Norcold plastic refrigerator door hinge

[janieD]

After about eighteen months on the road, the lower plastic door hinge on the refrigerator door broke. This problem has been documented on other threads (Replacing norcold refrigerator door), but I'm posting this again because there might be an easy way to extend the life of this hinge for those of you blessed with this type of door. Each time before you tow, insert a spacer between the bottom edge of the door and the metal bracket holding the hinge pin such that the weight of the door is moved to the door frame instead of the plastic hinge. On mine, it looks like about an eighth of an inch should do it. When you get planted again, just raise the door slightly, remove your spacer and gently lower the door back onto its hinge.
I should also note that Excel covered the replacement door under their two year "total trust" warranty. Even though my Excel owner's manual listed the refrigerator warranty as three years, Norcold informed me the warranty was, in fact, only a year. Excel stepped up and ordered the replacement door for me and then shipped it directly to me.
John

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by janieD I should also note that Excel covered the replacement door under their two year "total trust" warranty. Even though my Excel owner's manual listed the refrigerator warranty as three years, Norcold informed me the warranty was, in fact, only a year. Excel stepped up and ordered the replacement door for me and then shipped it directly to me. John

Isn't the Norcold warranty extended by a year if you register and have the mandatory service done at a Norcold approved facility?

[janieD]

Not that I'm aware of. Everything that was included with the rig was registered by the dealer when we bought it. Since I thought it was still under the original warranty, I called Norcold directly and they were going to ship me the replacement door until they found out my warranty had expired after a year. Nothing was mentioned about extending the warranty or using a Norcold service facility, even when they thought it was covered by their warranty.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by janieD After about eighteen months on the road, the lower plastic door hinge on the refrigerator door broke. This problem has been documented on other threads (Replacing norcold refrigerator door), but I'm posting this again because there might be an easy way to extend the life of this hinge for those of you blessed with this type of door. Each time before you tow, insert a spacer between the bottom edge of the door and the metal bracket holding the hinge pin such that the weight of the door is moved to the door frame instead of the plastic hinge. On mine, it looks like about an eighth of an inch should do it. When you get planted again, just raise the door slightly, remove your spacer and gently lower the door back onto its hinge. I should also note that Excel covered the replacement door under their two year "total trust" warranty. Even though my Excel owner's manual listed the refrigerator warranty as three years, Norcold informed me the warranty was, in fact, only a year. Excel stepped up and ordered the replacement door for me and then shipped it directly to me. John

John,

Sorry to hear about your woes on the door. I would like to see a pic of the fix you're discussing here.

Just for your info.....we had metal hinges without a problem on our first Excel (05). Sometime in 06 they went to the plastic crap and still have it today. We've not had a problem but everytime we move Donna takes all the heavy things out of the door and stack it on it sides on the lower shelf of the refer. She uses the same some rubber liner inbetween the bottles to cushion and keep stuff to stay in place that we use as shelf liner in the cabinets. That takes a bit of time to do everytime we move and you have to set on a stool or squat.

I've been doing some research and found Norcold has a "lower door hinge support package" for what they call "overloaded door and rough road use". I have gone to great extent to get a photo of it without success, even from the Norcold folks directly. I tried to order one and they said they couldn't sell me one direct....I would have to have the dealer order it. It's not listed in their regular parts catalog. The Norcold part number is #634166. I have one ordered right now. They tell me this is NOT intended to fix a broken hinge, just give extra support to prevent hinge breakage with a good hinge . The price is in the neighborhood of $40. We'll see and I will post details w/pix when I get it here and installed. The Norcold tech person told me it only takes a few minutes to install. Why is this seem to be such a big secret?? Stay tune for an update. rockin'

[janieD]

I'll see if Janie can get some pictures of my spacer, as soon as I make one. Probably this weekend. It will be a scrap piece of wood, so it won't cost anything. It should work great, because you're right about the problem being when you shake the loaded door when towing. I did weigh the door and insert when I got the new door. The door without the hickory panel weighed about seven pounds (all foam and plastic). Just the hickory panel weighed about sixteen pounds. Solid wood. The new door works great; it's so much easier to open with both hinges attached.
John

[chief02]

Thanks John! I will look into a support spacer for mine and look into Tom's sugestion for the Norcold part. Char and I hope to see you in the Four Corners this spring.

[Bruce and Jenna]

This is something I know a lot about. Starting with my post in John's first post of this thread.

Door fell off first year. Norcold replaced it.

Door hinge broke year two. Called Norcold.
"Did you have the refrigerator serviced as required by the contract?"
"What the #*?!* does that have to do with the hinge?"
I filled the break with epoxy. Lasted a while. Fixed it again with epoxy.

