Hab door hinge bolt has fallen out

[barryd]

I noticed this three inch steel rod on the grass the other day and wondered if it had come off our van but could not see where. There was also a couple of plastic washers. So I had a look round just now and its come out of the top hinge on the hab door. There are three hinges. I then found two plastic washers and like a steel cap that goes in the bottom of the hinge to keep it in place. So with a bit of jiggery pokery I have put it back in although I couldn't get the plastic washers in place on my own.

What I am a bit concerned about though is how its held in place and how it fell out in the first place. The little cap with a protrusion just fits snug into the bottom of the hinge once the steel hinge shaft is inserted and I just tapped it in with a small hammer. Should I take it out and stick some glue on it?

My concern is on these roads which are very rattly it will fall out again and this time I wont find it.

 

[Nabsim]

Wish mine would come out like that Barry, pins in mine are steel and hinges are alli and they grow together.

I thought newer ones had plastic/polyethelen (whatever) sleeved between the pin and the hinge. Don't supposed you can see is there is a sleve in there can you?

I wouldn't glue the hinge in til I found out a bit more but you could glue the bottom caps in place, they should be easy enough to remove again if you need to

 

[trevskoda]

Put the shims in, lift the door withy a wedge of wood to do so, then centre punch the bottom of hinge pin which will stop it dropping down.

 

[r4dent]

you could glue the bottom caps in place, they should be easy enough to remove again if you need to

Great idea

 

[barryd]

Its not dropped down and that one in the photo is the one I have banged back in. Im guessing there wont be much pressure on it but if the only thing holding in the hinge rods is that little stubby cap! Ill get some strong metal glue tomorrow and glue the little fecker. I wont be moving the van until Thursday at the earliest.

 

[trevskoda]

There are mushroom top pins for house doors which we have in all ours, just thinking would some fit the van hinges as there wont fall out.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Wire tie wrap

 

[barryd]

Wire tie wrap

Can't see how you will get a tie wrap in. Do you mean in replace of the steel pin? Ill just glue it.

 

[Nabsim]

The plastic caps top and bottom are supposed to keep dirt and wet out and the nylon washers seal the gaps, (I think). I think mine are fixed on one end same as all my locker catches. Design and materials on mine mean they seize up. Much better if they are free like Barrys in my mind. just need to stop them dropping out.

My mates van you removed the plastic caps then needed a drip to knock the pins out. that was the van with the nylon sleeves but again real tight one end. That was Mobilvetta I think around 2003 vintage.

 

[runnach]

Maybe not something you can do yourself Barry, but perhaps you will know someone who can do the following.

With pin in place, drill 2.5 mm dia hole into long middle section of hinge part attached to door, allowing drill to part penetrate the actual pin, remove pin and tap M3 thread into the hinge, then insert 3mm hex grub screw into hinge and the part drilled pin itself, it won’t fall out after this.

Edit, pin can remain in place and have the hole tapped using a 3mm plug tap.

M3 grub screw.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Can't see how you will get a tie wrap in. Do you mean in replace of the steel pin? Ill just glue it.

A narrow one around the whole hinge top to bottom would work until you get another fix.

I'd not glue it but lubricate it and center pop the top and bottom.parts but leave the middle bit to swivel.

 

[colinm]

Maybe not something you can do yourself Barry, but perhaps you will know someone who can do the following.

With pin in place, drill 2.5 mm dia hole into long middle section of hinge part attached to door, allowing drill to part penetrate the actual pin, remove pin and tap M3 thread into the hinge, then insert 3mm hex grub screw into hinge and the part drilled pin itself, it won’t fall out after this.

Edit, pin can remain in place and have the hole tapped using a 3mm plug tap.

M3 grub screw.

View attachment 142763

His hinge already has grub screws, I would say putting it back together and a drop of thread lock is needed.

 

[merl]

I wouldn't glue it, just a bit of oil if you have any ( or a drip off your dipstick) and then it looks to me like you just need to tighten the grub screw in the centre of the hinge to lock the pin in place.
If you've not got and or can't get an Allen key to fit the grub screw and you MUST glue something then just glue the bottom cap in place for now to I stop the pin from falling through.

 

[yeoblade]

His hinge already has grub screws, I would say putting it back together and a drop of thread lock is needed.

Well noticed, now Barry needs to find his Allen Keys particularly the extra small ones!

 

[trevskoda]

I knew he was always dehinged.

 

[runnach]

His hinge already has grub screws, I would say putting it back together and a drop of thread lock is needed.

Ah yes, I can see the grub screw now when zooming in, at least I was on the money!

 

[barryd]

Thanks and well spotted Colin. Ill need to look at it again in the morning but wont tightening that grub screw stop the whole thing turning? Obviously not as that would be mental.

Ill have a look and see what allen keys I have. Ill have loads but a hundred quid says just not one that size. I might still glue the stopper in the bottom especially if I Cant screw that grub screw in. Maybe I should check the others while Im on.

Just so I am clear.

 

[colinm]

It's one of two things, either the grubscrew locks the pin, and then it rotates in the upper and lower part of hinge, OR, the pin has an undercut, and the grubscrew is screwed in just enough to stop pin falling out. I suspect the former, but haven't firsthand experiance of how Swift do it, inspecting the two intact hinges should tell you.

 

[izwozral]

So it's true what Puds told me in his pm. Barry really is unhinged

 

[Robmac]

Thanks and well spotted Colin. Ill need to look at it again in the morning but wont tightening that grub screw stop the whole thing turning? Obviously not as that would be mental.

Ill have a look and see what allen keys I have. Ill have loads but a hundred quid says just not one that size. I might still glue the stopper in the bottom especially if I Cant screw that grub screw in. Maybe I should check the others while Im on.

Just so I am clear.

View attachment 142775

I would say so Barry, I can't think of any other reason it would be there. It won't stop it turning as the sections of the hinge at the top and bottom will still turn on the shaft.

As Colin said, put some threadlock on it as well, I would use Loctite Blue rather than Red just in case you ever need to disassemble it again.