Hi, The door catch on my SMEG FME24X microwave broke and I have ordered a replacement part. Does anyone have any experience of replacing these? I am keen to avoid an engineer call out for just a little piece of plastic. I am hoping that there is a 'technique' to removing the old catch and fitting the new one that does not involve removing the entire door and disassembling it. Cheers. John
If you're talking about a hook-like device that sticks out of the door and goes into a hole in the chassis of the microwave (or any other internal part of the door for that matter) you'll have to take the door apart. Brands and models vary, but some use screws which are obvious, and others use hidden hooks similar to the ones in the drawing I've added to this post. If you can post or e-mail photos of the area where the part goes, we may be able to translate our experience with other brands to yours.
Maybe your "hooks" are stationary and you need to disassemble the door panels.
Maybe the "hooks" don't move - maybe instead the latches which they engage are the parts that move? I've seen that before.
The extra space above the top of each hook may be there so it (or the choke cover) can lift up and out once the door is apart.
Unfortunately, the FixYa site reduces the size of the photos we upload.
Perhaps you can post them to Web space somewhere and give me the URL?
Or perhaps the owner of this site will allow me to invite you to send the photos directly to my e-mail at [email protected]?
If I see the photos in larger form, maybe I can tell more.
As the pictures progress, they get more helpful. Thanks for posting them.
Picture number 7 just about convinces me that the drawing I posted on disassembly is applicable.
To do this job, I've used a couple of putty knives (or similar objects).
Once I had unlocked each tab, I would insert a small piece of folded cardboard (such as from a match book) to block the tab open.
Then I would progress around the choke cover unlocking tabs and inserting pieces of match book.
Of course, if you happen to have a large number of putty knives in your possession... *grin*
On the US models I've worked on, the choke cover was brittle, and if it breaks, it will not effectively block microwaves.
So go slowly!
More details:
I preferred not removing the door itself since the alignment is so critical.
I would remove the turntable (if equipped) and put the oven on its side on a cushioned table.
You want the side with the door hinge to be against the table.
Then carefully open the door until it is resting on and essentially in parallel with the table.
That way the choke cover is flat and facing up.
Makes it easier.
I have the same problem same microwave fme24x. Got the choke off but not the inner door off which seams to be held on at 4 points top and bottom and 3 points on each side in a outer plastic frame. Help.
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Hi,
Thanks for your suggestion. Having looked again at the door this evening I think that you may be right. There are no screws to undo, but the plastic catch that has broken, and another further upo the door, look as though they can be moved vertically by about 1cm. I tried to move them up but they would not move. I have added a few pics to try to show this more clearly.
Any further thoughts would be appreciated.
Another picture...
Hi,
Thanks for your comments so far. I have put up some of the original resolution pics here:
http://www.hoddinott.org.uk/gallery/Micr...
Thanks again.
Fantastic!
The microwave is a built-in unit, but is removeable, so I will give this a go at the weekend and report back.
Many thanks for your help on this. I really appreciate it.
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