Cabinet Latches....

[Topman]

We like the cabinetry in our coach but the latches on all the doors are waaaaay to hard to open and close.
I admit they hold the doors closed when traveling but some require two hands to open and you have to slam them to close them. Try opening and closing a door in the middle of the night and you would probably wake your neighbor in the coach next door.

Any way to adjust them??
Thanks, Iver.

[CorLynn]

I only latch mine when we are driving. and also by leaving them "not latched" they seem to get better airflow and stay warm inside.

[sdennislee]

Need to know what type of latch you have to know whether or not it can be adjusted. A picture would also help.

[Topman]

Okay, here are some pix of the latches....
Anyone have these? Can they be made easier to open or close??
Thanks , Iver.

[John H...]

Just a guess, but looks like the strike could be moved or adjusted upward slightly, so latch doesn't grab as hard.

[Dunner]

I searched for latches and didn't see anything like that. How does it work?

[texnet]

This type latch is used in lots of MHs especially Monacos. They make the latch in a 5 lb pull and a 10 lb pull latch. I have heard that they even have a 15 or 20lb latch. Not sure the way to tell the difference but maybe you could purchase a 5lb latch and give it a try. They are not cheap, but I have seen them on Ebay for a fairly good price.

[Topman]

I haven't tried adjusting them yet. I hoped someone else may have had the same problem and knew a fix.
As the door closes, the hook part goes into the latch and is caught by another cog which flips over and holds the hook. When you pull on the door, the hook has to flip that cog over again to be pulled out. It feels like a 20lb pull......

Moving the hook part might be a good idea. Anyone who has a similar coach knows there must be 40 or 50 of these things although I haven't really counted them. I would hate to have to replace them.
I'll try adjusting, lubrication or even filing them down. Seriously, on some doors, it takes two hands to pull them open and then you have to more or less slam the door to close it.
Thanks, Iver.

[Dunner]

Do you know what brand they are? If so, call the manf and see if they can or will tell you how to change them.

The ones I PM'd you were just as bad. It actually hurt to open some of them. God forbid if somebody is behind you. Worse than playing basketball with...

[ArmyEOD]

Those are "Southco Latches (mod C-3). About 5.00 each you can find them on e-bay for a 4 or 5 pack for 20.00 - 25.00 bucks. or 1 for 12.95 at some camping supply stores. They have no designed adjustment. I put a little dry graphite on mine and they work alot better. (Just use a little bit. It only takes a little.)

[Dunner]

This is where my tip-of-the-day comes in. If you have rattle can graphite, commandeer one of SO's nail polish bottles, clean it out with polish remover and put the graphite in it. It will be messy to do, so do it outside on some newspaper. Now, you can use the brush to put just a little bit wherever you want it, instead of the over-spray using the straw.

[336muffin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorLynn I only latch mine when we are driving. and also by leaving them "not latched" they seem to get better airflow and stay warm inside.

Ditto this

[az bound]

The Southco latches can be had in three release configurations from 3 - 10 lb. each in the C - 3 design.
The release tension is not adjustable.
13N (3lb)
22N (5lb)
44N (10lb)

[DonGott]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topman Okay, here are some pix of the latches.... Anyone have these? Can they be made easier to open or close?? Thanks , Iver.

I have the same ones in my bus and they are hell to open and close. And on top of that they break quite frequently. I would like to find a replacement also and get away from these. They do the job in latching, but they are costly to replace and very hard to open and close.

DG