Removing bottle door springs

[USMC Vet]

How is the easiest way to remove the bottle door springs. I see that there are 2 rods that probably need to be removed, but how do you get those rods out ? Spray some WD-40 and let em soak,then take a punch and try to get em to slide ? Thanks !

[Chris]

I haven't done it before but I think that is the way I would go about it.  Mine is only one rod the whole length of the door

In your door do you have glass or plexi-glass and do they have any holes in them to vent pressure from the cabinet.  I'm asking because my door has glass and it has holes drilled through both pains of glass at the bottom and I dont know if they are suppose to be there, or is this something the previous owner did.

Thanks
Chris

[USMC Vet]

Those holes are supposed to be there, for some reason. One of the pros on here will be able to answer why. I got the 2 rods out , soaked them with Aerokroil, it's much better than WD. Took a screwdriver and slid them until I could get a pair of vise grips on the end and pulled them the rest of the way out.

[Creighton]

No pro, but the holes are so condensation does not form in between the glass panes.
Creighton

[sodaworks]

(Chris @ May 04 2007,8:22)

QUOTE

I haven't done it before but I think that is the way I would go about it.  Mine is only one rod the whole length of the door

In your door do you have glass or plexi-glass and do they have any holes in them to vent pressure from the cabinet.  I'm asking because my door has glass and it has holes drilled through both pains of glass at the bottom and I dont know if they are suppose to be there, or is this something the previous owner did.

Thanks
Chris

This is to eliminate condensation from forming in the window. This was done by the mfg.

[sodaworks]

USMC Vet,
make sure to get a couple of twists back into the springs when reinstalling or the door will not stay closed.

[USMC Vet]

Terry, I was wondering if I would need to wind that up a little to make the springs work better. A couple twists will be sufficient ?

[sodaworks]

New springs usually two twists. If they are used I would try three twists. Also mount the bottle door hinge with a couple of screws to a block of wood and clamp it inside a vise. this will make it easier to handle while tentioning the springs. this makes it a whole lot easier.

[USMC Vet]

Thanks for the tip on making it easier. I was wondering how I could make this an easier task. Anything spring loaded is usually a pain.

[sodaworks]

I'll be doing this later on in the week. I am painting a V81B tomorrow.

[Zerbie]

Popping this one back up to the top - hoping to find some further help in how to remove the the hinge pin from the bottle door frame/spring on an 81? Thx,
Bob

[jt2139]

Use a punch and hammer from the pointed end (bottom) of the spring. WEAR GLOVES

[Zerbie]

Thanks for your response jt2139 - it turns out, I tried a different method on the opposite end - I held the whole hinge assembly in my hand and slightly tapped downward on top of the hinge and that produced about 1/4" of the hinge pin sticking out of the top....plenty of room to grab hold of it and pull it out. The first way I tried of driving the hinge pin further in towards the whole hinge assembly didn't work to well.

I was able to get it all apart. I'm going to try and remember what I did for the next time.

Cheers!