Grampy OG Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Hi folks, this is my first post to the new home of Bill D's. I have searched and searched but can't seem to locate a file that I am sure I downloaded from the previous location (yahoo). There was a post and attachment detailing the removal of the front door scissor assembly and replacing it with a gas spring (strut). If somebody could please point me to it or re-post it I would sure appreciate it. I'm not sure if it was coach specific but it was going to work perfectly for my 2003 Executive. The site is coming along nicely, thanks to all for the hard work. Ken Wilcox 2003 The Executive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McGarvie Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Ken, I did that modification to my 2002 Knight, and am very happy with it. I don't have handy any files or messages on Monacoers, but here are a couple of links I referred to for my project: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/gas-door-prop-installed-241214.html http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/replacing-entry-door-swing-arm-with-gas-strut-276148.html www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=116505&d=1452777977 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J A Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 There is also a good write up in the files section on the FB site; Monaco RV Owners group. Paul A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampy OG Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Thank you for the posts. I didn't realize that the strut went outside. Looks doable though. Also thanks for the reply Paul A. but having never been on FB I can't take advantage of the file. Ken Wilcox 2003 The Executive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Your call on doing the Gas Strut. Mikey used to fix them. He installed a harder "Tinners" rivet. Mine was replaced under warranty....and it finally got so weak, I used a bungee cord to the mirror. Someone suggested this link. I called Randall and he fixed mine. He is an Ex Car Dealer Parts guy or maybe a mechanic. He found an OEM rivet or something similar that will work on the scissors link. rjb4jcpa@gmail.comHis name is Randall Bergen310/626-7958Steve OwnbyFull time since '07 Randall rebuilt mine about 3 years, maybe longer ago. It is STILL working. I have to park the MH at a slight angle due to my driveway. It still "locks" in place even with the rear being lower than the front. The fix was in the $40 - $50 range. Nope....it is NOT a Gas Strut....and if you can find the hardware and such to mount the strut to your liking....that is great. Certainly NOT knocking it. But, if you have the present scissors link repaired, you should be good to go for several years. I used SS rivets (you need a special long handled tool as they will destroy a hand held one). Get one of the long (13" or so with hardened jaws) tools from Amazon. They are great and I use it a lot.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampy OG Posted April 6, 2020 Author Share Posted April 6, 2020 Thank you Tom, While the gas shock was a thought I did not realize it was to be mounted outside of the door. That was a deal breaker for me. I will look for a repair as you did and until then the bungee has worked. Mine seems to be an opposite problem in that it locks into place and then will not unlock with a tug unless I give it (the scissor) a slight tap with my hand but to do that I have to be on the top step. First world problem I guess. Ken Wilcox 2003 The Executive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanwill52 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Mikey's fix was more permanent than mine. If you remove the scissor linkage and position the rivet over a sturdy steel surface, you can whack it a couple of times with a hammer, and it tightens it up like new. I've had to do that every couple of years for the last seven years. Costs nothing but an hour's work. Perhaps someone has had a problem more serious than mine, but this has worked on both my Dynasty's. Van Williams 2000 Dynasty 36, 195,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampy OG Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 Cool, I will listen to anyone that has 195,000 miles on their coach 😃 Thanks Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J A Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 A ball peen hammer works best to tighten the door scissor. Google; grade 60 tinners rivet, to read some application and sequence to flattening a rivet. Paul A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Whatever works.... I wanted a fix that I would not have to drill out in a few years. SOME industrious individuals have put in custom made threaded inserts.....and can easily remove the scissors... Randall may not being doing this....or he may be more than happy for the opportunity. There is no negative....IT BROKE AGAIN that I could find on his approach and he was aware of the Tinner's rivet. I just put it on and have enjoyed having it work again. It MIGHT be a little stiff now....but that is better than being limp.... LOL.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Nodine Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 14 hours ago, Tom Cherry said: Whatever works.... I wanted a fix that I would not have to drill out in a few years. SOME industrious individuals have put in custom made threaded inserts.....and can easily remove the scissors... Randall may not being doing this....or he may be more than happy for the opportunity. There is no negative....IT BROKE AGAIN that I could find on his approach and he was aware of the Tinner's rivet. I just put it on and have enjoyed having it work again. It MIGHT be a little stiff now....but that is better than being limp.... LOL.... One of those industrious individuals was me. This was not my ideal but a friend suggested using Poly-nuts in the swing arm where it attaches to the door to replace the blind rivets. It is my opinion that the Tinner's rivet does not wear in a linear fashion and once it becomes loose will almost stop wearing. My solution to the swing arm was to increase the detent by adding a pan head screw to the top of the dimple. This is a better approach than bending the swing arm and is still working well after two years. When we bent the swing arm we encountered rattling in the top of the door frame and interference with the door frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Bob, Great idea. In addition, it also allows you to remove the swing arm and using your "Friend's" suggestion.....whack it properly with a suitable instrument of force....but with his or your experienced hands. Sure beat drilling out 3/16 (maybe smaller) SS Pop Rivets.... FWIW. TO ALL....Bending it up and down to fix it is not what I have been told is correct. You change the tension and then that tends to elongate the play....thereby making it even worse. The tech that tried that, who was experienced, finally said. Maybe I should not have done that....and ordered me a warranty replacement. Mine failed during the extended warranty... In my case, I THINK (long ago), the bending up caused the arm to wear on the internal door seal so he had to replace it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hex_nut Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 When my scissor arm became loose many years ago, I employed the ball-peen hammer whack it approach. That worked fine for a couple years, but eventually the rivet wore to the point that it no longer worked (it was literally about to fall out). A quick trip to my local ACE hardware provided me with a new set of rivets. They were too long, but a few minutes on my bench grinder and they were the right length. They have been in service now for about four years. The new rivets I installed must be harder than the originals since they are not wearing as fast. So, a cheap solution is available, it just takea a little time to replace the rivets. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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