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Kenmore Elite fridge french doors do not open wide enough

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

We bought this fridge new from Sears Outlet and originally installed it in a small condo with a wall that prevented opening the right side door all the way. Now that we are in a larger home it should open fully but still does not. I cannot remove the vegetable trays for cleaning or open the bottom tray completely. The left door has a doorstop adjustment on the bottom and opens fully. The right door does not, it's a completely different hinge and I cannot find anything online showing how to make that right side door open wider. The photo points to the bump that keeps the door from going further. We are about to just cut that off with a grinder, just makes no sense that the door can't be adjusted. Any ideas? Model 795.70333.410

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Comments (13)

Sammy
3 years ago
Are the trays actually hitting something, preventing them from opening? Can you post pictures?
Mary Goodman
Original Author
3 years ago
Yes the trays hit the inside of the right door.
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Are you still working on this? I have questions about more than the fridge. This is an awkward layout and there is enough space there that I think you must have better options. Have you looked at moving the dining room entry to the right? Shifting an opening is not a huge ordeal, even if that is a load bearing wall (not sure if it is but someone mentioned the possibility in an earlier post). I'll try to post something mocked up best my crude skills allow here. As I have it, I think that would be a 36" fridge and there is a pinch point. I'm not sure of the depth there, but with a counter depth, an 18" DW or some other tweaks with proper measurements, I think you could improve the function of the space. On the dining room side, any crown would remain or be replaced above the opening and a good contractor should be able to adjust the baseboards. Keep working the plan until you get the kinks out. I lived with two horrible kitchens (we're talking 2 burners and they aren't flat or heat that well, dying ovens, DW tiled in and praying it wouldn't die -- even though it was so loud I hated to run it) for ten years between the two of them until I was able to do my kitchen. I learned a lot along the way and had time to explore outside the box ideas, come back and go off in different directions. All that exploration really paid off in the end, and I plan to use it long enough to make up for any delays. Anyway, here's one rough idea in case you hadn't though of it.
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Sammy
3 years ago
Could it be that you have to remove the door bins in order to remove the produce drawer?
Mary Goodman
Original Author
3 years ago
I don't think so because the side panel there where its touching, next to the door bins doesn't come off, or doesn't appear to be intended to come off anyway.
wdccruise
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
There are instructions on page 26 of the instruction manual for removing the so-called "humidity controlled crisper" whose diagram looks rather like the last photo you posted.
weedmeister
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
wdc: the problem is that the door won't swing far enough to allow the drawers to fully open.

I can't tell from your picture, it looks upside down and backwards.

Someone may have (re)installed the door incorrectly. It should swing a full 180*, or nearly so.
wdccruise
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@weedmeister: In the instruction manual drawing it appears that there are two drawers and that only the left-hand drawer has been pulled out. I can't tell what's going on from the photo above because the left-hand side is cut off.
Mary Goodman
Original Author
3 years ago
sorry, I only photographed the right side drawer but yes there are two and the left side comes out just fine because the left door opens the full 180 degrees. I do agree that it seems like the right side door was installed incorrectly. Its definitely not functioning correctly and why would they design something that prevents easy removal of the crisper drawers. Thanks for your help.
PRO
American Heritage Pool Corporation
3 years ago
there is a little tit on the exterior of the hinge that acts as a stopper. the right door is not adjustable. poor design element.
we used a stainless steel grinder head on a dremmel to cut ours off in order to fully open the door. it was driving me crazy
HU-262223650
last year
It took me a while, but was able to figure it out. You take out all the glass shelves and the top glass to the crisper and the left side draw and the large draw under neath the two draws. Once everything is out you can left the entire secton up and out wth the draw still in. Move up from the left hand side and move the entire piece out. The book was no help.
HU-245579751
last year
I have the same problem. I do not want to take my whole refrigerator apart just pull the right vegetable bin out. Potato "juice" leaked under the glass in the bin and there is no way to clean the bin without me taking it out. Sears annual service dept. is of no help
nancy
last year
After much searching, I think I found out how to do it. You have to empty and remove the whole right "grab-n-go "case off of the right door. Once you do that then the vegetable drawer should come out.
Ed Mauney
last year
Nancy has the right way! We just unloaded all jars and such from the ”grab-n-go attachment and then lifted it from the door. Tabs slide up out of their notches. Also we found how to thoroughly clean the draws by taking out 2 short phillips head screws and remove the white base. Slide the attachment back on the door. May take a little pressure to push back into the notches. Remember how you removed the shelves and put back into their place. Enjoy a clean refrigerator!

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