had someone (the wife) hold the handle up and push the door inward, with her knee, to take pressure off the latch as I laid flat on my back with a screwdriver and pushed up on the latch to release it. Worked for me.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich

TechWriter,

If your latch is different from mine, I can't help you.

If it's the same as mine, when my cam broke I had someone (the wife) hold the handle up and push the door inward, with her knee, to take pressure off the latch as I laid flat on my back with a screwdriver and pushed up on the latch to release it. Worked for me.

I removed the lower plate -- the part the holds the latch. Then I used a Dremel tool to cut put a 2" x 2" notch in the plate so that I could move the latch with my fingers if the cam ever broke. It works.

Now I just have another 9 latches to notch & I'm done. Fun stuff, eh?

["007"]

Those to side locks are no fun, Max & I have bottom latch only trouble with those, is in winter, salt from roads will freeze the latch in its hole. Need long shank screwdriver to release latch off wire loop. Had to do all my locks with PB Blaster work fine now.

[JRRCO]

Originally Posted by TechWriter

I emailed Newmar customer service & one of their parts guys solved my problem in short order -- the internal cam had broke.

For a whopping $2.06 I decided to order five cams.

I'm liking Nemar's service.

Did the latch look like this? if it did, what is the email the address you sent to get the cams please. My Email is JRR@JRR.US

[TechWriter]

Yep, that's the cam. Item #04759.

I worked with Craig Chupp at Newmar parts

-- CCHUPP@newmarcorp.com

Order a bunch + a couple of latch brackets because if a cam breaks & you can't get at the back of the closed door . . . it's Sawzall time.