== Rusted Washers on Ramp Gate ==

[ACLazer]

I want to replace the rusted washers on my lower hinges on my Ramp Gate on a 2019 Forest River Salem FSX 260RT.
Does anyone know if they're threaded into a plate, or are there nuts on the back side?

[Wileykid]

Originally Posted by ACLazer

I want to replace the rusted washers on my lower hinges on my Ramp Gate on a 2019 Forest River Salem FSX 260RT.
Does anyone know if they're threaded into a plate, or are there nuts on the back side?

If they are like the ones on my Stealth, you will see the nut on the backside (inside part of the door). Believe it is called a sleeve nut, and looks more like a large washer with a sleeve that goes into the door. You can just unscrew the bolt with no problems, and putting it back on the sleeve nut didn't spin on me.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Wileykid

Believe it is called a sleeve nut.

Are you talking about sex nuts/binding barrels?

Bruce

[ACLazer]

Thanks for the response, but I can't see anything at all on the inside of the ramp door. It looks as though I have to take the back panel of the door off to see what's in there.

[Thurman]

A picture of the inside of the door would certainly help here. Loosen one bolt a few turns. See if you can wiggle the bolt to feel as if anything on the other side is moving with the bolt. IF you feel that something inside is moving with the wiggle of the bolt then I would be cautious as to completely removing the bolt. I think the item "Wileykid" is describing is known as a "T nut". They have four (4) prongs that would stick into a piece of wood and a threaded sleeve that goes into the wood. IF you do manage to remove a bolt I would recommend going back with stainless steel washers, , ,

[redjet]

why replace? Just spray with Corrosion-X. I'm on the Gulf coast and rust is everywhere. We use corrosion-X on everything and it lasts for months. Good luck.

[ACLazer]

I'm so sorry, I apologize, I feel like a real idiot here. I went out to take pictures of the inside of the back ramp door and there are Rounded Head Torx Nuts on the back side that the bolts go into. I just wanted to replace the rusted washers with Stainless ones. I think some standard washers got mixed in with the Stainless ones. There are only a few rusted, the others are fine. I'm sorry I wasted everyone's time, it should be a piece of cake to replace them.

[ACLazer]

I did get the rusted washers replaced.
T55 Torx is required on the back side, wasn't easy to find.

[Fish N Farm]

I hate to tell you this but, there are 2 grades of stainless washers. It looks like the vender mixed the shipment up. The strongest grade will look like the ones you don't like because they have less nickel. the ones that stay shiny have more nickel and stay brighter. Just keep an eve on them which obviously you do.

[ACLazer]

Will do, thank you. They had Blue Lock Tite on the bolts from the factory. I reapplied the Blue when I put them back together. I also replaced the screws on the Magnets that hold up the Pass Through Storage Doors. They were also rusted bad, nasty looking and loose. I replaced those with Stainless Screws that had the heads painted black. Picked up most everything at Ace Hardware.