Door adjustment on M20C

[rbs4159]

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?

 

[Gone]

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

[Hank]

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.

[MARZ]

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.

[Wakeup]

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

[Piloto]

Check the door seal for looseness.

 

José

[jrwilson]

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

[N201MKTurbo]

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.

[Wakeup]

Thanks. I did put new screws around the front windshield trim? I will look into it tonight. Thanks again. Troy

[Wakeup]

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

[M20F-1968]

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

[Wakeup]

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