06-01-2024, 08:59 PM
Ok. Here are some annotated pics of the latch and striker. These are from an open bay so it does not show the door arms in the closed position. When closed, the arms move into a vertical position next to the striker nuts, further limiting access to those nuts.
Image #1 shows a view of the fixed striker, upon which the latch jaw connects. The striker is held to an adjustable bracket by two hex-key bolts and two nylock nuts. For those that don't know nylock, its a nut that has a ring of nylon crimped to the back. Tbe purpose of the nylon is to resist loosening without using a lock washer. The problem in this case is that there is no access to the hex-key head to hold the bolt steady while removing the nut. The hex-key is covered by the face of the latch, which is engaged with the striker. A long screw driver must be used from tbe bottom access to use lateral pressure to hold the bolt motionless while rotating the nut off. (circus act which may become a clown show).
Image #2 This is a side view of the striker, showing the attaching nuts and bolts.
Image #3 This shows the jaw of the latch which engages with the striker to hold the bay door shut. Also shown is the latch release pull arm and its release cable, which is used to release the latch when it has failed electrically. The problem is that the release mechanism itself has a high failure rate. In my case, the electrical failure was followed closely in time by the mechanical failure of the release pull. This weakness makes the system beg for a better method to defeat the latch. Perhaps the striker-bracket assembly needs to be re-designed such that the attaching bolts are changed to studs and are vertical, providing better service-defeat capability with standard tools and methods.
Image #1 shows a view of the fixed striker, upon which the latch jaw connects. The striker is held to an adjustable bracket by two hex-key bolts and two nylock nuts. For those that don't know nylock, its a nut that has a ring of nylon crimped to the back. Tbe purpose of the nylon is to resist loosening without using a lock washer. The problem in this case is that there is no access to the hex-key head to hold the bolt steady while removing the nut. The hex-key is covered by the face of the latch, which is engaged with the striker. A long screw driver must be used from tbe bottom access to use lateral pressure to hold the bolt motionless while rotating the nut off. (circus act which may become a clown show).
Image #2 This is a side view of the striker, showing the attaching nuts and bolts.
Image #3 This shows the jaw of the latch which engages with the striker to hold the bay door shut. Also shown is the latch release pull arm and its release cable, which is used to release the latch when it has failed electrically. The problem is that the release mechanism itself has a high failure rate. In my case, the electrical failure was followed closely in time by the mechanical failure of the release pull. This weakness makes the system beg for a better method to defeat the latch. Perhaps the striker-bracket assembly needs to be re-designed such that the attaching bolts are changed to studs and are vertical, providing better service-defeat capability with standard tools and methods.