How to fix broken fridge door seal? FAQ

Have you tried repairclinic.com ? They've got access to a hefty supply chain.

Good luck

On 22 Sep 2025, danny burstein snipped-for-privacy@panix.com wrote in alt.home.repair:

Well, I just checked there. The part I want is no longer available from them. I will continue to search.

I can get the entire door gasket assembly... for $400 +. Considering that it's only a half-inch piece of plastic that's broken off and the rest works fine, and that the part I want would only cost $30 - $50 if available... I'd rather not resort to that, especially for a 17-year- old appliance that already has a couple (minor) issues.

I still hope to get some fix-it ideas from the brain trust here.

The parts have not vanished from the earth - they never got here. That's the biggest beef I've had with LG, going back to the days of GoldStar monitors. (LG stands for Lucky Goldstar). Never HAVE been able to get parts for them, at least in North America. Might be better in Korea. They were decent quality for the price back then, but if ANYTHING failed, the bin was the only cure.

Break out the mini cnc mill and start writing G-Code

Not anymore. Wiki doesn;t give a firm timeline but kind of confirms they pulled a "3M" or "KFC" decades ago

I can't answer that specifically, but I've had good luck with JB Weld. I glued a turn lever stalk back on with it and it held indefinitely.

Check their website or call to find out the proper type of epoxy.

Epoxy is best but also depends on the plastic. PE is hard to stick to. I have over wrapped epoxy with carbon making items even stronger than the original. Do not know if there is room to do it here. Fiber glass or even window screen with epoxy would work too.

Blame Reagan. Before his first term, companies had warehouses full of spare parts. The GOP updated the tax code with a provision that taxed the inventory every year. So all the companies dumped their spare parts to avoid the tax - this meant that customers would need to purchase replacements, rather than fix broken appliances, which made the manufacturers happy (while screwing the customers).

Typical GOP bullshit.

On 22 Sep 2025, Clare Snyder snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca> wrote in alt.home.repair:

During my aborted attempt the other day to install the new part, before I discovered it was defective, I remembered that several years ago I made this same repair on the OTHER door. This is obviously a design weakness on LG/Kenmore's part. Anyway, at that time, the retainer/clip was available for the righthand door. Now, in my search, I find the parts for the right door are still available! But the left door, nope. Arrrgh.

On 23 Sep 2025, Frank snipped-for-privacy@is.invalid wrote in alt.home.repair:

I don't know my plastics and I'm aware that some glues work better for some types than others. This part seems to be kind a "soft-sh" but rigid plastic, maybe like nylon or teflon, not very brittle like polystyrene (? - plastic utensils, CD jewel cases, etc.)

I once made a repair on the very fridge - the deli tray was cracked and I used epoxy, reinforced with mesh drywall tape, to repair it. It has held up very well, though it's not subjected to stress like this repair would be. This part would be subjected to lateral stress, which is why the original sheared off over time.

This shows the break. The top bit of the retainer is completely disconnected. Normally there is a screw driving down through that bit, through the latch, and back into the lower part of the retainer. The latch is held stationary but both the screw and a small tongue that fits into a groove in the retainer.

can you put a "band" or "strap" around it to hold it together? Kinda like using a zip tie, but brass or aluminum, with a small bolt to hold it on??

kight try JB Weld Plastic Mender epoxy, or urethane bumper repair (I've used the Dynatrin brand successfully for a LOT of similar repairs, Sticks like snot to anything but Polyethelene (which NOTHING sticks to)

Tough to tell. I just see the one break. Epoxy and wrap around with tape might fix it. Sheer strength is hard to over come as it is much weaker than tensile or compressive strength.

Plastic hard to identify. Could be PE, nylon or Delrin.

On 23 Sep 2025, Clare Snyder snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca> wrote in alt.home.repair:

That's a very good idea! Even an actual zip tie + glue might do it, but some rust-resistant metal material would be better.

A few months ago a metal shower curtain hook snapped in two and I fixed it in a similar way, using a bit of paper clip, fiberglass drywall mesh tape, and epoxy. It looks ugly, but who cares - it's unlikely to ever break again and it saved me the $20 cost of a new set of hooks!

On 24 Sep 2025, Frank <"frank "@frank.net> wrote in alt.home.repair:

From the descriptions I find I suspect it's Delrin/acetal. Apparently that stuff is hard to glue. One suggested glue is called "BONDiT B-

Looking for "glue for Delrin plastic" on Amazon gave a lot of much cheaper hits.

I would try a 2 part fast setting epoxy myself. Maybe wetting the part down and wrapping with some Kevlar fiber I have or graphite cloth wetting that down if it would fit.

drill and tap and throw in a long set-screw handles the shear problem - and helps the tensile as well

On 25 Sep 2025, Clare Snyder snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca> wrote in alt.home.repair:

This I think will part of the solution. Now I need to find a screw that's the same diameter and thread as the original short one but is 4-

Good thing the fridge can still be used in this broken condition while I/we figure it out.

Unless the "screw" requires a Head, might be easier to find "threaded rod", and cut it to length

Something like this: