Door hinge issues.

[Luxus Panzer]

https://flic.kr/p/YzsAr1

Hopefully the above link works, it is to a video of the problem.

I have installed brand new stainless steel hinge pin kits so I do not believe the pins are the issue.

The bottom hinge has some play in it..could the seat the brass ball sits in be worn? Top hinge is fine.

If I look straight down at the hinge bolts as I open the door the top hinge pin does not wobble at all however the bottom hinge pin seems to wobble a bit off axis (see video)

please let me know if the video does not work so I can attempt to fix it.

Thanks.

[Donna D.]

Direct link: https://flic.kr/p/YzsAr1

[Luxus Panzer]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Direct link: https://flic.kr/p/YzsAr1

Thank you Donna.

[Captleemo]

Is the hinge part that is bolted to the body have slop in it when you put the new bolt in it? If so you may have to replace it or have a machinist put a sleeve in it. Keep it oiled too when you get it fixed.

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by Luxus Panzer

https://flic.kr/p/YzsAr1

Hopefully the above link works, it is to a video of the problem.

I have installed brand new stainless steel hinge pin kits so I do not believe the pins are the issue.

The bottom hinge has some play in it..could the seat the brass ball sits in be worn? Top hinge is fine.

If I look straight down at the hinge bolts as I open the door the top hinge pin does not wobble at all however the bottom hinge pin seems to wobble a bit off axis (see video)

please let me know if the video does not work so I can attempt to fix it.

Thanks.

Z,

Having the video is very helpful. I'm not sure if my observations will be as I don't have any experience with these hinges.

It appears that the top of the lower hinge is held too far upwards by the upper hinge assembly. This makes the lower bolt and spring assembly ineffective in compressing the two halves of the hinge around the brass ball. That makes the ball ineffective in centering the lower hinge as it is not tightly compressed.

I don't know if the attachments to the door and trailer allow any vertical adjustment.

Can or did you replace the brass balls? Can they be flipped or exchanged top-to-bottom? This might change the vertical relation between the two hinges.

Also, be prepared for posts about frozen monkeys now.

[Jimp]

Could you not add washers to the bottom , as to close the spring more so? Also , it may just need a new spring .

[Captleemo]

Here's a YouTube video of a guy replacing his hinges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOxGYMzUNNY

. On your video it looks like you have a pretty good gap between that brass balls and the hinges. Could it just be a matter of snugging up the bolts a little more?

[Captleemo]

Heres another video too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzDchDf3LGE

[Luxus Panzer]

Originally Posted by Luxus Panzer

I have installed brand new stainless steel hinge pin kits so I do not believe the pins are the issue.

These kits contained brand new springs, brass balls , bolts and nylon washers. To answer people's questions about if the balls/springs are new

[Luxus Panzer]

I will attempt to snug up the hinges a bit more this weekend when I get home (away for work).

However, the hinges are currently installed as per the install instructions for the new SS pin kit I purchased.

I will report back.

[Captleemo]

Keep us informed on your success.

[Luxus Panzer]

Originally Posted by Jimp

Could you not add washers to the bottom , as to close the spring more so? Also , it may just need a new spring .

Not sure why I would need washers...I could just tighten the nylock nut more in order to compress the spring.

I will look at this on Sunday when I get home.

[Ian G.]

The problem with your door hinges is that the entire weight of the door is being held by the upper hinge, the brass ball on the lower hinge is not even contacting the hinge leaf sockets. The door weight should be distributed equally on both hinges, to fix this adjust or move one (or both) of the leaves of the unweighted hinge so the brass ball is tight and taking some of the weight.
In your video I cannot tell the position of the lower hinges but I would say the body side lower hinge leaf needs to be moved up, this can be done by carefully slotting the mounting holes through the fibreglass so the hinge can be moved up.

Do not tighten the pivot bolt going through the brass ball too much, make sure the spaces between each spring winding equals the diameter of the wire, you should be able to push against the spring end of the bolt and the bolt should move us slightly. If too tight the higne will bind and the fibreglass where the hinge is mounted will crack

[Luxus Panzer]

Originally Posted by Ian G.

