Door Handle Seized

[ethanhudson]

I need some help from the forum. I have a Drolet Austral in its second season. I replaced the door gasket on Wednesday. The door handle performed flawlessly up until that point. Subsequent to the first burn after I replaced the gasket the handle has become almost inoperable. I'm not sure what could have caused this and am curious if anyone has had a similar experience.

For reference the handle assembly on my stove is threaded into the door, as such the handle can be adjusted out or in to accomodate new gasketing, or gasketing as it compresses. After the installation of the new gasketing I had to adjust the handle in 3 turns but the handle turned freely. Now it is almost like it is seized, it will turn, but it takes a rediculous amount of effort to do so.

Please help!

 

[begreen]

Remove the spring pin and unscrew the handle. Then coat the threads with graphite powder or high temp "never seez" lubricant and reassemble.

http://www.amazon.com/Panef-Corp-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B0016GZQ60/ref=pd_sim_auto_5
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Nickel-Special-Compounds-nickelanti/dp/B001HWA2WQ/ref=pd_cp_hi_3
http://www.amazon.com/CRC-SL35911-Anti-Seize-Lubricating-Compound/dp/B000M8RYUY/ref=pd_cp_hi_2
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81343-Anti-Seize-Lubricant-Tube/dp/B0002UEOLO/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

 

[Jags]

Yep. And then do the dollar bill test to make sure you are in proper adjustment. Sounds like you might be too tight with the new gasket.

 

[DanCorcoran]

I need some help from the forum. I have a Drolet Austral in its second season. I replaced the door gasket on Wednesday. The door handle performed flawlessly up until that point. Subsequent to the first burn after I replaced the gasket the handle has become almost inoperable. I'm not sure what could have caused this and am curious if anyone has had a similar experience.

For reference the handle assembly on my stove is threaded into the door, as such the handle can be adjusted out or in to accomodate new gasketing, or gasketing as it compresses. After the installation of the new gasketing I had to adjust the handle in 3 turns but the handle turned freely. Now it is almost like it is seized, it will turn, but it takes a rediculous amount of effort to do so.

Please help!

Put "Drolet Austral" in the title of the thread and you'll get input from other owners.

 

[ethanhudson]

Remove the spring pin and unscrew the handle. Then coat the threads with graphite powder or high temp "never seez" lubricant and reassemble.

http://www.amazon.com/Panef-Corp-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B0016GZQ60/ref=pd_sim_auto_5
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Nickel-Special-Compounds-nickelanti/dp/B001HWA2WQ/ref=pd_cp_hi_3
http://www.amazon.com/CRC-SL35911-Anti-Seize-Lubricating-Compound/dp/B000M8RYUY/ref=pd_cp_hi_2
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81343-Anti-Seize-Lubricant-Tube/dp/B0002UEOLO/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

Thanks for the helpful advice. I knew that I would need to lubricate somehow, just wasn't sure how best to accomplish that.

 

[ethanhudson]

Yep. And then do the dollar bill test to make sure you are in proper adjustment. Sounds like you might be too tight with the new gasket.

I had "dollar billed" it to ensure proper fit. I'm not sure if me turning the handle out to accomodate the new gasket led to contaminants from the previously exposed threads getting into the tapped part of the door or what, but thanks for the advice.