What the heck!!

Freeman · 03-31-2021, 10:29 AM

We are at a repair facility to have the recall work completed on the bracket that holds the leveling hydraulic pump and reservoir in place. While pulling the motorhome into the service pay, THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR FELL OFF. The bracket at the bottom of the door has numerous small hairline cracks and what little piece that was holding the door in place just broke off.

INCREDIBLE

Grumpy · 03-31-2021, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freeman

We are at a repair facility to have the recall work completed on the bracket that holds the leveling hydraulic pump and reservoir in place. While pulling the motorhome into the service pay, THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR FELL OFF. The bracket at the bottom of the door has numerous small hairline cracks and what little piece that was holding the door in place just broke off.

INCREDIBLE

NORCOLD? If so nothing new...they make a reinforcing bracket, but it was not added as part of normal production. Why not? Who knows....

https://www.amazon.com/Norcold-63416.../dp/B008KWP6MC

Jopopsy · 03-31-2021, 10:38 AM

The newer fridges don't accept that bracket. I had a email into the NorcoldGuy website inquiring as to the new part - and at the time one had not yet been made. Its been awhile though, might be time to ask again.

At any rate if your fridge is newer this part likely won't fit anymore. I had to send mine back on a 2019 GH.

craigav · 03-31-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

NORCOLD? If so nothing new...they make a reinforcing bracket, but it was not added as part of normal production. Why not? Who knows....

https://www.amazon.com/Norcold-63416.../dp/B008KWP6MC

And to make matters more concerning, the reinforcing bracket is not to designed to repair a broken door hinge, it is designed to prevent the door hinge from breaking. I have read where some people used the reinforcing bracket after the door hinge broke but with mixed results, many people have had to purchase a new door as the hinge is built-in to the door. ~CA

JaytheDJ · 04-01-2021, 04:14 AM

Unfortunately not uncommon. I had my lower hinge break on my 2018, luckily on the last camping trip of the season last year.
I did order a replacement door and

$30 hinge reinforcement! I was completely blown away that the "reinforcement" is just a piece of plastic!?

Needless to say I'll be minimizing the amount of weight I'm storing on the door from now on.

Jopopsy · 04-01-2021, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaytheDJ

Unfortunately not uncommon. I had my lower hinge break on my 2018, luckily on the last camping trip of the season last year.
I did order a replacement door and

$30 hinge reinforcement! I was completely blown away that the "reinforcement" is just a piece of plastic!?

Needless to say I'll be minimizing the amount of weight I'm storing on the door from now on.

Now that is a different part then I knew was available. Nice !

JaytheDJ · 04-01-2021, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

Now that is a different part then I knew was available. Nice !

FYI, I have no real world testing to see if this expensive piece of plastic will actually help. I guess it's piece of mind!

don_kleinschnitz · 04-01-2021, 05:45 AM

Any chance for a picture of that Norcold bracket

?

JaytheDJ · 04-01-2021, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don_kleinschnitz

Any chance for a picture of that Norcold bracket

?

Yes, will post shortly

Jopopsy · 04-01-2021, 06:43 AM

I ordered it. I always reinforced the bracket on any Norcold I've had. I often wonder if the hinges are prone to cracking b/c Jayco puts the wood insert on the door to fancy it up.

At any rate, I'll have the part to give my door a fighting chance. I figure 40 bucks proactively spent is way better then me cussing up a storm when the door falls off while on vacation. Cheap peace of mind.

**norty1** · 04-01-2021, 07:12 AM

If you order the reinforcement hinge you can make an instant friend by offering the opposite side hinge support to someone. They send both left and right hinge supports so you will have the opposite side that is useless to you.

Someone on JOF gave me mine years ago.

**norty1** · 04-01-2021, 07:19 AM

Here is an old thread on this same subject: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...off-38121.html see post # 58 from 2016!

Thanks to hoppers4 for giving me his un needed half years ago.

Grumpy · 04-01-2021, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

I ordered it. I always reinforced the bracket on any Norcold I've had. I often wonder if the hinges are prone to cracking b/c Jayco puts the wood insert on the door to fancy it up.

Back when the doors first started cracking (2010) JAYCO was not the only brand with the issue. I personally feel it depends on who installs the panel at the factories and what angle they hold the door at when putting it back on the hinge pin. If it's not almost vertical the hinge could start to crack.

So 11 years later the same problem still exists and it makes no sense.

JaytheDJ · 04-01-2021, 09:03 AM

As requested, here's the "new and improved" $30 hinge support which, in my opinion, does nothing to resolve the issue of having plastic hinges on the door itself.

Note: There is no "spare" support with this kit, just the one piece.

Grumpy · 04-01-2021, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

I ordered it. I always reinforced the bracket on any Norcold I've had. I often wonder if the hinges are prone to cracking b/c Jayco puts the wood insert on the door to fancy it up.

Back when the doors first started cracking (2010) JAYCO was not the only brand with the issue. I personally feel it depends on who installs the panel at the factories and what angle they hold the door at when putting it back on the hinge pin. If it's not almost vertical the hinge could start to crack.

So 11 years later the same problem still exists and it makes no sense.

EDIT: Just for curiosity I went back and looked at pics of the Norcold Door that was in our 2001 MH to verify and it also had the oak wood panel. The broken hinges didn't start until almost 8 years later so it has to be a NORCOLD design/manufacturing problem.

Jopopsy · 04-01-2021, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaytheDJ

As requested, here's the "new and improved" $30 hinge support which, in my opinion, does nothing to resolve the issue of having plastic hinges on the door itself.

Note: There is no "spare" support with this kit, just the one piece.

So really this is just a plastic sleeve the slides over the assembly to buttress it up a bit ....

Quite spendy for a plastic sleeve, and of course I'm going to buy the stupid thing anyway b/c there is no alternative.

NjNewbie30 · 04-01-2021, 10:29 AM

Yeah I learned first hand. Our door fell off in my wife's hands as I was driving last summer. Bought a new door and then the Norcold rep told me about the reinforcement bracket. We used that and now I have a door for my fridge if I ever need it. my DW was supposed to take care of the return. That never happened...

Docsouce · 04-01-2021, 10:36 AM

I keep looking but apparently the replacement lower door hinge for the Norcold N8X isn t available. Has anybody found one yet. I might be looking in the wrong place. 2020 26XD.

Jopopsy · 04-01-2021, 10:38 AM

I can't find one either, but at least the sleeve mentioned above gives some extra strength to that area.

don_kleinschnitz · 04-01-2021, 01:08 PM

I went out and checked mine. It is a Model N8X.

Sure enough, if you blow up the photo I can see a crack forming.

Therefore I bought the protection bracket off amazon.

I am skeptical of another plastic bracket.

You can find videos on YouTube of folks that made a metal add-on bracket that screws to the bottom of the door.

In addition to the Norcold rip-off plastic bracket, I am going to design and fab a metal one to keep in the RV in case the Norcold one fails while I am underway.

I will share the design when done.

The first photo shows the start of a crack and the second (upside down) is the lower hinge.

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