Check your Microwave Bolts

[RVwino]

i noticed that our microwave was dropping down, with a finger width gap between it and the bottom of the cabinet. I guess 17K miles of Western US highways caused the bolts to loosen over time.

To fix, you’ll need to:

1. Remove the upper cabinet door hardware and door
2. Remove the back corner panel that hides a bundle of wire connections
3. Pry up the cabinet bottom
4. Tighten the two bolts
5. Put it all back together

A putty knife, thin blade screwdriver, and wide blade screwdriver made prying up the cabinet bottom easy, while protecting the wood. An offset screwdriver made tightening the bolts easy to do, without totally removing the cabinet bottom.

[BehindBars]

Great work, and thanks for posting.

As a side note, something I find useful for prying up wood trim and panels are plastic body work tools. They are sturdy and don’t damage or mar parts as easily as can happen with metal tools. https://www.harborfreight.com/trim-a...g_q=body+tools

[RVwino]

Originally Posted by BehindBars

As a side note, something I find useful for prying up wood trim and panels are plastic body work tools. They are sturdy and don’t damage or mar parts as easily as can happen with metal tools. https://www.harborfreight.com/trim-a...g_q=body+tools

Great tip! I’m going to order a set, today.

[Bill and Gail]

Could you have drilled a hole in the cabinet base above the bolts, so the next time you don't have to disassemble everything.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Bill and Gail

Could you have drilled a hole in the cabinet base above the bolts, so the next time you don't have to disassemble everything.

Yes, one of our last 5th wheels had this issue and we drilled holes at the appropriate places and then I used a plastic snap in cap (for computer wires) to fill the hole and make the board flat.

[RVwino]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Yes, one of our last 5th wheels had this issue and we drilled holes at the appropriate places and then I used a plastic snap in cap (for computer wires) to fill the hole and make the board flat.

5Picker,
As soon as I saw Bill & Gail’s suggestion to drill holes, I thought, if I did that I’d want to cap them. Using desk cable cut-out caps as you did is a great way to finish them.

I also thought about using lock-tite, but didn’t do that either. For now, I figure I’m good for another 17k miles.
Thank you all for the suggestions!
Cliff