Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-04-2020, 07:18 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: OR
Posts: 26
Water heater door pin broke off

One of the two small pins at the bottom of the water heater frame snapped off at some point. The heater door sets down onto these two pins. Fix?
2016frcard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2020, 08:30 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Iwannacamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
Nut setter and a small stud?

Pop rivet and don’t snap it off?

Screw from bottom and thin nut?

Machine screw slightly larger than flange hole and “thread” the flange

Any of these on the door as opposed to the flange opening?
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
Iwannacamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2020, 08:34 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Iwannacamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1249.jpg
Views:	137
Size:	164.2 KB
ID:	235739

New door??
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
Iwannacamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 08:55 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: OR
Posts: 26
Appreciate the info Iwannacamp
2016frcard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 08:58 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Good ideas

Quote:
Originally Posted by Iwannacamp View Post
Nut setter and a small stud?

Pop rivet and don’t snap it off?

Screw from bottom and thin nut?

Machine screw slightly larger than flange hole and “thread” the flange

Any of these on the door as opposed to the flange opening?
Those are all good ideas. I think I like the idea of a pop rivet in the door best, maybe enlarging the hole in the frame slightly to accept it.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2020, 10:42 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 20
Water heater door pin broke off

Same thing happened to me while on the road. Saw my heater door fly away.

When I got home I drilled a small hole where the broken stud was. Installed a screw. Cut off the head of the screw. Voila! New stud.

But the design is not reliable.

So I purchased butterfly clamps used to secure old-timey storm windows and screens. Drilled installation holes in the sheet metal frame for the door cover. Then just screwed the clamps in place. Top, bottom, left, right.

I can access the water heater cavity when I need to. But that door is never going to pop off.

Problem solved for me.

Good luck!
plymaniac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2020, 09:06 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by plymaniac View Post
Same thing happened to me while on the road. Saw my heater door fly away.

When I got home I drilled a small hole where the broken stud was. Installed a screw. Cut off the head of the screw. Voila! New stud.

But the design is not reliable.

So I purchased butterfly clamps used to secure old-timey storm windows and screens. Drilled installation holes in the sheet metal frame for the door cover. Then just screwed the clamps in place. Top, bottom, left, right.

I can access the water heater cavity when I need to. But that door is never going to pop off.

Problem solved for me.

Good luck!
You sound like me, always trying to improve a crappy design on one part or another on our camper..............or add something to make it more Useful for us.

I only want to have to fix it ONCE!
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2020, 10:34 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Hinges

Hinges would also be a good solution.

Maybe these on the door/frame edges or on the door/frame surfaces.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2020, 12:46 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry-NC View Post
Hinges would also be a good solution.

Maybe these on the door/frame edges or on the door/frame surfaces.
One other mod to the door, glue some METAL door screen on the Inside of the exhaust vent. Keeps the spiders and mud daubers out
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
door, heater, water, water heater

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 AM.