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Topic: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap (Read 313 times) previous topic - next topic
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Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
When I close the screen door sliding panel, it will not slide all the way closed; therefore, it's an opportunity for bugs to enter.  The reason the gap remains is that there is a plastic piece in the track that prevents the panel from sliding all the way closed.  I'm thinking that I want to knock the plastic piece out, but I'm wondering if there is something that I'm not thinking about.

Thoughts?
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #1 –
Eric-

A picture would help solicit better advice.

If the plastic part is at one end of the track I'd think it would be just as easy to trim the sliding panel to avoid it. You can always get a replacement panel if that turns out to be a poor idea, whereas replacing a removed plastic part in the door frame could be involved.

Without a picture I'm just guessing, though.

Mark H.
Former owner, 31-foot gas Class A
Former owner, 1997-8 mid-bath
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #2 –
"The reason the gap remains is that there is a plastic piece in the track..."

Eric

Are you absolutely sure that the sliding panel is seated properly in the track. They have a tendency to pop out and not slide smoothly.   :-\
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
 
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #3 –
The sliding panel is definitely seated properly, and slides just fine until it gets about a half inch from closing.  At that point, it bumps into a plastic piece embedded in the lower track only.  I just don't understand why it's there as it certainly looks like OEM.
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Morgueman  - 
The sliding panel is definitely seated properly, and slides just fine until it gets about a half inch from closing.  At that point, it bumps into a plastic piece embedded in the lower track only.  I just don't understand why it's there as it certainly looks like OEM.

Can you cut or grind the bump, allowing the panel to fully side? An Exacto knife or Dremel tool with a cutting disc should do it.
It should slide all the way.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #5 –
"I'm thinking that I want to knock the plastic piece out..."

Not knowing the vintage of your screen door and without a photo to look at this is pretty much a guessing game.
I'm aware that there may have been different models of doors over the years but I went out to examine mine just the same.
There are three (3) slots in which the sliding panel could run. The inner most slot or track (closest to the inside of the coach)
is where my panel resides. There it has no obstruction to impede it over it's length of travel. The only 'plastic piece' on the right side is the door pull/handle and if the sliding panel is in it's proper slot this cannot happen. A photo would be helpful.  8)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #6 –
The screen door is on a 2007 MB, and while I'm the third owner, I'm pretty sure that it's the original door.

Here is a picture of the screen door sliding panel track that I've been referring to.  I took this picture late today, and after I decided to punch out the 0.5 inch plastic pieces that were residing at the ends of the middle and inner-most tracks.  For this picture, I roughly put them back just to show you what I was referring to.

I still have no idea why they were there in the first place, but in any event, they're gone now and I can now close the panel all the way.
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Can you cut or grind the bump, allowing the panel to fully side? An Exacto knife or Dremel tool with a cutting disc should do it.
It should slide all the way.

Larry
I like these suggestions.  Thanks!
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #8 –
" I'm the third owner"

Do you suppose that a previous owner, placed them there in the 2nd and 3rd track to remind himself that the sliding panel should go in the 1st track?   ::)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Screen door slider panel - Closing the air gap
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
" I'm the third owner"

Do you suppose that a previous owner, placed them there in the 2nd and 3rd track to remind himself that the sliding panel should go in the 1st track?   ::)
Nice try, but nope...I don't think so.  One piece was in the middle track, which appears to only be a space between the stationary panel and the sliding panel.  The other one was in the same track as the sliding panel (ie. the inside-most track).