Entry door friction hinge binding.

[itat]

Originally Posted by Springerdad

See post 17. The fix is simple. I saw the flexing door frame like you all have. It took two hands to open the door. It drove me nuts. I ordered two non friction hinges from LCI, replaced the upper and lower ones, and left the center alone; just enough friction to keep the door from swinging out of control, but enough that it was easy to open and close the door. Done. It was easy.

Springerdad, do you have an LCI part number?

[Iwannacamp]

Here is a link...if it works

https://store.lci1.com/hinge-assembl...-assembly.html

[itat]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

Here is a link...if it works

https://store.lci1.com/hinge-assembl...-assembly.html

Thanks!

[Iwannacamp]

Interesting....

http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=31353


https://www.coastresorts.com/cforum/...print/true.cfm

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by itat

Thanks!

No problem

[itat]

Thanks, Iwannacamp.

I wonder if FR and other manufacturers are getting a lot of complaints about these friction hinges. Maybe FR will agree to send owners the replacement standard hinges at no cost. I know they are only about US$16.95 but shipping and customs duty to get them across the border will likely be over $50 for me.

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

Here is a link...if it works

https://store.lci1.com/hinge-assembl...-assembly.html

Thanks for handling that. I just logged back on this morning.

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by itat

Thanks, Iwannacamp.

I wonder if FR and other manufacturers are getting a lot of complaints about these friction hinges. Maybe FR will agree to send owners the replacement standard hinges at no cost. I know they are only about US$16.95 but shipping and customs duty to get them across the border will likely be over $50 for me.

You are welcome. If it helps they are on eBay too. A quick search only found white, but that may be what you need. I guess paint is cheap too.

[Freedom1955]

Originally Posted by Springerdad

See post 17. The fix is simple. I saw the flexing door frame like you all have. It took two hands to open the door. It drove me nuts. I ordered two non friction hinges from LCI, replaced the upper and lower ones, and left the center alone; just enough friction to keep the door from swinging out of control, but enough that it was easy to open and close the door. Done. It was easy.

My hinges don't look like yours. If they did I could do what you did. Look at the pic I provided.

[Freedom1955]

Here is a different pic.
Pics keep coming out sideways for some reason.

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by Freedom1955

My hinges don't look like yours. If they did I could do what you did. Look at the pic I provided.

I went back and looked at your first picture. From what I see there, they DO look different. Can you post a pic with the door open to show the hinge structure from that view?

Another thought: on the door frame is a white sticker that has an RPO number on it. You may be able to call LCI and ask if they can fix you up with non friction hinges through that number.

[Freedom1955]

Originally Posted by Springerdad

I went back and looked at your first picture. From what I see there, they DO look different. Can you post a pic with the door open to show the hinge structure from that view?

Another thought: on the door frame is a white sticker that has an RPO number on it. You may be able to call LCI and ask if they can fix you up with non friction hinges through that number.

I called Forest River and was told the hinges cannot be replaced as they are an integral part of the door. The entire door and frame has to be replaced.
Im taking it to the selling Dealer this week to see what they say.
Also when it's cold outside they work better and when it is warm they start to bind. They are getting so bad when its hot outside I am afraid something is going to break.

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by Freedom1955

I called Forest River and was told the hinges cannot be replaced as they are an integral part of the door. The entire door and frame has to be replaced.
Im taking it to the selling Dealer this week to see what they say.
Also when it's cold outside they work better and when it is warm they start to bind. They are getting so bad when its hot outside I am afraid something is going to break.

I know this is going to sound snotty...... But I wouldn't take FR's word for it. Call LCI direct. What I will say is that my hinges were riveted on, but I just drilled them out and re riveted the new ones on. I'm guessing FR is telling you that for that reason.

[Sahall]

My 2019S was so tight from day one that it took two hands to open. The entire door frame would flex and twist and permanent damage was imminent. I tried drilling holes and lubing as mentioned, but that did not help at all. I examined the hinges and could see that they are manufactured so tight that lubed will not help.
I took a hammer and chisel and opened up the hinge where they are wrapped around the pin. With the door open, you can see how the hinge is wrapped around the pin, leaving a gap. I opened that gap up only a small amount on all three hinges and it is now perfect. I do still have some friction, but not enough to damage my door.

[itat]

Freedom 1955, if your door is like mine its a Dexter Series 5050 friction hinge door with radius corners.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/door-products

Their website says they have a 2 year warranty. If I don’t have any luck with FR I’ll contact Dexter directly for mine.

EDIT: I don’t know for sure if the LCI hinges previously linked will work but they look close. My door’s hinges have 2 leafs of the hinge riveted to the wall (2 rivets per leg), 1 leaf with 3 screw holes for the screen door and 1 leaf with 3 screw holes for the main door. The seal for the door covers the leaf that holds the main door and is glued to that leaf.

[Freedom1955]

Originally Posted by Sahall

My 2019S was so tight from day one that it took two hands to open. The entire door frame would flex and twist and permanent damage was imminent. I tried drilling holes and lubing as mentioned, but that did not help at all. I examined the hinges and could see that they are manufactured so tight that lubed will not help.
I took a hammer and chisel and opened up the hinge where they are wrapped around the pin. With the door open, you can see how the hinge is wrapped around the pin, leaving a gap. I opened that gap up only a small amount on all three hinges and it is now perfect. I do still have some friction, but not enough to damage my door.

Looking I see a gap on the hinges but not on the Friction hinge part,there it appears the hinge wraps entirely around the pin. There are two friction hinges one in the upper part of the door and one lower with a non friction hinge in the center of the door. Maybe the friction hinge wraps around the pin back on to itself leaving almost no gap but its hard to see. I would like to fix this myself if possible.
The only way I see possible to open up the gap would be for the door to be closed and if there is a gap around the pin it is only acceptable from the outside.
I hope this makes sense. Any thoughts?

[Freedom1955]

Originally Posted by itat

Freedom 1955, if your door is like mine its a Dexter Series 5050 friction hinge door with radius corners.

https://www.dexteraxle.com/products/door-products

Their website says they have a 2 year warranty. If I don’t have any luck with FR I’ll contact Dexter directly for mine.

EDIT: I don’t know for sure if the LCI hinges previously linked will work but they look close. My door’s hinges have 2 leafs of the hinge riveted to the wall (2 rivets per leg), 1 leaf with 3 screw holes for the screen door and 1 leaf with 3 screw holes for the main door. The seal for the door covers the leaf that holds the main door and is glued to that leaf.

Thanks for the information. Yes I believe I have the Dexter 5050 so it would still be under warranty. The little white sticker to verify is covered mostly by the hinge that attaches to the door. I'll have to go out and take the 3 screws out of that hinge to get to the sticker.

[Sahall]

I had to go look at my door to remember what I did. I only opened up two leaves. The third from the bottom leaf on the upper and lower hinge. Those are the only two that had an opening. My door was not tight on the friction part, but on the hinge itself. I still have friction from the hinges, but the door is now movable.

[Freedom1955]

Originally Posted by Sahall

I had to go look at my door to remember what I did. I only opened up two leaves. The third from the bottom leaf on the upper and lower hinge. Those are the only two that had an opening. My door was not tight on the friction part, but on the hinge itself. I still have friction from the hinges, but the door is now movable.

Let me be honest here,I have no idea if the friction hinge is binding or the non friction hinge is. I know its the upper hinge only. I was assuming it was the friction hinge.

I have a stupid question, how do you know which part of the hinge is binding? I guess I could open up the hinges that you did and see if that helps.

[Sahall]

Take a hammer and chisel and open up that one leaf on the top hinge and I think you will see an improvement.