PTL Door mechanism...

[jrugarber]

I have begun to have issues with the door not latching intermittently, attached are 4 pictures showing the area that is affected. It looks as though the bolt (w/ nut) does not line up with the hole (Picture #2), when this occurs the door latching mechanism does not engage. I then remove the plastic cover (Picture #4), move the threaded bolt around and can get the door to latch, the bolt is quite loose which may be part of the issue. It is difficult to get a wrench/socket on the nut, it looks like a nylon lock nut, to try and tighten it. Although, I'm not sure that it could be tightened, as it retracts against a metal bracket when opening the door.
Stu, your PDF the other day for a door wind noise issue does not address this particular problem, I was hoping it would but no such luck.
I will call PTL Engineering @ 248.652.7998 later today and see if they have any advice or E-mail them @ support@www.ptlengineering.com.

I thought I would ask the group first as I surely can't be the only person this has happened to... or could I be?
Thanx in advance.

[bevandtomH]

[bevandtomH]

John, I included two photos of mine. I see your dead bolt is either: fully retracted or missing?
Mine shows a portion of the pot metal latch extending out, when the latch is fully open.
Have you pulled the screws out holding the latch/handle? It appears to misaligned.
I do regularly tighten the screws holding everything together but that has been about it.
Hopefully, PTL will get you the help you need.
Sorry, can’t be more help.

[twinboat]

The pin, on the door jam, that the latch clamps around is what is adjusted for latching properly.

Loosen it move it out a bit, tighten and try. Repete as needed.

[Lv2Roam2]

The PTL system is common to many rigs - I've had mine apart to adjust. On the inside of your door frame there might be a ~ 6" long black plastic cover with 'PTL' imposed on it. If yes - that accesses the mechanism to do some adjustment of the 'depth' of the pin.

PTL has good on-line materials / pics to help. Regrets - can't find my file to send to you. Let us know how it works out - we all learn.

[jrugarber]

Thanx guys,

Steve, Twinboat,
The latching stud on the door jamb isn't the issue as when the inner nut/bolt are aligned the door latches correctly.

Tom,
My deadbolt had been broken off soon after purchasing the Coach (5/2018) I have never replaced it.
You are correct, the misalignment of the nut/bolt is what seems to be causing the issue.
I have not taken the screws on the plastic panel off yet, I was waiting to see what type of responses I received first.

[777 Driver]

Originally Posted by jrugarber

I have begun to have issues with the door not latching intermittently, attached are 4 pictures showing the area that is affected. It looks as though the bolt (w/ nut) does not line up with the hole (Picture #2), when this occurs the door latching mechanism does not engage. I then remove the plastic cover (Picture #4), move the threaded bolt around and can get the door to latch, the bolt is quite loose which may be part of the issue. It is difficult to get a wrench/socket on the nut, it looks like a nylon lock nut, to try and tighten it. Although, I'm not sure that it could be tightened, as it retracts against a metal bracket when opening the door.

John, here's a photo of the bolt in question on my '18 Anthem:



As you can see, my bolt is not centered in the hole and my door latches well. It looks to me that in order to get a better look at the door side of the latch mechanism, I'd need to do some disassembly of the handle, deadbolt and lock knob shown in your photo #1. I'm set to depart in the morning and disinclined to do something like that until I'd have more time to fiddle with it.

All of the door adjustment/latch documentation I have refers to the jam side (star bolt, pneumatic latch, etc.). I don't have any knowledge of the door side mechanism.

I agree that the nut in question is a nylock nut.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

Take care,
Stu

[jrugarber]

I was able to complete the repair of the door this weekend, albeit it, with a small issue at the end.
After focusing my attention on the adjustment rod and nut, a fellow Owner who was helping me recommended we take a look at his door handle as it was the same type. In the picture showing the latch portion of my door, the bracket portion would slide up and down ~1/16"-3/32" causing the latching mechanism to not engage, my neighbors DID NOT slide up or down. We then disassembled my handle and found the 3 bolts that should have been holding the bracket were gone as shown in the "adjustment arm & missing bolt" pictures. We replaced the missing bolts with 3- 1/4" x 20 x 1", flat washer, lock washer & loctite (blue) bolts and it worked perfectly. Most likely the bolts had worked their way loose over the last 5 1/2 years, the last one falling out last week causing the problem, and fell down into the door.

Now for the face palm moment...
While reassembling the handle we inadvertently did not place the release mechanism of the handle in the proper position, thinking we were done, we shut the door and immediately realized when attempting to open it that we had effectively locked ourselves out of the Coach!!! After thinking through all options we came to the realization that we would need to drill through the handle making numerous holes until we could manipulate the mechanism with a screwdriver unlocking the door. So.... long story short I will be ordering a new handle mechanism from PTL this week, and replacing it. Coincidently, the holes are behind the handle and if you were to look at the door you can not tell there are 5-6 holes 1/2" in diameter, until you reach to open the door and pull on the handle. I may fabricate a cover piece to glue over it and keep the new handle as a spare!

As Norm Abram's from "This Old House' used to say...
"Measure twice cut once"

[Gary.Jones]

We live, we make mistakes, and we learn.... Thanks for the information.

Gary

[bevandtomH]

Glad you got it fixed. Don’t tell anyone but we leave the toll window unlocked for that very reason…..

[Gary.Jones]

Ditto............

Gary