Water bay door won't open

[FlyingDiver]

It's unlocked, but pulling up on the latch handle does nothing. It's like it's not connected to the latch mechanism anymore. Other doors are OK, and the lock still works.

Any suggestions on how to get it open? Not critical yet, but will be in a few days.

I'll be calling Newmar in the morning, but figured I'd ask around here first.

joe

[Max Hubrich]

Hey Joe,

The cam has probably broken. It is made of a pot metal material and if the door is slammed/dropped when being shut it probably broke. Any Newmar dealer can send you a new cam. I carry several extras since it happened to me awhile back. Just take the latch off, once you have bay door open, Take it apart and replace the broken cam.

I think I crawled underneath the door and used a screwdriver to push the latch up since it no longer is attached to the handle it will release -- that should work.

Your's is a lot newer than mine, Maybe it won't work for you-- But give it a try--

I see your down in the Keys-

Good luck,

[FlyingDiver]

I don't see how I could get to the latch from underneath. It's the water bay, and it's solid under there.

joe

[Max Hubrich]

You got to get it open.

Look at a different bay door that opens now--- closely-- They all should all be the same. Practice pushing the latch up and have someone aid with raising the handle lightly-- as if it were broken too.. Then drill a hole where the latch is --- up from the bottom-- Like 3/8". Use the screwdriver to push up on the latch. Buy a plug at Lowes to plug the new extra hole.

You can always take a latch off a good bay door and take it apart to see if it has a cam as I described above.

Good luck,

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich You got to get it open. Look at a different bay door that opens now--- closely-- They all should all be the same. Practice pushing the latch up and have someone aid with raising the handle lightly-- as if it were broken too.. Then drill a hole where the latch is --- up from the bottom-- Like 3/8". Use the screwdriver to push up on the latch. Buy a plug at Lowes to plug the new extra hole. You can always take a latch off a good bay door and take it apart to see if it has a cam as I described above. Good luck,

Ah. You mean drill through the latch plate, not through the bottom of the bay. I think.

joe

[justimagination]

Joe,
I sympathize with you, and I see Max is trying to help you get it open. If your Bay door has a latch on both sides, may I suggest using a real thin screwdriver as long as possible, use your Knee and push in on the door very lightly close to the latch ( just enough to take some pressure off of the latch ) and see if you can release the latch on one side with the screwdriver, then do the same on the other side. I sure hope this works for you. Good Luck.

[Max Hubrich]

Joe,

I just went out and looked at mine. All my latch bolts are accessable from below. As long as the latch is locked it can't be pushed upward if the internal cam is intact.

I just need to push the door in slightly, against the foam rubber seal, and push the latch upward with a screw driver from below.

If you can't see the bolt from below, you might have to drill holes in the latch itself to gain access to the latch bolt and raise it up. Two holes and two screwdrivers may be required. One to raise the latch, and one to hold it in place, as you reposition the raising screwdriver until the latch is clear of the holding bracket.

My initial thought was to drill a hole in the plastic floor in the water bay and push up on the latch from below.

How are the adjoining latchs constructed? They should be able to dictate a course of action.

[FlyingDiver]

Guys - I have a King Aire. The bay doors swing sideways, not up. So the latch is not near the bottom of the door, but on the side.

I'm going to take a closer look at the latch this morning. Since this is the trailing door (the electrical bay is just forward), I can get to the side edge of the door after the forward door is open. I might be able to slip the latch from the side.

joe

[Jim Stewart]

Just use a hammer to adjust it until it opens, usually works for me. Oh wait, I'm crazy, don't use the hammer!

[Jetsmania]

Hi Joe! I had the same problem, but with a different door. I had to climb thru the bay to get to the back of the door. I was able to open it from the inside. When I took it apart, I found that they have a small wire, (looked just like the type of wire that hangs pictures) that connects the handle with the latch, had come off. The wire is attached at one end thru a set screw. The set screw was loose, and the wire (about 6" long) had fell into the door. It was an easy fix once I had the door open. I am not sure how you can reach into the water bay to release the door. Let us what Newmar advises. Are you still at River Bend? If so, I would be demanding they send Terry from Northtrail over to climb in there. Good Luck! Paul

[FlyingDiver]

No, we're not at River Bend anymore. We're at Grassy Key, near Marathon. Great spot overlooking a small harbor and out to the gulf.

I think you're right on the problem. I took the cover off the next door over, and that wire sure looks like the weak spot in the mechanism. And there's no way to get to this door from the back - it's the water bay.

I talked to Jeff at the high line number. He went into the shop to ask around, and Ken Miller (shop foreman) suggests that the only real solution is to drill a hole between the electric bay and the water bay so I can reach in there to release the latch from the back. I'm not sure I have a hole saw big enough. Might have to run into Marathon and find a hardware store.

More to come.

joe

[FlyingDiver]

Got it fixed. What a pain. As in Paul's case, it was the wire coming loose from the setscrew that was the problem. You can see the wire in the first photo. In the second, you can see the hole I had to cut in the wall between the electrical bay and the water bay. As it was, I had a heck of a time getting my arm in there past the hose reel. And even then, getting a screwdriver down into the gap where the fixed post (more of a D ring) connects into the latch was a real project.

But after a fair amount of cursing and scrapes (that hole in the wall wasn't pretty), I got it unlatched. When I put it back together, I coated that setscrew with Locktite.

joe

[Jetsmania]

Hi Joe! Great job. I guess when you get to Newmar they will be fixing your holes. I think I am going to check all the set screws on the doors that I cannot get to from behind. The Loctite is a great idea. Paul

[Chickadee]

Hey Joe!! Ya mean the hole ya made between the elec. bay and the water bay was large enough to reach your arm through???!!!! WOW! Would a smaller hole have done the trick....then using a bent wire coat hanger....or wouldn't that have done it??? Just curious. Going out NOW!.. to check, retighten and lock tite ALL of my similar latches. Thanks. Steve & Lynette