Thetford fridge broken spring fix

[SandJ]

My spring broke on the Thetford fridge so I devised this fix
Remove the 2 screws and place a large spring (from a cigar lighter is what I used) right under the latch. This should not break and it gives sufficient force to work the latch.:thumb:

 

[SandJ]

Works as it should

 

[TerryL]

Not wishing to be a pedant but isn't that the wrong way round? I've just spent £13 on a replacement catch - you can't of course get a spring separately - after I'd tried all sorts. Your solution would actually hold the latch open - I think?:Confused:

Terry

 

[SandJ]

Not wishing to be a pedant but isn't that the wrong way round? I've just spent £13 on a replacement catch - you can't of course get a spring separately - after I'd tried all sorts. Your solution would actually hold the latch open - I think?:Confused:

Terry

Terry believe me it works as I did not fancy paying £13 and tried a couple of solutions. The spring makes the latch level which is correct for it being locked. I am holding it open so you can see the spring If you've still got your old one try it :thumb:

 

[SandJ]

Double post?

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[Stephen & Jeannie]

You can't beat the real thing !!

Terry believe me it works as I did not fancy paying £13 and tried a couple of solutions. The spring makes the latch level which is correct for it being locked. I am holding it open so you can see the spring If you've still got your old one try it :thumb:

How much did you pay for the motorhome ???

And now you do a bodge job !!!oh:

My mind boggles if your Thetford cassette goes tits up !!

 

[pappajohn]

How much did you pay for the motorhome ???

And now you do a bodge job !!!oh:

My mind boggles if your Thetford cassette goes tits up !!

yes, but the 'bodge job' spring will probably last a lot longer than the original or any original replacement

 

[webby1]

Bodge job

I really like to do a so called bodge job..........this makes the motorhome my own but importantly stops us being ripped off by the manufacturers who charge a fortune for switches and catches etc.

In fact we could do with a thread listing bodge jobs.

1.Toilet compartment got flooded (don't ask??) replaced the fan with a 12v computer fan and the boxed carbon filter(£16) with a bag of activated carbon chips (£2 from Ebay)

2.Of course Bio liquid in the toilet which is a lot cheaper and smells nicer than the original stuff.

ANY MORE ??

 

[SandJ]

How much did you pay for the motorhome ???

And now you do a bodge job !!!oh:

My mind boggles if your Thetford cassette goes tits up !!

Well if I had seen your reply and the two replies were not there Jim would be banning me:Angry:
The fix is a fix of a very poor method that Thetford use as stated the spring should last and it works as it should

Now tell me why I should have paid £13 when I didn't need to? Also how much I paid for my Motorhome has what relevance?


I am censoring myself with the rest of the reply
oh:

 

[Donny]

It’s NOT a bodge. The original design is faulty. To replace it with the same faulty design IS a bodge, as it is a temporary repair. The spring supplied by thetford is obviously of inferior quality. The design change by SandJ is clearly a design improvement.

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[Zigisla]

Would be interesting to know if the “fix” is still working after nearly 5 years. @SandJ ??

 

[Geo]

The cigar Lighters are available from Me @ £39.99 if you need a spring
Way to go Steve

 

[WillH]

Bodge Jobs? I have carried out many such jobs over the years and in every case I believe I have improved either the materials used or the original design, or both. The best were the straps securing the waste tank to the chassis. The originals were powder coated mild steel and rusting badly, the new straps are stainless steel, lighter, stronger , and they will last for more years than I need.

 

[SandJ]

Would be interesting to know if the “fix” is still working after nearly 5 years. @SandJ ??

It must be as I’ve not had the owner contacting me asking for a refund
I’d be highly surprised if it’s not still working though have you sold many cigar lighters because of it @Geo ? Lol

 

[mitzimad]

thetford or dometic why is it so hard to come up with a design that works to keep a fridge shut?

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[webby1]

Same reason they can't design a toilet cassette without sharp corners and crevices, minimum intricate operating levers and moving magnets. Oh yes and when we've designed this box we'll just fill it with pooh. What a joke of poor design.

 

[Geo]

It must be as I’ve not had the owner contacting me asking for a refund
I’d be highly surprised if it’s not still working though have you sold many cigar lighters because of it @Geo ? Lol

SOLD OUT
Just ordered another 10,000 from Shenzhen in the Canton Province, Price has shot up to 0.00004p per thousand since they read your post Steve
5 week backlog may force price increase to £45.00

 

[SandJ]

SOLD OUT
Just ordered another 10,000 from Shenzhen in the Canton Province, Price has shot up to 0.00004p per thousand since they read your post Steve
5 week backlog may force price increase to £45.00

Will someone please explain why I don’t get royalty payments on this? Anyone know if Thetford have copied my spring idea?

 

[SandJ]

thetford or dometic why is it so hard to come up with a design that works to keep a fridge shut?

Don’t know! I found it quite easy

 

[bigalw35]

I had a similar problem when we brought our Hymer, the fridge that is in situ had a broken hinge on the freezer box door and it was taped up with duck tape, RUBBISH, so I removed the freezer door and BOTH hinges, installed gas welding rods in the underside valleys of the hinges and filled the remaining gaps with resin, that was 3 years ago and we all know how many times SWMBO opens the freezer door, 3 years and the jobs still a gudun, my repair is actually far better than the original, and all it cost me was about a quid an half an hour, as apposed to £15.00 for a new ONE

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[Squirepete]

I used the centre spring from an old broken clothes peg, cut down to fit.
Works great after two years.
Bonus!