This past summer the door hinge broke again. No fixin this time. Cost me $200 for a new door. Tech told me that these doors are not designed for wood panels, just as John describes. We decided to take out the wood panel and go back to the black plastic panel. Which actually looks nice enough next to the black panel oven and black panel microwave.

Tech told me about the hinge support plate that Tom mentioned. Said I would not need it now that I've taken out the wood panel. I bought it anyway, cause I do not want to arrive at a park again with my door and food all over the floor, or have that door fall on DW's foot again.

I think that I bought that plate directly from Norcold.

The kit contains one plate for left and another for right door. Here is a pic of my remaining plate. You can't see the washer very well. Yeah, a 10 minute job.
[I can't seem to successfully paste the pic link, so here is a link to the pic.]
DSCN7612 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Cost me $40 for the plate. But that hinge should never break again.
Priceless.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce and Jenna This is something I know a lot about. Starting with my post in John's first post of this thread. Door fell off first year. Norcold replaced it. Door hinge broke year two. Called Norcold. "Did you have the refrigerator serviced as required by the contract?" "What the #*?!* does that have to do with the hinge?" I filled the break with epoxy. Lasted a while. Fixed it again with epoxy. This past summer the door hinge broke again. No fixin this time. Cost me $200 for a new door. Tech told me that these doors are not designed for wood panels, just as John describes. We decided to take out the wood panel and go back to the black plastic panel. Which actually looks nice enough next to the black panel oven and black panel microwave. Tech told me about the hinge support plate that Tom mentioned. Said I would not need it now that I've taken out the wood panel. I bought it anyway, cause I do not want to arrive at a park again with my door and food all over the floor, or have that door fall on DW's foot again. I think that I bought that plate directly from Norcold. The kit contains one plate for left and another for right door. Here is a pic of my remaining plate. You can't see the washer very well. Yeah, a 10 minute job. [I can't seem to successfully paste the pic link, so here is a link to the pic.] DSCN7612 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Cost me $40 for the plate. But that hinge should never break again. Priceless.

Thanks Bruce......I'm surprised you didn't share this info before now. I still can't picture how that plate supports the hinge. Can you see anything more with it installed on the door hinge? If so, please post a pic, please!!! rockin'

[Bruce and Jenna]

Here is a pic of it installed. As I recall, you just pull off the door, then drop the plate on the hinge and replace the door.

DSCN7613 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Note the arrow pointing to the plate. And the washers I added to raise the door so it would latch properly.

If you need help installing it, you know the way to Tucson.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Pic of the kit
Refrigerator hinge support kit | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[bigmichael]

Wouldn't you think that Norcold could just use a metal hinge in the first place?

First they charge $2000-3000 for one of these refrigerators. Then they know that people are haveing problems with the hinges. And instead of fixing the problem they devise a $2 piece of metal support which they can then sell for $40. I suppose Theftord-Norcold is desperately in need of cash. SHEEESH!!!

[JC2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmichael Wouldn't you think that Norcold could just use a metal hinge in the first place? First they charge $2000-3000 for one of these refrigerators. Then they know that people are haveing problems with the hinges. And instead of fixing the problem they devise a $2 piece of metal support which they can then sell for $40. I suppose Theftord-Norcold is desperately in need of cash. SHEEESH!!!

That would be the logical thing to do but after their handling of the current problem/recall I wonder. Will be interesting to see if they survive this fiasco.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce and Jenna Here is a pic of it installed. As I recall, you just pull off the door, then drop the plate on the hinge and replace the door. DSCN7613 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Note the arrow pointing to the plate. And the washers I added to raise the door so it would latch properly. If you need help installing it, you know the way to Tucson.

Thanks Bruce good photos.......now I understand. So simple. I can't believe Norcold got away from the metel hinges.

You still wouldn't be able to load that door up too much as the lower part of the hinge (metal one attached to the refer) will still bend down like your is doing now Bruce!!! Thanks again buddy. rockin'

[janieD]

Hinge relief spacer
Here are some pics of what I was trying to describe earlier of inserting a spacer between the refrigerator door frame and the metal hinge pin bracket: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...8615295&type=1
The spacer is a piece of 3/16 x 1 1/4 inch stock trim I found at a lumber yard. Originally I wanted it to raise our counter top extension, but it comes in handy for various projects. Just lift the door up as far as you can and insert the stick as shown. The door seals tight enough to hold the door up, even without the spacer, so I had to open the door to get it to sit on the spacer. If I want the stick out of the way, I can push the whole thing under the door. When you're done towing, just remove the stick and open the door. The door slowly settles back *onto the lower door hinge and you're back in business.
John