Norcold Hinge Repair

The biggest reason those hinges fail is loaded the door with tons of stuff.

Excellent field fabrication with limited tools!

Excellent work, and good info for anybody that find themselves in the same situation

been there too, we were fortunate enough to find a RV salvage dealer who had a complete door. just had to change the panel

Moved to Tech Issues forums from DIY.

I've considered making a load bearing shim to use in transit. It'd be a snug fit between the bottom of the door and the top of the cabinet where it closes.

Agree with Chris: Great job on the repair part. I guess I've gotten lazy and would have tried to fab something out of aluminum. This job deserves the Strength of Steel and you did it! A 6" angle bracket has a good material thickness to it. Good on YOU!

We have what must be an older Norcold N811, because both halves of the hinge are metal. Little shouldered screws thread into one of the metal pieces. So I thought we were good. One evening, fixing dinner, door dropped off. Actually it was partially supported by the bottom hinge. The threads had come out of their hole in a bracket. Ended up drilling through and attaching with 1/4" stainless bolts with nuts, and plastic bushings to get the diameter right for the holes in the hinges. I only did the Fridge door, not Freezer yet.

So... The old "metal" design wasn't perfect either.

You can buy hinge reinforcement for the Notcolds. http://thenorcoldguy.com/norcold-reinforced-hinge-kit-634166-click-for-compatibility/

Pirate wrote:
You can buy hinge reinforcement for the Notcolds. http://thenorcoldguy.com/norcold-reinforced-hinge-kit-634166-click-for-compatibility/

The hinge reinforcement must be installed BEFORE the door breaks. Its not perfect but does add strength to the door. The kit contains both a LH and a RH reinforcement and ONE washer. Use the reinforcement you need and washer, buy a like washer at the hardware store, and sell the remaining part with washer and instructions to someone with the door hinged opposite yours.

I was lucky enough to mention on the Yahoo View/Navion forum that I needed a RH hinge kit and someone with a different model View with a LH hinge did just that, sold the remaining hinge to me for half price plus a bit of postage. Better than throwing the part away.

Charles

If you want to do the freezer door as well, you need to buy two of the over-priced Norcold 634166 kits. With two kits, you can do the top and bottom hinges on both doors. Of course the top hinges take little load.

CharlesinGA wrote:

Pirate wrote:
You can buy hinge reinforcement for the Notcolds. http://thenorcoldguy.com/norcold-reinforced-hinge-kit-634166-click-for-compatibility/

The hinge reinforcement must be installed BEFORE the door breaks. Its not perfect but does add strength to the door. The kit contains both a LH and a RH reinforcement and ONE washer. Use the reinforcement you need and washer, buy a like washer at the hardware store, and sell the remaining part with washer and instructions to someone with the door hinged opposite yours.

I was lucky enough to mention on the Yahoo View/Navion forum that I needed a RH hinge kit and someone with a different model View with a LH hinge did just that, sold the remaining hinge to me for half price plus a bit of postage. Better than throwing the part away.

Charles

I guess I need to buy these reinforcements before my Norcold goes.