Overhead Locker Catches (maintenance of)

[TDub49]

Good evening funsters. So getting the MoHo ready for a fabulous year of cruising and immediately hit a problem that wasn't there when we put it to bed, namely the push button catches for the overhead lockers have decided that they don't want to work properly anymore. They have become very stiff to press the button in and reluctant to spring back out to engage with the 'keep' - all eight of them showing solidarity with each other which is puzzling in itself.

They are the Swift Sterling type with a smart handle and pushbutton on the outside and a spring loaded plastic catch mechanism on the inside. Simples, I think, a little spray with plastic friendly lube should do the trick - only it doesn't. I have messed around with one (dismounted from the door) and can see no obvious reason why the catch mechanism won't slide freely. It's almost as if the plastic has expanded like badly seasoned wood or something.

So, the questions are:

• has anyone else had this problem and if so, short of buying new catch mechanisms, how did you fix it; and
• does anyone have any maintenance tips for these catches to avoid this problem in the future?

Thank you.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have the same problem with a similar sort of catch but not swift. A bit of silicone spray helped a bit but the problem seemed to be down to the cold weather. Now it's warmed up a bit they have freed up.

 

[Neil n Pat]

Been there and got the tee shirt. Spraying them helps but doesn´t lubricate the whole plunger thingy latch generally being vertical. I removed all of them cleaning thoroughly with wd40 then left overnight in the horizontal position. Next day replaced them. You have to be careful when tightening the securing screws as sometimes the plunger thingy latch rubs against the hole preventing the mechanism from working. Add latches to your annual planned maintenance schedule.

 

[suavecarve]

Had problems with ours causing great angst when locked on with clothes inside.
We just removed the inside bit that locks the cupboard (preventing it from opening)
They are vertically opening and the door won't open without being pulled so the latches don't really have a use (to us )

 

[TDub49]

So while waiting for the collective experience of the funster community to kick in on this subject I removed one of the sticky catches to have a better look.

It is such a simple mechanism it is hard to see what is wrong but then I had a brainwave (well, that's what I am calling it anyway). Having liberally applied maintenance spray to everything that moves ("everything" being an exaggeration for what is a spring loaded slide in a guide) I started trying to operate it manually to free it up.

The result was an accurate jet of maintenance spray straight in the eye which, apart from freeing up my eyelid, gave me something to think about. "Perhaps the spray is part of the problem" I thought, as for it to squirt out like that suggested there might be some sort of fluid lock going on. So I scrubbed the whole thing clean under warm water and it still didn't work (fluid you see) - but this morning, with it nice and dry and clean, it works as the maker intended.

Could this be the solution - no spray or other lube, just nice clean dry plastic? If it is, there's just another 7 to remove, clean, dry and refit. We will get away sometime this year . . . . . .

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[Deep Owl]

We have the same. I find that after a winter of non-use, you have to give the door a good bang a few times; it then knows who is in charge and works fine for the summer!