Community Forums

Rockie · 01-05-2013, 08:37 AM

Can anyone tell me how to adjust the stricker bolt on the front door of my coach.The stricker bolt keeps turning and will not get tight.I cant get a wrench inside to hold it from turning.I dont want to get locked out.Thanks

wa8yxm · 01-05-2013, 09:26 AM

What make of latch do you have.

I have never seen a striker bolt that turned.

Old Bounder · 01-05-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

What make of latch do you have.

I have never seen a striker bolt that turned.

That's because it's not supposed to turn, that's the problem.

I think the OP has no choice but to find a way of removing enough trim or door frame to reach the nut on the backside of the striker bolt.

BTW - some are pinned (captured) so they won't drop down inside the frame when the bolt is removed, but SOME ARE NOT!!!

Be careful or you will have to find it as well as remove it.

TQ60 · 01-05-2013, 11:06 AM

Try a drill motor carefully.

Slow turning the nut also turns.

The higher speed of the drill will sometimes allow the assembly to tighten as the nut has a certain amount of friction that you cannot overcome with hand speed.

A short burst on the trigger with low power, or set the torque if adjustable to smaller amount, the bolt may tighten to where the nut may "seat', then you can use wrench to finish.

This only applies if it is a nut/bolt instead of a rivet type.

Be very carefull to not strip or break it.

Also look to see if it can be removed, may be best to do that.

Some good photos will help, post some

wa8yxm · 01-05-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loulong

That's because it's not supposed to turn, that's the problem.

Noticed that did you...

I think the O/P is calling something a striker bolt that is NOT, in fact, a striker bolt but a guide bolt.

A striker bolt is that thign that sticks out of the door, it's pring loaded, usually oval in shape (Which is why it does not turn) and is depressed by the striker plate when you close the door, Once the door is closed the spring pushes it into the hole, it is the actual LATCH.

The two (usually) bolts with the big heads (or washers) above and below the strikr plate are guide bolts, they are round and usually can be both loosened and tightened as needed to allow a measure of adjustment of the latch assembly.

EngineerMike · 01-05-2013, 12:15 PM

Rockie- I see by your Profile you have a Travel Supreme, I'm guessing you have a PTL door. They made a floating door bolt model. The bolt shouldn't float easily but they found that due to coach flex they needed some float in the design. The bolt threads snug into a flat bar interior to the jamb that has a spring steel tensioner. If it is real loose, the tensioner is broken or has lost its strength. If its pretty stiff to move it by hand, that's about factory setting.
PTL Engineering (dot com) is pretty good about service calls, and they have parts if you need them. (810) 664-2310

Max Hubrich · 01-05-2013, 07:02 PM

Rockie,

Could you take a picture of your striker bolt and post it here.

Maybe someone would have an idea how to help you. I make a replacement bolt for the shirt, arm (flesh) tearing OEM striker bolt on some model motorhomes (can't beat the price-free). I have run into some "nuts" that turn on the inside of the door jam- I might have some ideas on how to "hold" that nut.

Let us know-

Cheers,

Old Bounder · 01-05-2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich

Rockie,
Could you take a picture of your striker bolt and post it here.

Maybe someone would have an idea how to help you. I make a replacement bolt for the shirt, arm (flesh) tearing OEM striker bolt on some model motorhomes (can't beat the price-free). I have run into some "nuts" that turn on the inside of the door jam- I might have some ideas on how to "hold" that nut.
Let us know-
Cheers,

Max, thanks for checking in. My experience with this is in replacing the bolt that you made and sent me a few years ago. It works fine, thank you. lou

Rockie · 01-06-2013, 07:35 AM

Thank all of you for the quick input.I do have aP T L assembly.Engineer Mike you must have seen this before.Thanks for your information.I sent a e mail to PTL to see if the bolt that goes into the latch is suppose to be loose.ThanksThanks