Microwave Bracket Broken?

[oneknight]

This morning I found this small metal "hook" on my counter.

Looking up at the bottom of the microwave, I see one just like it on the right, nothing but 3 broken spotwelds on the left.

Microwave is loose, down maybe 1/8" on the left side.

What exactly holds the microwave up there?
Can it be bought at Lowes or Home Depot?

We're on a trip, next travel day is tomorrow afternoon and we'll be on the road through the weekend at least. I need to fix this ASAP.
Don't even want to think about that thing coming down on the counter and cooktop on these lousy midwest roads!

[brobox]

If yours is a Samsung, they are not great to get parts for. Might try an appliance parts store locally. Lowe's is not great on parts, too many brands, they order everything.

If you cannot find the bracket, I think I would remove it for travel. It will have to be removed anyhow to replace the part.

[oneknight]

Originally Posted by brobox

If yours is a Samsung, they are not great to get parts for. Might try an appliance parts store locally. Lowe's is not great on parts, too many brands, they order everything.

If you cannot find the bracket, I think I would remove it for travel. It will have to be removed anyhow to replace the part.

It is a Whirlpool.

Any idea how to remove it?

[MnRBuck]

It sounds like it could be one of the hooks that the microwave hangs on when installed - not sure, but if microwave hanging like you said, I would probably in dismount it until fixed. To remove the Samsung microwave, I unplugged it and then removed the wood cover above the microwave and loosened the the ~4 inch screws that mate the top of microwave to the bottom of the cabinet. Then the microwave top rolls forward on the bottom “hooks” until you can lift it off the wall brackets. Then it is just the matter of manhandling the 75-pound (yes heavy and awkward) microwave onto the floor. Can check website for installation instructions for more details

[royals1212]

As a emergency stop gap you could place something wedged under it to get you down the road. Say a step stool with pillows and blankets pus in tight. Just a thought if you cant get it repaired today

[oneknight]

I pulled the wood cover plate off the top and found Entegra used a real flimsy metal cross bracket to hang the microwave from.
And since they mounted it too high, they left the screws loose to drop the microwave 1/4" so it would sit on the wall mounted hangers!

It was one of the two hangers that broke off and landed on my counter.

I fully tightened the screws, but that lifted the unit off the remaining hanger!
So I loosened them up again until the unit was sitting as well as possible.

This mounting arrangement is a nightmare. The metal is so flimsy it has bent really badly, dropping the microwave enough to cause a failure of one of the hangers.

I've order a new hanger (W10440498, $11.63 on amazon)
I'm reasonably sure the thing will stay up there until we get home.
Once I get the new hanger, I will reinforce that metal bracket with some stout angle iron, and shim it so the screws will go down tight.

[photraveller]

Jim can you lower the cross member above the microwave so it can be tightened against the top of the microwave?

Our is tight to the microwave and haven't had an issue with it bending. I seem to remember having to relocate the cross member when we switched out the junk Samsung.

Steve

[Matt D]

I retrofitted a Whirlpool in place of the original Samsung, which kept perfect time but wouldn’t cook at all.

Entegra sent me the special rear bracket which was a custom made piece. I know they had it fabbed as it was not stamped, but bent in a sheet metal brake.

The metal is 1/8” mild steel and won’t flex or give.

I had to use the template from Whirlpool to mark the correct height, then install and hang the new microwave.

I did have to relocate the front mounting crossbar as the Whirlpool needed a different elevation. It sounds like they didn’t realize the crossbar sits differently with a Samsung versus a Whirlpool.

Personally, I’d use a serious pad to protect the cooktop and counter. I have a cutting board and used numerous shop towels to pad things.

I removed the bolts and unhooked the microwave and set it aside.

In your case, I’d take the old wall mount to a decent fabricator and have the mount remade with thicker that stock material. IMHO, the original stamped sheet isn’t suitable for the stresses of driving.

I hope you get it sorted out.

-Matt

[oneknight]

Originally Posted by photraveller

Jim can you lower the cross member above the microwave so it can be tightened against the top of the microwave?

Our is tight to the microwave and haven't had an issue with it bending. I seem to remember having to relocate the cross member when we switched out the junk Samsung.

Steve

I don't think lowering it would work, it doesn't need to come down enough to clear the original screwholes in the cabinet and make new holes.

I'm going to get some heavy-ish angle iron from Lowes, and scab 2 pieces on to the original upper bracket to beef it up.

As required, I'll use metal shims to get the correct height so I can tighten the screws.

[brobox]

What Matt said was the same thing that happened in my case. Entegra using the mounts that came with the Whirlpool the unit rattled like crazy. They wound up doubling the mounts to do what you plan on doing to stop the rattling. I think you have the fix figured out Jim.

[oneknight]

Originally Posted by Matt D

Entegra sent me the special rear bracket which was a custom made piece. I know they had it fabbed as it was not stamped, but bent in a sheet metal brake.

The metal is 1/8” mild steel and won’t flex or give.

I had to use the template from Whirlpool to mark the correct height, then install and hang the new microwave.
I hope you get it sorted out.

-Matt

Matt,

When I emailed Entegra your info about a stronger bracket, they gave me this reply:

Sorry, Nate we don’t have anything else then what you provided below originally.

If the customer wants something else, he will need to source locally.

I am not sure what the customer on forum is speaking about when he states he received a custom made piece from us ?


Any chance they gave you an Entegra part # for the bracket they got you?

Jim

[Matt D]

Jim, the bracket provided supplements the Whirlpool bracket and is simply bent at the bottom.

I looked and couldn’t find a P/N.

-Matt