How do we fix our broken baggage doors?

[Scott & Heather]

I've searched high and low since we first bought our bus to try and find out how to fix our cable and spring assisted baggage door on our MC 9. Cable detached and just hanging loose and now the door has no assist. Heavy beast to lift and my wife can't do it. Heavy for me too. Has anyone fixed this before? Is there a way to add has struts to our doors? The open operation is a little complex since it sits flat open against the skin of the coach when opened. Any ideas would be appreciated. I can't possibly be the only one with a 9 with a broken baggage door cable.


Sent from iPhone via Tapatalk

[Chopper Scott]

http://users.cwnet.com/thall/fredhobe6.htm

Scroll down a ways. Fred has some tips.

[Busted Knuckle]

Scott yer definitely not the first or only one to have this problem.

It's been sooooo long since I worked on one that I'll have to go out an look @ the church's MCI (C3) on our lot & refresh my memory.

Going off memory my best guess is you  have a broken cable somewhere. (could be either end or even in the middle)

It's not hard to fix. (labor wise)
The main thing is location the correct cable/spring for a "MC9" the ones for 102's are longer and will not work properly without modifications.
  BK 

[lostagain]

I seem to remember a chapter on adjusting and servicing those cables in the maintenance manual of the D3.

JC

[Frank @ TX]

Hi Scott,
It seems like I have to fix one about every other year.
Luke at US coach is where I get the parts.
Method :
STRAP UP THE DOOR
Unscrew and remove the 2 spring keepers on the spring channel.
LOOK carefully how the cable is threaded thru the pulleys.
The cable that still has the spring attached is the one you pull it out by.
Remove the first (top) pulley so the "new" spring cable assembly can be pushed thru.
There was once I had to use an electricans fish to pull it thru.
Push in the new stuff , reattach the first pulley.
Thread one side cable thru the pulleys  the right way and attach to the door.
   Although there is a tool made for pulling and attaching the other end to the door I use a        claw hammer.
It takes some strenght to pull the other cable and attach it ( my wife and I can do it ). 
Move the door up and down a few times so the spring can get positioned.
LAST reinstall the spring keepers.
Go get a beer.

Frank

[Scott & Heather]

Frank, that's exactly what I needed. Thanks for the link on fred hobes site but I've scoured his site for at least a year now and almost memorized it and know that his baggage repair is a different style door and spring setup. Looks completely different than mine. Got it now. Just need to get the parts. Thanks again!


Sent from iPhone via Tapatalk

[Busted Knuckle]

Frank has "nailed" it right on.
Same way I've done it umpteen times when I was working on MCI's with one slight variation. (I never was smart enough to think of the "claw hammer.")
I used a large crescent wrench opened just big enough for the cable but too small for the end to slip through.
Also when having to work alone I'd use "welders" vise grips with the wide flat grips rapped with shop rags to "clamp the cable" after pulling it out so the vise grips couldn't go through the roller leaving slack on the cable to re-hook the end!
  BK 

[Scott & Heather]

Nice. Was thinking good clamps would work. My wife would be game to help me fix this too.


Sent from iPhone via Tapatalk

[Busted Knuckle]

Scott if you have the wifey help you with this please be sure to do the pulling and let her stick the pin in!
If you do it the other way it could pull her back through the roller and cause you unrepairable damage when she recovered!

(jest say'n IIRC your wife is purty small and that string is SUPER strong!)
  BK 

[Scott & Heather]

Ahahhaah. Ok. Laughing out loud and wife is looking at me funny ok. Will do. Ahahah.


Sent from iPhone via Tapatalk