How to fix the Dometic RM2410 fridge door latch

[David in Seattle]

The fridge door would no longer latch shut in my 2003 Scamp 16'. I had to duct tape the door shut when travelling home with the trailer. It had to be fixed.

The latch looked OK, but the spring inside was broken. New latches are available, but they cost $40 on Amazon. I've seen them for $70 elsewhere. I decided to see if I could fix mine.

This is what a good spring looks like:



I bought some .025" music wire, a.k.a. piano wire, at my local well stocked hardware store for a few dollars. I took the latch off the fridge by removing two screws. The latch is made from two pieces of plastic held together by a long steel pin. To replace the spring you need to remove this pin to dismantle the latch. I removed the steel pin by pushing it out from the bottom of the latch, upward with a stiff wire of smaller diameter than the pin.

To make a new spring, I started with a 5 inch length of the music wire. I used the steel pin as a form to wrap the wire around as I made the coils. I used needlenose pliers to make the other bends. I trapped the wire and the pin between two small pieces of wood held together with vice grips as I made the coils at first. I made a few springs. Each one was easier to make than the last.

Here is another view of the spring:



This angle determines how strong the spring will be:



When you re-assemble the handle, place the new spring into the lower piece as shown. Then move the upper piece into its final position. It should become obvious where the rest of the spring goes as you do this.



Once the two pieces are together with the spring inside, replace the steel pin. Make sure to hold the two pieces as they will be in the final assembly so the pin will go through the coils. You’ll know if you got things right if the handle works as it did before the spring broke.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by David in Seattle

I bought some .025" music wire, a.k.a. piano wire, at my local well stocked hardware store for a few dollars. I took the latch off the fridge by removing two screws. The latch is made from two pieces of plastic held together by a long steel pin. To replace the spring you need to remove this pin to dismantle the latch. I removed the steel pin by pushing it out from the bottom of the latch, upward with a stiff wire of smaller diameter than the pin.

To make a new spring, I started with a 5 inch length of the music wire. I used the steel pin as a form to wrap the wire around as I made the coils. I used needlenose pliers to make the other bends. I trapped the wire and the pin between two small pieces of wood held together with vice grips as I made the coils at first. I made a few springs. Each one was easier to make than the last.

When you re-assemble the handle, place the new spring into the lower piece as shown. Then move the upper piece into its final position. It should become obvious where the rest of the spring goes as you do this.

Once the two pieces are together with the spring inside, replace the steel pin. Make sure to hold the two pieces as they will be in the final assembly so the pin will go through the coils. You’ll know if you got things right if the handle works as it did before the spring broke.

You sir are a problem solver.

[Ronald]

I repaired mine using a spring from a standard electrical alligator clip.Right shape and works well.

[David in Seattle]

When I made my springs I made a few extra. By the time I figured out how to make them they took almost no time. Since I don't have the Scamp 16 with its Dometic fridge anymore, I don't need these springs.

If someone sends me their address via private message, I'll mail them. I'd rather do this than throw them away.

[Terranovafox]

Originally Posted by David in Seattle

When I made my springs I made a few extra. By the time I figured out how to make them they took almost no time. Since I don't have the Scamp 16 with its Dometic fridge anymore, I don't need these springs.

If someone sends me their address via private message, I'll mail them. I'd rather do this than throw them away.

Hey, David. Are your springs still available, by chance?

[David in Seattle]

Yes. send a private message with your address and I'll mail them to you.

[David in Seattle]

I've mailed the springs I had left over to two of the people who asked for them.

[Radar1]

I had that problem and found a small spring that holds the latch closed.