Clothes dryer collapsing.

[Des Jennings]

Hello. Attached are images of a clothes dryer that is meant to lock under its own weight using the slot mechanism shown in the images. A family member leant on the dryer heavily and it collapsed. On inspection, nothing appeared to be broken or bent but although the mauve plastic levers engage in the correct position at the end of the long slot, they do not stay in position and drop out thereby collapsing the dryer.

Any ideas please?

 

[Burnerman]

Looking at the first pic it would seem that the plastic engagement slot has been stressed and stretched, so the purple catch just pops out again?
John

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You could look at extending the holes a bit so that the rivet (for want of a better word) has more to grip into.

 

[Burnerman]

Yep, out with the rat tail file!
John

 

[foxhole]

In the second and third pics it clear the latch is not fully engaged .

 

[Des Jennings]

In the second and third pics it clear the latch is not fully engaged .

Those images are just showing how the mechanism works. For some reason the very moment you stop supporting the dryer it collapses, which wasn't the case before it was leant on heavily. The mechanism would engage in the elongated hole and stay there but not anymore.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes these things are just poorly made and cheap of course so made from flimsy materials and with not a lot of thought, extending the slot should work.

 

[mrrusty]

Get a wire coat hanger (or any other piece of stiff wire) and cut a straight bit. Bend an eye around the very top rail and a hook on the other to hook over the opposite rail. Forget the stupid clip. Same as ours.