Fiat Ducato Autotrail Apache 634 Garage Door Dropped

[Pollypenny]

The left side of one of my garage doors has dropped and it would seem the hinge has bent, possibly from slamming closed when the useless catch has failed. Anyway, someone said to just open it and tap away at it until it is in the right position again (hammer and a piece of wood), but any other suggestions? The pics shows (zoom in) how tight it now fits in the bottom left corner, which makes it very hard to open and close.

 

[Landy Andy]

I would remove the bent item which I think is the furthest left, and straighten it. Ideally on a bench. These easily come apart. Also be careful what you lubricate any hinge with plastic bush with.

 

[jockaneezer]

Can you open the door and show us how the hinges attach ?

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

Is it an illusion or is the door mis-aligned top to bottom as well? It seems to sit out at top more than bottom.

 

[Pollypenny]

Is it an illusion or is the door mis-aligned top to bottom as well? It seems to sit out at top more than bottom.

Possibly as I was hoping adjusting the 'adjustable' hinge screws may resolve it but they are just for moving the door left and right and in and out, not up and down. I will need to tweak that again once I've resolved the other problem

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[Pollypenny]

I would remove the bent item which I think is the furthest left, and straighten it. Ideally on a bench. These easily come apart. Also be careful what you lubricate any hinge with plastic bush with.

I did think that was the answer but having met a couple this weekend with the same doors who had had the same issue, I was hoping their advice was the right answer as saves a lot of faff (in theory).

 

[Pollypenny]

Can you open the door and show us how the hinges attach ?

Here you go! The hinge with the paint missing is the culprit and the one I have been adjusting but to no avail as that only moves the door left, right, in and out, not up or down

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Take the door off completely and check that the channel that the screws enter is not distorted. It looks like the channel is slightly bent upwards if I am looking at the external photo correctly.

 

[Landy Andy]

I did think that was the answer but having met a couple this weekend with the same doors who had had the same issue, I was hoping their advice was the right answer as saves a lot of faff (in theory).

You can see in your first picture that the hinge part furthest left is bent. Any manipulation in place is likely to cause more tears than would want. By removing and doing a controlled “adjustment “ you stand a far better chance of not having tears.

 

[jockaneezer]

If you remove the two Allen screws, does the hinge detach from the centre portion and is the hinge pin captive in the centre or outer portion ?
Think it will need the application of a bit of force

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[Pollypenny]

If you remove the two Allen screws, does the hinge detach from the centre portion and is the hinge pin captive in the centre or outer portion ?
Think it will need the application of a bit of force

I'm not sure yet without trying but will investigate further this week

 

[Pollypenny]

You can see in your first picture that the hinge part furthest left is bent. Any manipulation in place is likely to cause more tears than would want. By removing and doing a controlled “adjustment “ you stand a far better chance of not having tears.

That does sound sensible advice, thank you

 

[Pollypenny]

Take the door off completely and check that the channel that the screws enter is not distorted. It looks like the channel is slightly bent upwards if I am looking at the external photo correctly.

If the channel is bent can that be bent back and if so how please?

 

[Landy Andy]

Small hinge adjustments can have a big effect. So be very gentle and gradual with adjustments

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

If the channel is bent can that be bent back and if so how please?

I am assuming that it would be bent outwards and making the door width slightly wider.
A flat bar as a straight edge hammered against it would put it back to its original shape and size then refit the hinges and retest.

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[Pollypenny]

I am assuming that it would be bent outwards and making the door width slightly wider.
A flat bar as a straight edge hammered against it would put it back to its original shape and size then refit the hinges and retest.

That sounds like a good plan, thank you

 

[Pollypenny]

That sounds like a good plan, thank you

Could I maybe avoid even removing the hinges and hammer the hinge carefully to push the track back in or is this too risky?

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Good I maybe avoid even removing the hinges and hammer the hinge carefully to push the track back in or is this too risky?

Personally I would rather remove the hinges and check everything before taking a hammer to it. It will be easier overall and only take a few minutes more to have it in a position where you can be hitting it with control and confidence that you won’t overdo it if you use a flat bar to avoid knocking it inwards.

 

[Pollypenny]

Personally I would rather remove the hinges and check everything before taking a hammer to it. It will be easier overall and only take a few minutes more to have it in a position where you can be hitting it with control and confidence that you won’t overdo it if you use a flat bar to avoid knocking it inwards.

I agree so will opt for your way, thank you for your advice, much appreciated

 

[Pollypenny]

Ok so I have removed the door and the left hinge is sooooo stiff it explains why the door closing was such an issue. I think in order to remove the left hinge I need to remove the plastic end cap and there will be a screw or something that once removed will aid the release of the hinge for much needed lubrication. However, the end caps are very old and crumbly so I feel the only way to get it off will be to destroy it. Is there another way to lubricate the hinge and if not are these end caps easy enough to replace?

