rbs4159 Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 Last weekend as I was getting ready to leave Reno in my '68 M20C, I pulled the door closed, same technique as always, and the latch seemed to not line up. Of course, since I'd never had any trouble closing the door before, I tugged on the strap a little too hard and broke it (it was in pretty gnarly shape anyway. I did get the door closed and flew home without incident. As I was replacing the strap a couple of days later , I noticed that the door is now harder, but not terribly difficult, to close and open. It seems maybe the top latch needs adjustment - or something. This came on so suddenly that I'm at a loss to explain it. Has anyone else had a similar problem? And can the latch be adjusted by my A&P? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 This is just me (not knowing all the facts), but I might start with some Tri Flow on the hinge. It sounds like something is now out of alignment that was previously OK. YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 It would be a good idea, too, to squirt some Tri-Flow onto the gripping mechanism where it comes out the edge of the door, and work it back and forth a few times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARZ Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 I may be a bit paranoid, but if you can't think of anything that may have happened to the door to skew it (wind flinging it open, child using it for monkey bars etc) or see something that would obviously contribute (bad hinge) I would be looking at the structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakeup Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 My door will not close. I have been doing interior work and put everything together and now the door will not shut. It's hitting on the bottom and seems to be tilted down. I replaced the trim around the door.. Could new screws be making it torque in another direction ?? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piloto Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Check the door seal for looseness. José Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrwilson Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 My door will not close. I have been doing interior work and put everything together and now the door will not shut. It's hitting on the bottom and seems to be tilted down. I replaced the trim around the door.. Could new screws be making it torque in another direction ?? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Troy Or a screw is sticking out somewhere, blocking the door? Might be hard to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Pull the plastic off and clean and lube everything. Give it a little adjustment if it needs it. This should be done every twenty years or so weather it needs it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakeup Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Thanks. I did put new screws around the front windshield trim? I will look into it tonight. Thanks again. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakeup Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I was able to shut the door after I tightened the hinge bolts. 2 of them broke when tightening. The door shut fully after doing that but didn't shut after I had the door open for awhile. How do you adjust the hinge? Do I make sure all are the same tightness? Thanks Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F-1968 Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 There is no adjustment for the hinge - simply a straight hinge pin. The side holding the hinge to the airframe is held on by a number of threaded fasterners. You can see the heads from the outside. John Breda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakeup Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 After several hours of trial and mostly error it came down to the trim not allowing it to shut. Ohh well. It's completed. Thanks for all your tips. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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