The problem with your door hinges is that the entire weight of the door is being held by the upper hinge, the brass ball on the lower hinge is not even contacting the hinge leaf sockets. The door weight should be distributed equally on both hinges, to fix this adjust or move one (or both) of the leaves of the unweighted hinge so the brass ball is tight and taking some of the weight.
In your video I cannot tell the position of the lower hinges but I would say the body side lower hinge leaf needs to be moved up, this can be done by carefully slotting the mounting holes through the fibreglass so the hinge can be moved up.

Do not tighten the pivot bolt going through the brass ball too much, make sure the spaces between each spring winding equals the diameter of the wire, you should be able to push against the spring end of the bolt and the bolt should move us slightly. If too tight the higne will bind and the fibreglass where the hinge is mounted will crack

Thank you for the detailed reply.

I will have a look at this this weekend.

Question, if I need to slot and move the hinge "up" a bit to take some weight, does this mean it has always been like this since the factory?

Thanks.

[Ian G.]

Originally Posted by Luxus Panzer

Thank you for the detailed reply.

I will have a look at this this weekend.

Question, if I need to slot and move the hinge "up" a bit to take some weight, does this mean it has always been like this since the factory?

Thanks.

No I am sure from the factory they were correct. The holes through the fibreglass for the 1/4" hinge bolts should be larger than 1/4" (5/16" to 11/32") this allows for some room for hinge adjustment. Over time the hinges slip and move, the body will also sag which causes some misalignment. Post some pictures of your entire door closed in the opening and pictures of the hinges showing the door gaps and I can probably provide a better recommendation on the adjustment needed.

[Luxus Panzer]

Originally Posted by Ian G.

No I am sure from the factory they were correct. The holes through the fibreglass for the 1/4" hinge bolts should be larger than 1/4" (5/16" to 11/32") this allows for some room for hinge adjustment. Over time the hinges slip and move, the body will also sag which causes some misalignment. Post some pictures of your entire door closed in the opening and pictures of the hinges showing the door gaps and I can probably provide a better recommendation on the adjustment needed.

Thanks so much for the help. I will get you some good pics this weekend when I get home. I also have a new door seal from Scamp that I want to install, however, I want to get the door pin alignment taken care of first.

Hopefully I can just slide the hinge up/down in the stock elongated holes and do not have to drill

[Joe Romas]

Looking at your video it appears to me the door part of the lower hinge is slanted upward.
Like what Ian says just on the other part of the hinge.
The lower hinge with the ball assembly is supposed to support the weight of the door and it's not.
A good still picture straight on of the lower hinge would help.

Joe

[Luxus Panzer]

As promised here are some pics.

I got home kind of late and the daylight was fading so I had to use flash. If better pictures are needed please ask and I can take some tomorrow.

There is a generic foam seal visible in some pics...this is just a temporary seal (seen in first pic of top hinge).

The bottom of the door does not make a 100% seal, I will take some better pics of this tomorrow.

Bottom
2017-11-03_06-30-04 by Z R, on Flickr

Top

2017-11-03_06-29-34 by Z R, on Flickr

Bottom of door

2017-11-03_06-28-19 by Z R, on Flickr

Top left

2017-11-03_06-27-47 by Z R, on Flickr

2017-11-03_06-27-02 by Z R, on Flickr

Top right

2017-11-03_06-27-33 by Z R,


Whole door

2017-11-03_06-26-45 by Z R, on Flickr

[Ian G.]

I assume the hinge pictures are in order, The top hinge first then the bottom hing.

The door fit in the opening is good, to maintain that alignment you would want to adjust the lower hinge to take some of the weight BUT, the door leaf on the upper hinge is angled down towards the pivot, loosening the upper door leaf and aligning it so the pivot arm is straight will lower the load to the lower hinge but also lower the door in the opening slightly. .

I would start by adjusting the upper hinge as described above, check the fit and function. Just remember after adjusting open the door slightly and wiggle the door, ther should not be any obvious play in either hinge.

[Joe Romas]

Ian

The first picture has "BOTTOM" above it
I agree totally with what you say except it's the bottom hinge that needs adjusted.

There are also stress cracks around the mounting holes in the fiberglass and the part on the body is canted at an angle and is not aligned with the opening like the top, second picture, hinge is.

Joe