Date:         Wed, 3 Mar 2021 21:35:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Slider door hinge info
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Trying again.  This info pasted in from a message that keeps bouncing back.

Hi Gene,

        I’d love the information about how to get it apart and rebuild..  In my case the spring might even be good just no longer in the correct position and affected by the broken sleeve and other parts. 


I’m surprised one of our venders has not put together a rehab kit as all those doors could use a little more spring after 30 plus years. 
I just assumed they could not be taken apart and fixed.

My original seems to have most parts including the rubber parts but the inner sleeve is toast and the spring seems in the wrong position, at least that is my memory.  My current installed spring is stronger but more worn in some areas.  If I had the skills I could probably combine the best parts and be in business. 
I know others on the list are interested in what you accomplished as I’ve received a few emails asking if you had sent more info on the rehab process.  

You have really come up with a project vanagon owners want to know more about and maybe repeat.

If I can master it I’ll consider making it a service for the community but I’m not sure I’m up to it either.  But, I’m always interested in participating in the community solutions for healthy vanagons.

Eric Caron 


> On Mar 3, 2021, at 2:51 PM, Gene P <olgreywoof@gmail.com <mailto:olgreywoof@gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
> Eric,
>  
> Whoa man, your exuberance exceeds any notion I have about my place in this hinge business.  The only thing tricky about rehabbing these things is that parts are not available.  I was just letting you know things can be found to substitute and it could be done.
>  
> Place called Buslab is where I got the spring https://www.buslab.com/vanagon-80-92-s/117.htm <https://www.buslab.com/vanagon-80-92-s/117.htm>
> Spring  251843354
> Cap      251843390A
>  
> That cap/sleeve is the plastic part that was mostly missing on mine and I’ve heard is broken on most.  Buslab listed the cap but did not have it in stock.  Finding stuff to build that and things to use for seals that also are not available became a project.  When I just went in to get these part numbers, they now don’t have the spring in stock either, so that kills this for now anyway.
>  
> I think I can send you a description of how to disassemble your hinge to at least assess what’s good and what’s not so you know what you’ll need to fix it.  Look for that later.
>  
> gp