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[Landy Andy]

Great video. Well done. All the info there

 

[Landy Andy]

There is no grub screw or anything the bit that attaches to the door is just a tube, with an end cap on the other end. I would use a Stanley knife blade under the cap and pry off then get some lube in there. But as you have a bit of movement, I would work the hinge up and down, as I tap the inside of the hinge. Working it off the hinge pin.

 

[Landy Andy]

Grip hinge red mark. Hopefully moves with hand, if not use a pair of grips, or pliers. You may want to put rag on hinge to stop marks.

As you are working hinge up and down, tap the yellow mark. With an occasional spay of lubricant. Hopefully you have also got some lubricant from the other side after removing plastic cap.

 

[Pollypenny]

There is no grub screw or anything the bit that attaches to the door is just a tube, with an end cap on the other end. I would use a Stanley knife blade under the cap and pry off then get some lube in there. But as you have a bit of movement, I would work the hinge up and down, as I tap the inside of the hinge. Working it off the hinge pin.

Thanks Andy. If the end cap does crumble to dust are they easy enough to replace?

 

[Landy Andy]

Thanks Andy. If the end cap does crumble to dust are they easy enough to replace?

To be honest I don’t know, but saving your hinge is more important than the cap. PaulandChrissy coukd always plastic print you some if required.
If you have enough movement in hinge you may get away with leaving cap in place whilst removing and then poke something thin through hinge, poking out the plastic cap after. Just depends on how easily it’s moving.

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[Pollypenny]

To be honest I don’t know, but saving your hinge is more important than the cap. PaulandChrissy coukd always plastic print you some if required.
If you have enough movement in hinge you may get away with leaving cap in place whilst removing and then poke something thin through hinge, poking out the plastic cap after. Just depends on how easily it’s moving.

I was about to ask if leaving the cap in place and removing the hinge would be another option. Will try both ways. Assuming silicone spray is ok to use as only have this or WD40?

 

[Landy Andy]

I was about to ask if leaving the cap in place and removing the hinge would be another option. Will try both ways. Assuming silicone spray is ok to use as only have this or WD40?

Yes. Silicon spray should work well.

 

[RustyRuss]

A drop or two of penetrating oil will do the job. Position the door so that gravity will let the oil drop down into the hinge. Leave it for 30mins (patience is definitely a virtue here!) then rotate the hinge back and forth whilst trying to pull it apart. Some gentle persuasion with a rubber hammer will also help. When you get the hinge apart it is likely that there will be corrosion on the lynch pin, (the internal “male” part of the hinge) remove it with a piece of fine emery cloth, or a cardboard nail file. The female part of the hinge could be corroded too, use some electrical tape to attach a piece of sandpaper to the end of a bamboo BBQ skewer and use it to clean out the crud in the female part of the hinge. Re-lubricate it with silicone/PTFE spray, NOT WD40. Ive attached a photo of what you need, available from Screwfix.
A 6 monthly spray of lube on all your hinges will prevent this from happening to the others.

Tell us how you get on so you can help other funsters with similar issues!

Good luck!

Russ

 

[Pollypenny]

A drop or two of penetrating oil will do the job. Position the door so that gravity will let the oil drop down into the hinge. Leave it for 30mins (patience is definitely a virtue here!) then rotate the hinge back and forth whilst trying to pull it apart. Some gentle persuasion with a rubber hammer will also help. When you get the hinge apart it is likely that there will be corrosion on the lynch pin, (the internal “male” part of the hinge) remove it with a piece of fine emery cloth, or a cardboard nail file. The female part of the hinge could be corroded too, use some electrical tape to attach a piece of sandpaper to the end of a bamboo BBQ skewer and use it to clean out the crud in the female part of the hinge. Re-lubricate it with silicone/PTFE spray, NOT WD40. Ive attached a photo of what you need, available from Screwfix.
A 6 monthly spray of lube on all your hinges will prevent this from happening to the others.

Tell us how you get on so you can help other funsters with similar issues!

Good luck!

Russ



View attachment 1057608

I've removed the door from the hinge (see video) so can't use gravity, but thank you for the rest of your advice I now have the end cap off so working on lubricating the hinge free using silicone spray

 

[Pollypenny]

Yes. Silicon spray should work well.

Despite now having got the end cap off and there being a handy little hole to spray the silicone spray into, along with spraying it in the open end, the hinge will not budge. Obviously it must be able to as the door was opening and closing but that was clearly with great strain. I will try Russ's suggestion of penetrating oil once I've got some from the local Screwfix and hope that frees it....

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