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GIVE THE DOOR A GOOD LOOKING OVER TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MISSING, DAMAGED OR NON-STANDARD COMPONENTS.
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CHECK THE HINGES BY OPENING THE DOOR, GRASPING IT FROM THE HAND LEVER SIDE AND PUSHING IT TOWARDS THE HINGED SIDE. THE DOOR SHOULD NOT GIVE MORE THAN ABOUT 3/16". IF THERE IS MORE PLAY THAN THIS, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE HINGE PINS, WASHERS OR HOLES FOR THE HINGE PINS ARE EXCESSIVELY WORN.
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LOOK AT THE METAL CHANNEL SURROUNDING THE GASKET. IF IT IS RUBBING AGAINST THE KNIFE EDGE ON THE DOOR SIDE OR IF THE DOOR PANEL RUBS ONE OR MORE SIDE DOGS WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING, WORN HINGES ARE THE LIKELY CAUSE. CONSIDER REPLACING THE HINGE PINS AND HINGE PIN WASHERS.
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ANOTHER SIGN OF HINGE WEAR IS THAT THE DOOR WILL CHAFE THE KNIFE EDGE WHEN IT IS OPENED AND CLOSED. CHECK THE HINGE PIN WASHERS. THEY SHOULD BE 1/16" THICK; IF THEY ARE WORN TO 1/32" OR LESS, REPLACE THEM.
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IF THE WASHERS APPEAR OKAY AND THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSING CORRECTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE POINTS, REMOVE THE HINGE PINS AND CHECK THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE BENT OR DAMAGED. IF THE HINGE PINS ARE NOT IN SATISFACTORY SHAPE, REPLACE THEM.
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MAKE SURE THE DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE DOOR OPEN IS INTACT AND WORKABLE.
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CHECK THE DOG ASSEMBLIES. MAKE SURE THE STRAIGHT BUSHING IS FIRMLY SEATED AGAINST THE BACK OF THE DOG AND THAT IT IS FREE OF DIRT, RUST AND PAINT. CHECK TO SEE THAT THE FLANGED BUSHING IS FIRMLY SEATED AGAINST THE END OF THE DOG SLEEVE AND IS HELD IN PLACE BY ITS SET SCREW. (LOOK CAREFULLY BECAUSE THE SET SCREW MAY BE PAINTED OVER.) FOR DOGS WITH SELF-LUBRICATING BUSHINGS, THERE SHOULD BE A CRES WASHER BETWEEN THE DOG LEVER AND THE FACE OF THE FLANGED BUSHING.
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WITH THE DOOR OPEN, TRY TO GIVE EACH DOG SPINDLE A GOOD SHAKE UP AND DOWN AND SIDE TO SIDE. IF THE SPINDLE MOVES, THE BUSHINGS PROBABLY SHOULD BE REPLACED. IF YOU HAVE REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND THERE IS STILL PLAY, THE SPINDLE SLEEVE IS WORN OR CORRODED AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLOSURE.
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CHECK THAT BOTH JAM NUTS (OR SELF-LOCKING NUTS) ARE TIGHTLY IN PLACE ON EACH DOG ASSEMBLY. REMOVE ANY PAINT OR DIRT WITH A WIRE BRUSH AND A CLEAN RAG. CHECK TO SEE THAT THE STRAIGHT BUSHINGS ARE NOT BOUND TO THE SPINDLE SLEEVES; IF THESE BUSHING ARE STUCK, REMOVE THEM AND LUBRICATE THE INSIDE OF THE SLEEVES.