Yes, he makes it look easy. Trust me, it simply is not easy. I have recently (yesterday) done this very replacement. I lucked upon a method that actually made it possible to get the alluded-to 'arrow head' shaped part pressed into the 'rail/groove/place' it is intended for. The answer is a 4 inch diameter, 5/8 to 3/4 inch thick wooden doughnut with rounded-over SMOOTH edges, it helps immensely to have a 1-1/2 inch hole in the middle of the doughnut; it helps one to hold it and to roll it along the door rail, AND a 24 oz. hammer. Procedure: after soaking gasket in hot water (you need a bath tub) for 4-6 hours (3 refreshes of hot water), you press one corner of the new gasket into an appropriate rail corner, using some mechanical aid-I used a quick release clamp. Now starting at that spot, you move along the gasket in one(1) inch steps holding the doughnut perpendicular to the gasket, with the door held steady behind by a girl friend/buddy, and at each interval, ensuring/hoping the arrowhead part stays aligned with the rail, you smack the doughnut with an 8-10 inch back swing(beware the claws!). A serious smack, but not brutal! Now the round doughnut shape manifests its merits: its shape dissipates the hammer blow impact, thus preventing its own destruction, and secondly, it starts/encourages the 'arrow-headed' seam/track/part into the rail on either side of the closest point of contact/collision. and so you go around the door. We found it necessary to reheat the gasket gently but thoroughly at the bottom corners and across the bottom, due to the cold air flowing from the inside of the fridge. GENTLE heat, 10 minutes, and proceed! BUT, why so easy for this guy?? Possible answers: a. he pounded a log splitting wedge the whole length of the rail, thus widening the rail's gap (DO NOT do this to your door!); b. the gasket he used is very old and has been installed then torn out many times, destroying any resistance in the material; c. a AND b above!; d. he is a necromancer/Houdini reincarnate; e. photographic trickery! f. a thru e, above [yeah, it figures]. If i can figure how in next few minutes, will include picture of my doughnut used. OOPS, this page won't let me paste. send questions if you have any.
Thanks! I've struggled to get half the gasket on this evening and used a bunch of cuss words I don't even remember learning.... they quite possibly originated with 18th century pirates. I appreciate the advice, but I have no idea where to find a 4 inch diameter "wooden donut", is that something I can ask for at the hardware store?
Video for Margo 🙋🇫🇷
Yes, he makes it look easy. Trust me, it simply is not easy. I have recently (yesterday) done this very replacement. I lucked upon a method that actually made it possible to get the alluded-to 'arrow head' shaped part pressed into the 'rail/groove/place' it is intended for. The answer is a 4 inch diameter, 5/8 to 3/4 inch thick wooden doughnut with rounded-over SMOOTH edges, it helps immensely to have a 1-1/2 inch hole in the middle of the doughnut; it helps one to hold it and to roll it along the door rail, AND a 24 oz. hammer. Procedure: after soaking gasket in hot water (you need a bath tub) for 4-6 hours (3 refreshes of hot water), you press one corner of the new gasket into an appropriate rail corner, using some mechanical aid-I used a quick release clamp. Now starting at that spot, you move along the gasket in one(1) inch steps holding the doughnut perpendicular to the gasket, with the door held steady behind by a girl friend/buddy, and at each interval, ensuring/hoping the arrowhead part stays aligned with the rail, you smack the doughnut with an 8-10 inch back swing(beware the claws!). A serious smack, but not brutal! Now the round doughnut shape manifests its merits: its shape dissipates the hammer blow impact, thus preventing its own destruction, and secondly, it starts/encourages the 'arrow-headed' seam/track/part into the rail on either side of the closest point of contact/collision. and so you go around the door. We found it necessary to reheat the gasket gently but thoroughly at the bottom corners and across the bottom, due to the cold air flowing from the inside of the fridge. GENTLE heat, 10 minutes, and proceed! BUT, why so easy for this guy??
Possible answers:
a. he pounded a log splitting wedge the whole length of the rail, thus widening the rail's gap (DO NOT do this to your door!);
b. the gasket he used is very old and has been installed then torn out many times, destroying any resistance in the material;
c. a AND b above!;
d. he is a necromancer/Houdini reincarnate;
e. photographic trickery!
f. a thru e, above [yeah, it figures].
If i can figure how in next few minutes, will include picture of my doughnut used. OOPS, this page won't let me paste. send questions if you have any.
Thanks! I've struggled to get half the gasket on this evening and used a bunch of cuss words I don't even remember learning.... they quite possibly originated with 18th century pirates. I appreciate the advice, but I have no idea where to find a 4 inch diameter "wooden donut", is that something I can ask for at the hardware store?
How do you keep the seal from fighting you the whole way through?
I posted a solution today, perhaps it helps.
good job !do you need welding corner machine for refrigerator door gasket
I posted a solution today, perhaps it helps.