Door Gasket Replacement mdl 253.9284110

[loggerjim]

Replaced the door gasket in this Frigidaire-made Kenmore on Sunday. Soaked for about 30 minutes in hot water to get the wrinkles out, removed about 1/4 of the screws at a time during replacement, put a hair dryer to it to get it nice and soft again, applied a thin film of Vaseline, closed the door and taped shut for 2 days to set the seal. Customer called today and said it isn't set on the top corner opposite the hinges. Does this need to set awhile more to get the seal set, is the door sprung, or do I need to adjust the door or gasket. It seals great except for that one area.

Model 253.9284110

[whirlpooltech]

I always remove the door so I can lay it flat and work on it so I don't have to worry about the door getting twisted.
If I can I lay it on a table so the handle can lay over the edge or if I have to lay it on the floor I remove the door handle.

I have never used vaseline on a door gasket or had to tape one shut.
Sometimes I will need to take my heat gun and soften up the seal in some spots after I have the door back on with the new gasket in place.

[loggerjim]

Thanks for the reply. I'll put some more heat to it and try the Uncle Harry method to adjusting the door. I thought about taking the door off, but the freezer was full of food and the customer was less than open to the idea of taking said food out.

LJ

[whirlpooltech]

What is the Uncle Harry method?
Other then taking the food out of the door before I remove the door I never empty the freezer.
It's only a fifteen minute job to change the door gasket, food should be fine. If it's really hot where the freezer is located I may throw a heavy moving blanket over the door opening.

[loggerjim]

Never thought about the blanket, that's a great idea. The Uncle Harry method is to open the door, use your foot as the door stop, and pop the door in the direct you need it to go.......I'll try more heat first.

LJ

[whirlpooltech]

I use to adjust doors that way too, but got tired of the call backs and decided to just take the door off so I could lay it flat to start with.

Let us know how it goes.

[JWWebster]

Throw some cardboard over the opening so you can remove the door.

[tgoods]

Check to see if the cabinet is square.  Sight along the top of the door and see if it's parallel with the mullion.  An uneven floor or bad leveling can cause the cabinet to become out of square.  Adjust the level or shim it, you may have to leave it wobbly until it realigns itself.  Check for a bent lower door hinge. Try adding a nylon washer or two to the bottom hinge to raise the door up.
I was trained to take the door off to change the gasket but now I think it's a huge waste of time.  I just snug down a few of the screws, adjust the door and then tighten all the screws.  Door gaskets take me about 20 minutes to install and I never have any callbacks.