Thanks Vander for your comments. To be sure, the factory is putting the consumer first and always has. The MagnuM and Country Flame line has always been a overbuilt product and the factory takes a shortened profit margin as a result. That is what I was getting at when I was talking about the percentages. In factory surveys we gather information to see just what needs to be changed, added, etc. We obsorb over $75.00 per unit every year in additional costs and that is not passed onto the consumer because we cannot change prices fast enough to keep up with the increases.

The only point that i wanted to make is that if one out a thousand consumers are what we are seeing on a part having problems should we be having 999 consumers pay for the one that is? That is the question that I am throwing out there to get feedback. Trust me, there is no manufacturer in the world that can obsorb every increase and eventually that cost has to be passed on.

We all know that product parts are not increasing in quality but is decreasing. Unfortunately this is a fact of life and we all have to work with it. All of this info is passed onto the engineering dept. and they will consider everything so thanks again for the input and very constructive comments.

You are right olf20 about the temp on the thread loc. The latch area on a Countryside will not get to the 300 deg.F though and we have seen the thread loc hold up. Because the factory replacement percentage is below .5% of latches installed, it does not seem prudent to add another 5-10 dollars onto the consumers price to have a beafier handle. What do you guys think?

This is an interesting topic. My own Countryside modle 3500L unit has been going with the same door latch for about 10 years and has not stripped. The secret is in making sure that when the door gasket starts to flatten that you do not adjust the door latch to pull tight against the steel. That will strip the threads. The door has to have a cushion on the door gasket and when attaching the door, make sure that no metal binds on the door frame.

Also when putting on a new door latch, put a little locktite on the threads and normally they do not strip unless the threads are loose. You can purchase the factory door latch on our ECOM store at www.magnumheat.com to save time and money.

Duane, head of factory technical center