replacement oven hinges nonexistent

[lanahi]

I just got a new (to me) 1998 Holiday Rambler travel trailer that looks brand new inside and out and everything works.

Except the oven.

It is a Wedgewood by Atwood LP Gas Range Model RW2130 and has TWO problems with it: It needs a safety valve in the oven, which I finally found the replacement for. But also the door does not close at the top and I have to find new hinges for it. But new hinges do not seem to exist.

For the sake of two hinges I can't find, I have to buy a new oven???

Is there any other way to fix it?

There is a gap at the top of the door that is about 3/4 inch wide, and I know it is impossible to bake anything while that situation exists. Can the hinges be bent or something?

This is a beautiful oven that looks like new. I don't want to replace it and can't afford another one anyway.

[lanahi]

The door has tension, so I think the springs are OK.

Nothing changed when I pushed the door down while it was 1/2 way open. Maybe I need to use more force.

[dougrainer]

On these doors, IF by mistake you lift UP on the complete door, it pulls the hinges up and causes the door to appear not straight and hits at the top. With the door 1/2 way open, try to push the door at the hinges DOWN and see if those hinges slide downward and lock in place. IF the door has any tension, then the springs are OK. Doug

[Rvpapa]

You have to take out the stove completely and set it somewhere to work. Remove the exterior side covers (galvanized tin). It will take a bit of thinking as you watch what the hinges are doing as you operate the door. You need to end up when the door is closed the bottom actually opens about 3/8" (to allow air for combustion).
This is pretty much all done by playing with the springs and stops. Take care as the springs can be mean.
Art.

[lanahi]

I don't have a camera and can't find a picture or drawing of it.

I see what you mean by four hinges, two holding the door to the oven and two opening and closing the door. I was assuming it was the long hinge on each side that was the problem.

I can't see a way of removing the door either...there is no latch or anything visible to unscrew or take it off the hinges. I've looked at YouTube pictures of removing the oven doors but they all have some kind of obvious latch to move.

[lanahi]

While owning an older RV before this, I made good friends with my repairman! He doesn't charge much and really does fix things...an incredible find these days!

It was just my understanding from research on the web that the hinges are bad and need to be replaced. Nothing was written about being able to fix them. I would be delighted if I could have him fix it instead of getting another oven.

[Chris_Bryant]

lanahi wrote:
I have been looking for #51419 and #51427 which is what Atwood lists as the right part numbers. Is the 51732 hinge interchangeable? What is "the hinge part on the oven itself"? If I could find a picture of it, I would know if it is the right one or not.

The oven door closes until it hits the door seal at and near the top (which is correctly placed according to diagrams)and can't close any further. It's like the bottom of the door needs to be pulled out more in order for the door to close tight all the way up. If I push in the door at the top, it will close but not stay closed if I then quit pushing on it because it comes against the rubber seal. The bottom of the door needs to be pulled out to align it right, it seems to me.

Maybe this could somehow be adjusted?

There are 6 parts to the hings- parts that attach to the door- 51419 and 51427, the part that attaches to the oven- 2 of 51732, and 2 springs.

Can you provide a picture?

[lanahi]

I have been looking for #51419 and #51427 which is what Atwood lists as the right part numbers. Is the 51732 hinge interchangeable? What is "the hinge part on the oven itself"? If I could find a picture of it, I would know if it is the right one or not.

The oven door closes until it hits the door seal at and near the top (which is correctly placed according to diagrams)and can't close any further. It's like the bottom of the door needs to be pulled out more in order for the door to close tight all the way up. If I push in the door at the top, it will close but not stay closed if I then quit pushing on it because it comes against the rubber seal. The bottom of the door needs to be pulled out to align it right, it seems to me.

Maybe this could somehow be adjusted?

[RedRam]

Lanahi,you might call or take the door to a repairman and have them look at the springs.I would hate for you to take the door apart and have springs fly out and possibly get you hurt.It shouldnt cost very much to have it looked at.

[Chris_Bryant]

It's tough trying to picture these- non of my parts breakdowns give illustrations, but my notes say there are 3 part number for 4 parts-


Part number 51419 (RH) and 51427 (LH):
THIS HINGE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. IF THE DEALER NEEDS THE HINGE PART ON THE OVEN ITSELF, USE 51732.

Part number 51732 :
THIS CAN BE USED FOR THE LH & RH SIDE
IF THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS MISSING, HAVE HIM CHECK INSIDE THE WALL OF THE OVEN. THIS IS SPRING LOADED AND WILL SNAP BACK INTO THE WALL IF DETATCHED. THIS HINGE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE OVEN DOOR. IT HOOKS TO THE SPRING WHICH IS PART #51404.

That part number these people claim to have:

http://www.pdxrv.com/catalog/i4368.html

[RedRam]

I'm betting there are springs hidden in the door that are supposed to hold the door tight when closed.There is a possibility that one of the springs has came loose or broken.Only way to find out is to take the screws out of the inner panel of the oven door.I think the bottom part comes off to repair or adjust the springs but i'm not positive.I would look for hidden springs before replacing hinges but that's just me.

[lanahi]

Yes, there is that hole on each one but no pins.

I have looked at all the web sites suggested above, and they don't have the right hinges either.

I'm thinking about the suggestion that new hinges can be made or old ones repaired. Who could do that?

[RedRam]

On the hinges,on some models there is a hole on each one where you can put a nail or a pin in the hinge to keep the door from shutting all the way.Does yours have that hole and is there a slight chance a pin is still in there ?.

RANGE/OVEN DOOR REMOVAL AND
REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Open oven door so that the hinges on each side of the door are visible. Place a metal pin (nail,cotter pin ect) in the hole of the hinges on each side of the door. THis will stop the hinges on each side of the door from closing completely.

2. Close the door so that the metal pin stops the hinges on each side of the door from closing completely.

3. Lift the door up and off the hinges on each aide of the door and away from the range.

[lanahi]

Thank you all...I will look at some of those places you mentioned and also see if the hinges can be repaired before I give up on it. Will let you know if I find anything.

It seems like a crazy waste to have to throw out a beautiful oven just because of lack of the right hinges.

The right safety valve is here:
http://www.speedyapplianceparts.com/replacement-56120-stove-oven-range-safety-valve/
I would get it if I knew I could also find or repair the hinges.

All of my research on the web indicates the problem is in the hinges, not the springs. I thought the springs were to make sure the door can't be left open by itself while baking, and that seems to be working.

I shake my head when they say that an item made in 1998 is very old. When you are 72, like I am, "old" is not 1998! This is obviously built-in obsolescence, and it happens to nearly everything in an RV. Really, this seems unnecessary, and I resent them doing this! But I am fighting windmills here, so I will quit doing that and concentrate instead on a solution I can afford. Thanks again.

Edit: Yes, I have tried Atwood too.

[jamway]

Have you tried ATWOOD? That is where we got our glass for our oven door. They had the best prices and were very nice and helpful. They may be able to tell you if you need new hinges.

I guess I have lost their phone number. At least I can't find it.