Awesome!  You know, I was just talking to my 10 year old today, about not hanging on the door!  He was like why not mom!!!  This is exactly why!  I don't need any more sagging!  Wish I could just add a washer to improve my own sagginess!!!!!  LOL!  

Julianna
http://about.me/juliannaelligsen
1991 VW Vanagon Westfalia (Ophelia)
1990 VW Vanagon Westfalia (The Rastafalia)
1988 VW Vanagon Tintop (James)

> On May 21, 2015, at 8:23 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> You are a better man than me! I'd need that kid pressed into service to
> insert the washers.
> 
> For those who have no clue what we are talking about, the hinge is attached
> to the FRONT of the body mounting flange (behind it), and the access isn't
> great.  On a normal door, you would shim the bottom hinge out from the frame
> it's mounted to raise it.
> 
> Stuart
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
> Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 8:14 PM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Re: Front door hinge pin update
> 
> Ok, I'll try to explain...
> 
> It was the top hinge, I had the door open and supported on a workmate, the
> tool kind not the press ganged kid.
> 
> Bolts removed, hinge kinda falls forward and I could get a washer slipped in
> from the side and I used one of those magnets on telescoping stick to hold
> it in place while I pulled the hinge back to trap it. Then I managed to get
> that bolt started which held the washer.
> 
> I only got that bolt on one turn or so, that allowed the hinge to still lay
> forward enough so I could get the next washer in place and that bolt
> started.
> 
> I think the key was having the door well supported in its "natural"
> position, ie not drooping.
> 
> Alistair
> 
> 
> 
>>> On May 21, 2015, at 5:01 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Alistair, you need to go into some detail here. I cannot see any way
>> to get washers in there unless the door is removed, which is why I
>> thought slipping in shim stock might be easier, but even that is fiddly.
> How did you do it?
>> Magnets? Hire a 12 year old helper with tiny fingers (and have his/her
>> parent sign a waiver)?
>> 
>> (Snip) "....It is a bit fiddly to get the washers in there."
>> 
>> Stuart
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of Alistair Bell
>> Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 2:20 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Front door hinge pin update
>> 
>> A while back I posted how I detected some play in the, and I assumed
>> upper, hinge pin in driver side door. This allowed the door to drop
>> ever so slightly when opened.
>> 
>> The proper fix would be a new pin, but that's beyond me right now.
>> What I did manage to do was to insert two washers between the door
>> hinge and the body part that the hinge is bolted to. To raise the door
>> slightly I had to place them there, and that is on the forward surface
>> of the body part that gets the door hinge. The washers were a tad
>> under 1mm thick and was enough to bring the door back into alignment
>> with the body panels on the body. I tired shim stock first but it took
>> much more thickness than I expected and it ended up that washers were
>> the answer. It is a bit fiddly to get the washers in there.
>> 
>> After I got the door in line with the body I adjusted the striker
>> plate and all is well now. I don't feel that annoying drop when I open the
> door.
>> 
>> I still would like to fix it with a new pin, but I think that's going
>> to be a bit of an involved process with an over sized pin and reaming the
> hinge.
>> 
>> Alistair
>>