Early Sliding Door Closing Problem

[Chilliphil]

Morning all. Been having a bit of a mare with my sliding door where first it wouldn't open. Now got it open (middle rear hinge had seized completely) after stripping the hinge down. Only problem is now the door wont close I'm guessing it's something to do with the spring in the hinge but I'm currently out of ideas. I've had a search on here but although I've found similar problems, nothing quite the same. It's a 1981 LHD. Here are some pics to help illustrate.



This is currently as far as it will close.





And some pictures of the hinge.

Any ideas will be very welcome. Off camping on thursday!! Thanks.

[Cruz]

'The door won't close' is a bit vague without a crystal ball

Does the door not catch on the striker?
Does it hit the door frame before getting to the striker pin?
In your pictures is that as much as the door will close, which means you have reassembled it wrong?
Can you feel any spring back when trying to push the door closed (this means the spring is still under tension)?

[Chilliphil]

Sorry

That is far as the door will close in those pics. When you push the door in at that point you can feel a lot of spring (as in if you push any more a lot of damage will be done!!). I am assuming it is put back together wrong but can't work out another way of doing it. Managed to put it together so it wont open or it wont close but no middle ground...

[Cruz]

Just checked my spare RHD hinge and I think I have found your problem.

Did you remove the spring? If you did you have put it back on the wrong way round.

The end of the spring that connects by the arm has a semi circular cut out. The cut out should be facing inside the bracket as it is clearance for when the door closes this semi circular cutout rotates to sit on the hinge arm.

That is why it is fouling. Remove your hinge and try to make the mounting arm parellel with the U-bracket and you will see what I mean as that end of the spring fouls

Your spring is on the left, the way it should be is on the right. Happy holidays

[Chilliphil]

Cheers, I'll have a crack at that. Another thing that the blasted Haynes manual has got wrong then

There was no circlip on that side of the u hinge and whilst I was banging the other end it all went ping and the spring fell out luckily I found it all again!!

Thanks for your help.

[Chilliphil]

Thanks Cruz. I now have a fully functioning sliding door for the first time in months!! It works better than it ever has now it has all been stripped and greased and even fixed the catch at the front that holds the door when it's open which has never worked.

Thanks again for your help.

[Cruz]

No worries

[toolsntat]

Well done Cruz

Andy

[Cruz]

Cheers Andy. Nothing worse than having a problem just before you go away. That's what the forum is for.