BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: plyonsMC9 on June 22, 2015, 08:29:55 PM
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Good evening bus folk.
Battery bay door opened 'weird' the other day. Didn't think much about it. And then it simply fell off yesterday. What a blessing it wasn't on the road!
I thought there would be some kind of rod or metal hinge holding it on. I guess not? Truly just an old rubber hinge.?
To fix, I came across this from Fred Hobe - is this still the best way to fix this, or are there other methods?
(search for "Replacement for rubber hinge")
http://www.coachconversioncentral.com/fredhobe.htm (http://www.coachconversioncentral.com/fredhobe.htm)
Help! Thank you all.
Kind Regards, Phil
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After months of keeping the door in place using rope tied across it, I just replaced the rubber hinge. Took a few minutes (but apparently can be a cow of a job) and if it lasts another 30 years that will be good enough for me.
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Thanks very much Tony. @ 30 years it may outlast me! ;D
Kind Regards, Phil
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Luke had the part of course (rubber hing) - US Coach : 1-888-262-2434. So easy to order - I kept adding items - - ended up w/ socket, clearance light lenses (figured may as well replace those as well), etc. Also received hints on the installation of the hinge. Now that was fun. ;D
Kind Regards, Phil
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Hi Phil,
I replace mine about every 5 years.
The first time was the most trouble.
The rubber dried into the grooves and I had to work it all out.
But after that the old rubber pulls right out and the new rubber goes in smoothly.
I bought the rubber from Luke and have enough for two more replacements.
It takes me about an hour to do it all including getting all the supports and soapy water.
The rubber goes in real nice, and the beer is still cold.
Good luck
Frank
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Thanks Frank, I appreciate your experiences & notes. It all helps.
Kind Regards, Phil
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Phil -
One of the secrets to installing new rubber hinges is to make sure that the tracks are clean! Many busnuts have used .22 rifle cleaning brushes with excellent results.
Dawn dishwashing soap diluted 50/50 in a spray bottle, keeping both the track and the rubber wet as you work it makes the job easier.
KY jelly is another favorite lube for this insertion.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
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I use wire pulling lube from Lowes olebusman
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This has not gone well! These 30+ year old parts are being difficult. >:(
So every one of the screws holding on the track with the rubber hinge, separated, and the heads were all severed.
We originally tried to re-drill holes & make a set of new holes and thread those. However, we ran into issues trying to drill into the (stainless steel?) tubing. It's a difficult angle to drill upwards in direction.
Now we're debating whether drilling out the severed screws is a better course of action. But that could create other problems, possibly stripping the threads in the tubing.
Bah! Not to mention that stupid rubber is cemented to the metal parts.
Help! Suggestions are welcome.
And thanks very much to all who have responded, once we get this re-attached we'll be able to test some of the suggestions for getting the new rubber strip back in the strip.
Kind Regards, Phil
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I am not sure I understand. Maybe it is different than on my 5a. What screws do you mean.
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Thanks Lin, when it brightens up, I'll attach a picture showing what is going on.
Kind Regards, Phil
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I did mine and a friend's last year. I didn't remove the screws, but did have to pry one end out a bit past the fuel door to get the rubber in. I used a utility knife to cut the old rubber out
in pieces.
Wish I had thought of the .22 cleaning rod and brush trick mentioned above.
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Thanks Craig for the suggestion about the utility knife. I just wiped out my new small dentist hook tool trying to pry out the old rubber. It's almost like the rubber is part of the metal frame. Maybe the original hinge? Utility knife is my next trick.
I've attached a picture showing a few of the severed heads of the screws which used to hold the other part of the turn rubber hinge.
My plan is now to get the old rubber out and new in before Tuesday, when I meet a stainless steel guy who can extract the screws (or drill new holes?) so I can remount the metal strip which will be (hypotheticall) holding the new rubber hinge.
Kind Regards, Phil
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For anyone searching this thread in the future, Craig's suggestion re: the razor knife worked perfectly - even for rubber that looked & felt 'original'. Saved me hours of trying to use pick tools & others. I did use the pick tools tho' to help pull out the rubber after I had made some significant cuts to it. That and pliers. Thank you Craig! I've worked some on the 22 gauge rifle barrel cleaner/wire brush. I can tell that idea is a success as well. I just have a rusty screw to get out then I'll finish up cleaning up the door channel. Then in with the new rubber.
Thanks again to all who contributed!
Kind Regards, Phil
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By the way, there should have been a couple set screws in the ends of that channel. Cut the heads with a chisel and punch them out. You don't need to replace them. Cut the rubber a bit longer than you think because it will actually stretch as you put it in and then will shrink and leave a gap on one end.
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Hi Craig! Have I told you that I really appreciate your expertise? ;D
I'll try to post pix of the finished product.
Thank you
BTW 22 rifle cleaning rod (also used next sized bore larger), pick/hook tool to scrape the worst of the corrosion out of the channel, compressed air, and KY - lots of it - and I was able to slide in the rubber hinge. Success! _almost_ fun. I won't worry about the set screws. Thankfully I cut the hinge about 1/4" too wide. Tomorrow I go to visit my stainless steel guy to get those pesky severed screws out of the frame. Hardest part may have been getting my wife to go into Wal Mart to purchase all that KY. :D
Kind Regards, Phil
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... Hardest part may have been getting my wife to go into Wal Mart to purchase all that KY. :D
You better hope she don't read this thread, because nobody recommended KY for this project! ::)
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I do not remember if I ever tried KY for this but the best stuff I have found is 40 wt oil. I know that it is not good for the rubber but the part that always fails for me is the middle part.
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Try using wire pulling lube from Lowes or Home D. olebusman
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See - I'm not making this up! Straight from RJ! Hey - it worked great. wire pulling lube also sounds good.
Next I'm going to post pix of the finished project. My friend who did the work had a fulcrom device which really made the door install simple.
Kind Regards, Phil
Phil -
One of the secrets to installing new rubber hinges is to make sure that the tracks are clean! Many busnuts have used .22 rifle cleaning brushes with excellent results.
Dawn dishwashing soap diluted 50/50 in a spray bottle, keeping both the track and the rubber wet as you work it makes the job easier.
KY jelly is another favorite lube for this insertion.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
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Or what I did was to leave the rubber in and used a $5.00 H.Depot Stainless Steel piano hinge over the outside and screwed it with self-taping screws top and bottom. No lube, no knife, no pick tools, and 10 minutes done. Sorry I was late to the party and yes it seals out water. Put liquid rubber on the back side of the split rubber.
Dave5Cs
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Here is the finished product -
(Dave - I like your solution - it would have saved a lot of time!)
Note the fulcrom setup my friend Larry setup to easily reinstall the door. Nice. He made it a one man job. Big heavy round base, adjustable neck, and roller at the top. It balanced the loose door against the top of the battery bay. Steady enough to line up & drill.
Kind Regards, Phil
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Thank you Gary Hatt / BCM!!
It's so helpful to be able to pull up a thread on just about any bus topic and be able to pull up suggestions, experiences, and best ways to do a repair. Even if it is just reminding myself what I did a decade ago. :o
Yep, the rubber hinge gave out again on the battery door on our MC9. Time to get that rubber hinge replaced - again.
Take care all, Phil