Model B Service door springs

[Gasseous]

I have talked about this before but now I am putting my stove back together. I have attached the springs for the service door but it still doesn't stay closed properly. Does anyone have any pictures of where these springs are supposed to attach? I have them attached where they seem to go, but the door still doesn't stay closed. I wonder if the springs are too long?

[img]http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1522/servicedoorsprings18hn.jpg[/img]


[img]http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1782/servicedoorspring23ix.jpg[/img]

There are some holes on the side of the arms but they don't appear to be much higher than the place that I attached them.

Anyone have a photo of a Model B out there?

Gasseous

[lowracer]

My model C is significantly different from the pictures you have posted here.

One thing about springs. You want to have the spring still under tension when it is holding the door closed. I'd say shorten it a bit. It looks like the spring is not under tension there, it's completely relaxed. A completely relaxed spring won't hold the door closed.

[Gasseous]

Mark,

You are correct when you say that these springs are relaxed when the door is closed. This is not good. I could buy shorter springs, but I wanted to make sure that I had them attached at the correct spot. Seems pretty odd to me that both springs are stretched to the point of relaxation? Just the way the my mind works I guess....

Gasseous

[lowracer]

"stretched to the point of relaxation?"

I think you mean "compressed to the point of relaxation?"

Let me restate: Your springs are fully compressed in the photos. That means they aren't exerting any force on the door. Remember from high school physics, the spring equation:

[i]<font size="4">f=kx</font>[/i]

where f= force, k= spring constant, and x = distance the spring is stretched.

So in your photos you have x=0 meaning the spring is fully compressed, not stretched at all, then you have zero force holding the door up. Move the door just a bit and you have some x and thus some force. Trick is to spec some springs that will still be stretched a little bit when the door is closed. They'll be stretched a lot when the door is open.

You want to get a spring constant (spring "stiffness") that's not too high too, because when the door's fully open you want it to stay that way. Mainly you just want those springs to hold the door shut when you lift it shut.

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ May 15, 2006 09:03 AM: Message edited by: lowracer ]</font>

[tux_sf]

Gasseous-
They are attached correctly. My B was missing one of the springs, so I had to replace mine as well. The remaining original spring was attached just as you have done.

By the way, I had the same problem as you did when I got the replacement springs installed. Since I had one original spring I used that to size the replacements, so they are the correct length. However, I think the old springs have more tension so they probably held the door closed more tightly (the new ones leave an open gap of an inch or so on the top when my service door is closed). While I haven't gotten around to it, I've been meaning to try exactly what Mark suggested & shorten them a bit to get them tighter. They were kind of a pain to attach so I haven't jumped right on it. Funny how you live with these little imperfections sometimes. . .

Danny

[Gasseous]

Danny,

This is true how we live with the little imperfections. Since I am putting my stove back together, I thought that I would the door to close properly.

Mark,

Thanks for the physics lesson. What I meant by the springs "being stretched to the point of relaxation" was that they were both stretched, or worn out in the same fashion. I shall look for some shorter ones at the hardware store...

Gasseous

[Gasseous]

Danny,

Wanted to let you know that I purchased a pair of springs today at the hardware store and they solved my service door problem. The springs that I picked up are 7/16 x 2.00 X .062. They are about 3/8 shorter than the ones that I had. I had to open them up a little in order get them to fit over the pegs, but once I put them on, it is as good as new. Not sure what the spring constant is, but it sure is nice to have a service door that shuts all the way.

Thanks for letting me know I had them attached in the proper location.

Gasseous

[lkeriegrl]

Gasseous et al:

We are putting our 15B back together this fine day. I picked up a pair of springs matching the specs above. We have the service door off, and attempted to attach the springs. One apparently was in through the rectangle, and into the hole, the other was hooked in from the service cabinet side, not throughthe rectangle, if you get what I am saying. But both went flying. They went winging off in short order. No one lost an eye, but my husband asks whether i am "sure" that was the right specs. I know I bought exactly as above.

Any thoughts?

Erin

PS I read that you're supposed to have the front panel off, but I guess that means the door, not the whole front of the stove, right??

[Gasseous]

Erin,

This is how I attached the springs for my service door. I had the door on but I don't think that would matter. Both springs are on the inside of the cabinet....

[img]http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9788/servicedoorsprings59vs.jpg[/img]

I hope that helps...

Gasseous

[Mark_78702]

I spent an hour last night scraping my knuckles trying to replace a missing spring on my model B. Oof. That's hard work to do without taking the stove apart. I got it close, but my springs are too long. I didn't have the strength to start again. I figure I'll modify the spring to shorten it up.

Anyone have any tips to make it easier to replace these springs?