Dovetails on door jamb and b post

[gs.davies]

I’ve got to fit the dovetail to my doors and got a few questions.

My doors are new and have no drillings for the plastic bit so how do I line this up? What is the purpose of them and how are they to be adjusted? Should there be free movement when the door is shut? Should they contact the metal part on the b post?

I’m a bit flummoxed by these thing!

[AndyPen]

They have a square C shaped mounting bar that is threaded (32), and the plastic / nylon piece is screwed to that with a mounting plate to take the recessed screws (30) through oversized holes in the door - so they can be adjusted to sit in the B post receiver. This can also be adjusted slightly. As a rule of thumb I've always lined them up as best as I am able, then nip them up gently so that when I close the door they can move to the correct position. Others may have better ideas on this.

In your case I'd use light tack double sided to position them temporarily, then when you are happy drill oversize holes to allow for adjustment.

Take a look at the Somerford page at https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/external-hinge-doors

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 23.14.08.jpg

[gs.davies]

Thanks Andy, I have the c clips for the inside of the door and realise that these also locate the drain tubes. When you say ‘correct’ position though, what is it? Should there be contact? No contact? What are they actually for? All I can think is that they’re there for the when the inevitable door drop happens to try to keep sliding the door into the right place…

[AndyPen]

Thanks Andy, I have the c clips for the inside of the door and realise that these also locate the drain tubes. When you say ‘correct’ position though, what is it? Should there be contact? No contact? What are they actually for? All I can think is that they’re there for the when the inevitable door drop happens to try to keep sliding the door into the right place…

I think that is simply it, they take the weight when the door is closed, so may even be helpful in a crash I guess? They should slide into the receiver so when the door is closed, they only just touch the lower edge. Or at least that is the way I have always done it.

I recently took a pair off my wife's car and the nylon shows distinct wear at the bottom edge... and her doors drop slightly these days.

[Polarsilver]

The 2x small screws that fit the taper part to the B Post are UNC Thread size .. these 10/64 UNC screws are available from MS or Somerford.