REMOVING THE SCREEN ON THE FANTASTIC FAN

 There are times that the screen on the Fantastic Fan on the ceiling of the Roadtrek needs to be removed.  The screen seems very fragile when  taking it off the fan base, but if you are careful and follow this simple process it is easy. 

Why would you need to do this?  When the fan lid is opened the support arm that opens the fan lid when you turn the knob pushes a switch that will let the fan turn on. If the lid is closed the fan will not turn on. The lid must be at least 1/3 open for the fan to turn on. What controls this is a small switch that when the support arm passes the switch turns that little switch on and the fan can then be turned on. There are times when that switch gets stuck and the fan will not go on. Rather than having to go up to the roof of the Roadtrek outside and work on the fan with the lid open - by taking the fan screen off - you have access to all that you need to get to when fixing this. 

 

 In the photo above you will see a bump out on the plastic frame of the fan screen. There is a small opening under the bump out that you can get a finger tip into. 

 1. Put a finger tip into the opening below the bump out and gently pull down. That part of the fan screen frame will come down a small amount.

2. Move your finger around between the screen and the fan case gently around the entire circle of the screen.  Don't pull it down - that can damage. Go all around the entire screen frame separating it from the fan base. The screen will then come off and into your hands. 

THE SCREEN IS NOW OFF!   😃

With it off you can work within the frame. Just push the blade around and out of your way to get to what you need to get to. 

Taking it off means you are going to have to put it back on!

 All you have to do is reverse what you did to take it off. 

1. Put the screen up into the hole  and at the bump out push that edge up into the opening so that the edge of the screen is on the base of the fan. 

2. Again gently - go around the edge of the screen frame and push it back on all around the edge. It will snap into place as you go. 

 THAT IS IT! 

 At one point the fan in our Roadtrek was not working. It would not turn on even when the lid was fully open. I figured that the fan would have to replaced or I would have to take it to an RV shop to get it fixed.  I read about the little switch and decided that I could see if I could fix it.  That was when I saw how to remove the screen without breaking it - and I was reading posts on forums about how easily they break.  Turns out the support arm was hard opening and was missing the little switch. I lubed the support arm joints with a silicone gel lubricant (Dielectric grease) from a tube -  put on a cotton swap to apply it and straightened the support arm to do its job with the switch. No need to go on the roof. No need to take it to be fixed or replaced - saving some money.   

 

 

  

THE BEST CABINET LATCH REPLACEMENT IN YOUR ROADTREK

 In December 2013 I wrote an article about the cabinet latches in the Chevy chassis Roadtrek models. 

https://roadtrek190popular.blogspot.com/2013/12/roadtreks-cabinet-latches.html

Since the original Roadtrek that built the Chevy chassis Roadtreks is long gone and the new owners no longer support the Chevy chassis Roadtreks the latches once available from them are no longer available from the "new" Roadtrek. The brown push bar latch is infamous for how easily it breaks. While there is a way to avoid as best as possible to keep it from breaking - when closing the cabinet door keep the brown push bar pushed all the way in until the cabinet is completely closed so that inside the cabinet the latch goes over the metal catch open - and once completely closed and you let go of the latch bar it is not pushed and broken by the metal catch - eventually that latch will break. What is available looks like these latches but are even less strong than these are. 

So when you need a new latch what should you get?  The best way to go is to get a latch with NO movable parts and nothing to break.  Does such a latch exist? Yes!

You want a latch that has strong enough hold that the cabinet door will only open when you want it to open and not when taking a sharp curve on an interstate or when something in the cabinet falls against the door and pushes it open. What you want is a 40 pound pull 90 degrees magnet latch. What does 40 pound pull mean? To pull the magnet off the metal catch it takes a physical pull of 40 pounds. There is nothing that is going to push the cabinet door open from inside - and no way that cabinet is opening by the pull of gravity going while driving. 

 Here is what such a latch looks like - in its parts -  

 

This 40 pound pull magnet latch is made of stainless steel.  Two screws go onto the 90 degree magnet bracket into the side of the cabinet door (before putting in any screws check to make sure they are not too long and will come through the wood of the cabinet to the outside of the cabinet. One screw goes around the metal disk into the back of the cabinet door frame to match up with the 90 degree magnet on the bracket. Again - make sure the screw is not too long. IF the screws are too long - stainless steel screws like these are available in all sizes in Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace Hardware.

Since you need a strong hold on the door to pull it open - get a decorative and functional door pull handle - again -  Lowes, Home Depot, Ace or any other local store that sells cabinet hardware. The handle must be put into the solid wood edge frame of the door. Do not put the pull handle on the thin wood on the center of the cabinet door - that wood is too thin and will break if you pull on it.

Now you have a cabinet door that is going to stay closed when it should be closed and likely will never have to replace that cabinet's latch again. This will work on cabinets, wardrobe doors, and the bathroom door. 

Where to get these - I have not seen these in the local big box home stores' hardware departments. They are available on Amazon, and other hardware supplies who will ship. The lowest price I have seen for these is $10,99 each. They do go up - for the same ones - to over $20 - for one. Google this - 

" 40 pound pull magnet 90 degree cabinet latch " 

and they will come up on a search. 

Woodcraft Stores - a tool and woodworking specialty stores has these in their stores and online for $10.99 each. 

Rockler woodworking supplies - another tool and woodworking specialty stores has these in their stores and online also for $10.99 each.

Some listings for these will also show lower pound pull magnet latches that look the same - 10 pound pull and 20 pound pull are NOT strong enough to keep the door closed. 

Walmart online shows the 40 pound pull magnet for almost $30 - way too much to pay for this.

Amazon - $17.00 and they claim "free shipping" but it is being shipped by a third party.