Dometic 8 cu ft Fridge Handle Adjustment?

[Mr. Goodwrench]

During our recent shakedown trip with our new Reflection 150 series 295RL, we discovered that the main door handle/latch on the refrigerator didn't want to fully release to allow the handle to open the door. I found that if I pushed the door towards the hinge side that it would usually open but what a pain that is just to open the door each time! I have been looking in both the installation and operation manuals for any adjustments but can't find anything. Does anybody have any suggestions? I will try and contact Dometic next week but wilth the current situation, there might not be anybody there. Thanks

[ckreef]

I have a Dometic 8 cf in my 2020 2600rb. Looking at it there doesn't appear to be anyway to adjust that. I'll be interested in hearing what they have to say.

I do have a McGiver fix idea that would probably work if you're interested.

[Mr. Goodwrench]

I have a Dometic 8 cf in my 2020 2600rb. Looking at it there doesn't appear to be anyway to adjust that. I'll be interested in hearing what they have to say.

I do have a McGiver fix idea that would probably work if you're interested.

Thank you Charles. I got an email reply from Dometic that said they know of no adjustment and to take it to a service center. I'm not going that route and would love to hear your McGiver fix. I am going to try and shim a lower corner of the box and see if I can tweek the cabinet slightly to make the latching area shorter. Since it doesn't look like I'll be taking the trailer out soon, I can spend a lot of time on this project!

[Jerryr]

You don’t need to take it to YOUR dealer. Any dometic dealer or even most mobile techs can do warranty work on your refrigerator.

[ckreef]

Thank you Charles. I got an email reply from Dometic that said they know of no adjustment and to take it to a service center. I'm not going that route and would love to hear your McGiver fix. I am going to try and shim a lower corner of the box and see if I can tweek the cabinet slightly to make the latching area shorter. Since it doesn't look like I'll be taking the trailer out soon, I can spend a lot of time on this project!

I didn't think about a lower corner shim, that might work.

Maybe hold off until tomorrow on that shim idea. It's late tonight. When I get home from work tomorrow I'll take a picture and explain what I'm thinking. You might want to see what I got and then decide what route to try first. My idea is just a little complicated to explain without a picture.

Either fix won't void the warrenty. I'm with you, no way I'd send it to a dealer for what is going to be a simple fix done at home.

[ckreef]

Gave the refrigerator a good look. Doesn't look like it would be an easy fix raising a corner since the entire frame is screwed down. Here is a McGiver that I think would work.

The top latch of the refrigerator handle is the latch that actually holds. In the picture, part A is pushed down by part B when you open the refrigerator, causing it to unlatch from the small catch on the door frame. I'm guessing part A is not being pushed down far enough. You could take a little piece of thin plastic and using double sided sticky tape, stick it to area C. That should cause part A to push in farther when opening the door.

It probably only needs to be a thin piece of plastic. It's worth a try and easy to remove if it doesn't work. I know you shouldn't have to make a fix like this but way easier than taking it to a dealer. If you try this let me know if it works.

[Mr. Goodwrench]

Gave the refrigerator a good look. Doesn't look like it would be an easy fix raising a corner since the entire frame is screwed down. Here is a McGiver that I think would work.

The top latch of the refrigerator handle is the latch that actually holds. In the picture, part A is pushed down by part B when you open the refrigerator, causing it to unlatch from the small catch on the door frame. I'm guessing part A is not being pushed down far enough. You could take a little piece of thin plastic and using double sided sticky tape, stick it to area C. That should cause part A to push in farther when opening the door.

It probably only needs to be a thin piece of plastic. It's worth a try and easy to remove if it doesn't work. I know you shouldn't have to make a fix like this but way easier than taking it to a dealer. If you try this let me know if it works.

Thank you very much Charles. You must be a technical writer because you have excellent communication skills. When I was playing around with it, I did think of adding a shim of some sort at (C) but I didn't have much at my disposal to experiment with. However, I have just cut up a plastic milk jug and will take this material with me next trip to the trailer. I think your idea will work if I can get something to stay put in that location. Thank you again for your interest in this problem and I will keep you posted of my (I hope success)!