Refrigerator Door Fell off

TimHolt · 07-17-2016, 09:18 AM

Hello everyone!
New to the RV way of life, having just purchased a gently used 2010 Grayhawk.
On our inagural trip (From Texas to Yellowstone!) we sort of overloaded the refrigerator door and it fell off during a prticularly bumpy ride. Upon inspection, the bottom hinge mount had cracked.

When I got back to Texas, I tried replairing it with some epoxy, and it appears to be holding, however, I suspect that this will happen again. The solution next time will be to replace the bottom mount I suspect.

So, how can I get just the bottom strip of the refridgerator door and replace just it, or will I have to get an entire door?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tim in Texas

Grumpy · 07-17-2016, 09:20 AM

Whole door unfortunately. Also order the hinge support kit. Norcold had issues with doors during that era ..06/07 and up.

schiguy · 07-17-2016, 09:21 AM

Is the fridge a Dometic or a Norcold? You might be able to contact them and see if they sell parts for your particular model.

Griswald One · 07-17-2016, 02:02 PM

Mine snapped last year... May depend on the model because they were able to repair mine without replacing the whole door.

I also saw where Norcold has an available reinforcement part available... I have not ordered one yet... Guess I should get on that!

TimHolt · 07-17-2016, 04:05 PM

I ordered a new door. Used this vendor, who sent me a quick reply on a Sunday afternoon:

Norcold Parts | Norcold RV Refrigerators and Replacement Parts For Sale! - The Norcold Guy

I also ordered the hinge kit to make the hinge stronger.

Thanks everyone for the help!

I will let you knwo how the replacement goes.

Tim

LI-Camper · 07-17-2016, 04:12 PM

After reading about several MH owners that experienced the same problem, I decided to be proactive and to buy the hinge retrofit before it happened to me on a trip. I have an N811 Norcold frig. The new part is for N6 and N8 Norcold refrigerators. It is part # 634166 ordered from Amazon. I got the part # by emailing to service dept. at Norcold. It fits on the bottom of the door with no tools. The top hinge has a screw that holds the door in place. It cost $25 using Amazon Prime.

LI-Camper · 07-17-2016, 04:15 PM

I forgot to mention that both left and right hinge reinforcements are included with this order. I have a right hand hinge so I only used that part.

SmokerBill · 07-17-2016, 04:22 PM

Don't the refrigerators with problems have plastic hinge brackets? The ones on my 6 cubic foot Norcold are metal- either steel or aluminum. I don't see how those could break.

Grumpy · 07-17-2016, 04:25 PM

It's not the bracket, it's the female part of the hinge on the door.

SmokerBill · 07-17-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

It's not the bracket, it's the female part of the hinge on the door.

You mean the plastic tabs on the upper and lower door frame sections that the metal brackets pivot on? Mine look pretty solid. Maybe my 2011 has the upgraded hinges. I have many miles on rough roads with the door compartments full of stuff. No problems so far.

Grumpy · 07-17-2016, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

Maybe my 2011 has the upgraded hinges. I have many miles on rough roads with the door compartments full of stuff. No problems so far.

Based on what happened to many people I would personally buy the reinforcement that Li-Camper mentioned. When I had the SENECA I caught it before the door fell off. Got a new door from Norcold because of the problems and also bought the reinforcement.

TimHolt · 07-23-2016, 04:29 PM

Just a follow up:

Received my new door and the door hinge retrofit from Norcoldparts.com

Easy to install both and had them in the RV and on the fridge within 15 minutes.

Total price about $175.

Norcold parts shipped very quickly UPS. No complaints.

edatlanta · 07-24-2016, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimHolt

Just a follow up:

Received my new door and the door hinge retrofit from Norcoldparts.com

Easy to install both and had them in the RV and on the fridge within 15 minutes.

Total price about $175.

Norcold parts shipped very quickly UPS. No complaints.

I don't travel with anything in the refrigerator door to prevent the problem you had, but I have been wondering if the hinge retrofit kit would be a good idea just because? I have never seen the kit, but would like your opinion.

Thanks.

Grumpy · 07-24-2016, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edatlanta

I don't travel with anything in the refrigerator door to prevent the problem you had, but I have been wondering if the hinge retrofit kit would be a good idea just because? I have never seen the kit, but would like your opinion.

Thanks.

Since I had to replace the door on our SENECA, yes...

Jopopsy · 07-24-2016, 06:03 AM

I also bought the kit from Amazon. It went on easy peasy, and I don't sweat loading the door like its meant to be loaded. FYI mine was plastic, so Norcold hasn't fixed this recently; the kit includes a stout metal piece the goes over the wimpy plastic piece. I suspect adding the cabinetry to the door puts it over the stress limit of the plastic part once the door is heavily loaded.

thatsme · 07-25-2016, 07:02 PM

Is it me or does anyone else get tired of fixing\re-engineering things on an rv that should have been built better. Take this frig door issue, why not just make the (bushing?)part that fits in the bracket of the door out of a more suitable mat'l., if that is the problem. Make a beefed up bracket? Great that there is a retrofit kit but that should be revised in next build. Anyway, sorry for the rant on 1st post. This site is really good, lots of good info. Just bought 2016 Greyhawk 29mv & love it.

hoss10 · 07-25-2016, 08:38 PM

I just emailed Norcold to be sure the kit on Amazon was the correct one for my fridge, ( it was) but what was interesting is that I was told in the reply that the part was not for consumers and I should contact my dealer as it was a dealer serviceable item. Strange that the retro fit kit I just ordered from Amazon appears to be sold by Norcold!

ledderonthego12 · 07-25-2016, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimHolt

Just a follow up:

Received my new door and the door hinge retrofit from Norcoldparts.com

Easy to install both and had them in the RV and on the fridge within 15 minutes.

Total price about $175.

Norcold parts shipped very quickly UPS. No complaints.

I've used norcoldparts.com several times in the past but this year they changed to Norcold Parts | Norcold RV Refrigerators and Replacement Parts For Sale! - The Norcold Guy. I ordered the retrofit kit. I also found they have an article on this door hinge problem. VERY frustrating.
Norcold Lower Door Falling Off/ Fell Off! (lower door broke at hinge) - The Norcold Guy

Cactusogre · 07-30-2016, 06:42 AM

The parts are available on Amazon.

Door frame- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hinge Kit- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are several videos on YouTube showing how and what to fix, most with homemade hinge supports.

Mine snapped after 8 years in service. If you have the Norcold fridge I would buy and install the hinge support, it's not if it will break but when it will break, preferably at the least convenient time, like when you just went to the grocery store...

The typical fix for the broken hinge is JB Weld or similar product and the hinge support.

If you have to order a new door frame it's universal, both left and right (the Norcold dealer in Mesa,AZ didn't know that��).

preceptjoe · 07-30-2016, 08:04 AM

Was this the 2 door or 4 door model?

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