Monty House
TVWBB Pro
First time poster here.
Have a newer model (2010) 18.5" WSM. I noticed the door handle would not consistently turn the latch. So, I removed it to investigate. What a kludgy design.
As some of you undoubtedly know, the latch is held on by a bolt that threads into a gold-colored "sleeve" that is press-fit into an opening in the stem of the plastic handle. The handle's stem goes through an opening in the door itself; its stem is notched in order to mate to a notched opening in the latch....so, when you turn the handle, the latch turns. Well, not so much. Especially after you get some play in this Rube Goldberg setup of multiple washers. There's simply too much play that evolves over time, and the stem's notch easily falls out of the notched opening in the latch. Therefore, latch doesn't turn when the handle turns.
My problem was I kept trying to take out the bolt that holds the latch, but it wouldn't come out. Why? Because, while the bolt was being turned counter-clockwise, so was the sleeve within the handle's stem. I had to physically pull the handle off (popping the sleeve out of the stem). Then, I held the sleeve fixed with vise grips while removing the bolt.
During reassembly, I added two flat washers to the bolt in order to tighten up Mr. Goldberg and allow the notched opening in the latch to stay mated to the notch in the handle's stem.
I love my WSM, but this door assembly is not one of Weber's shining moments.
Have a newer model (2010) 18.5" WSM. I noticed the door handle would not consistently turn the latch. So, I removed it to investigate. What a kludgy design.
As some of you undoubtedly know, the latch is held on by a bolt that threads into a gold-colored "sleeve" that is press-fit into an opening in the stem of the plastic handle. The handle's stem goes through an opening in the door itself; its stem is notched in order to mate to a notched opening in the latch....so, when you turn the handle, the latch turns. Well, not so much. Especially after you get some play in this Rube Goldberg setup of multiple washers. There's simply too much play that evolves over time, and the stem's notch easily falls out of the notched opening in the latch. Therefore, latch doesn't turn when the handle turns.
My problem was I kept trying to take out the bolt that holds the latch, but it wouldn't come out. Why? Because, while the bolt was being turned counter-clockwise, so was the sleeve within the handle's stem. I had to physically pull the handle off (popping the sleeve out of the stem). Then, I held the sleeve fixed with vise grips while removing the bolt.
During reassembly, I added two flat washers to the bolt in order to tighten up Mr. Goldberg and allow the notched opening in the latch to stay mated to the notch in the handle's stem.
I love my WSM, but this door assembly is not one of Weber's shining moments.