Ttalk Tech
Turnbuckle Fix for TD Door
(Click on images for enlargement)
The June, 1989 issue of the NEMGTR's
journal, The Sacred Octagon (TSO), contains a Technical Tip by G.G.Werbizky,
member #8635, describing a method for improving the fit of T Series doors
through the use of a turnbuckle. The intent is to bring the lower front
edge of the door closer in to the tub. This is accomplished by the clever
application of some laws of physics through some cables, eyebolts and a
turnbuckle. TSO pages are copyrighted so I'll have to suggest that you find
a copy of the 6/89 issue to read the entire article.
My TD had been suffering from the malady that this technique purports to
handle. The need to do something about it became especially obvious in
November '03 when my wife came along for a club trip to Martha's Vineyard on
Cape Cod. Fortunately, it was a moderately warm day for November in
Massachusetts. But, even so, the draft coming in from the lower front edge
of the door was not very comfortable. As soon as the trip was over I took
the door panel off and applied 'the fix'. Recently, six months to the day
after I put it in, I took it out and was amazed at how well it worked. I
have been periodically tightening the turnbuckle every few weeks.
Here are some images showing 'the fix' while it was installed. I wish that
I had taken some 'before' shots to show the gap at the lower front edge of
the door so that I could show the effect of the fix. What I've shown here
are some images taken while removing the cable setup. What I chose to do
was to reinstall the door's Diagonal Cross Brace before I removed the
cables. One of the images shows the change in location of the screw holes
in the lower end of the brace as a result of the new shape.
Here's an image of the inside of the door showing the cable system after six
months' tightening. You can see the bare wood where the Diagonal Cross
Brace would normally be.
This
close up shows the effect of the fix in the new location of the mounting
holes at the bottom of the Cross Brace.
This shows the Diagonal Cross Brace installed before
removing the cables
Here's the inside of the door with the
Diagonal Cross Brace back in position.