Changing the opening side of the refrigerator door is one of the most popular operations when moving or remodeling a kitchen space. The owner is often faced with a situation where the usual arrangement of equipment interferes with ergonomics, and rearranging the door becomes the only way out for comfortable use of the unit. Fortunately, the design of most models of the Belarusian manufacturer Atlant provides for this possibility, and technically this process does not require calling a specialist.
Two-chamber models, be it the classic series MXM or more modern options with the system No Frosthave a unified fastening scheme. However, before starting work, it is necessary to clearly understand that any carelessness can damage sealing rubber or disrupt the geometry of the hitch. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to independently change the opening side without losing warranty and functionality.
It is important to understand that although the procedure seems simple, it requires attention to detail and the presence of a minimum set of tools. Incorrect assembly can lead to a loose fit of the flap, which will ultimately affect the service life of the compressor. Let's get ready for work to avoid common mistakes and do everything efficiently the first time. energy consumption and compressor service life. Let's get ready to work to avoid common mistakes and get everything done right the first time.
Preparation of tools and workspace
Before you begin dismantling the fittings, you need to organize a comfortable workplace. The refrigerator Atlant is a large and heavy unit, so access to it must be free from all sides. You will need to move the equipment away from the wall at least a meter in order to be able to walk around the body and not rest the door against the wall when removing it. Make sure that the floor is flat, clean and covered with soft material, such as cardboard or thick fabric, so as not to scratch the coating if parts accidentally fall.
As for the tools, for most models of two-chamber refrigerators Atlant (series 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68) a standard set is required. The main tool will be hex key or a screwdriver with an appropriate blade, since this is the type of fastener used by the manufacturer for hinges. You may also need a 10 mm wrench and a flat-head screwdriver to remove decorative plugs.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (Phillips and flathead) or a screwdriver with the appropriate bits.
- 📐 Hex key (usually 4 mm or 5 mm, depending on the year of manufacture).
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect hands from sharp metal edges.
- 🧼 Clean rags and glass cleaner to care for fittings.
It wouldn’t hurt to enlist the help of a second person, especially if you plan to remove both doors at the same time or if the refrigerator model is a wide-format one. One person will hold the heavy sash while the second unscrews attaching the hinges. This will eliminate the risk of the door falling, damaging the floor, or causing injury. If there is no assistant, be sure to prepare a stable stand for the door being removed.
☑️ Preparing to move the door
Removing the upper door of the refrigerator compartment
The process always starts from the top of the unit. First, you need to empty the door of its contents and remove all removable shelves to reduce the weight of the structure. Next, remove the decorative plugs that cover the fastening elements of the upper hinge. They are usually made of plastic and are simply pryed off with a knife or flat-head screwdriver. Be careful not to break the plug latches, as they may be needed when reassembling on the other side.
After freeing access to the fasteners, you need to loosen the top hinge screws, but do not remove them completely yet. This is necessary in order to fix the position of the hinge before removal. Then the bolt securing the hinge itself to the refrigerator body is unscrewed. At this moment, be sure to hold the door with your other hand or ask an assistant, as it may move suddenly. Having removed the upper hinge, carefully lift the door and remove it from the lower support sleeve.
⚠️ Attention: When removing the door, ensure its integrity. sealing rubber. Do not allow it to be sharply bent or pinched in the hinge mechanism, as this will lead to loss of seal of the chamber.
Now attention turns to the lower part of the upper door. There is an intermediate loop there, which also requires dismantling. Unscrew its fastenings and remove it together with the bushings. If your model Atlant provides for rearranging the handle, it must also be removed at this stage. Usually the handle is attached with screws from the inside or held on with latches. Inspect holes at the end of the door - on the opposite side they may be closed with decorative plugs that need to be removed and moved to the free space.
Nuances of removing handles
If the handle is hidden (mortise), it can be fastened with screws that are accessible only after removing the decorative trim. In some models, the handle is simply inserted into the groove and secured with a stopper. Be careful with plastic elements - they become brittle in the cold.
Removing the bottom door of the freezer
After the top door has been removed and put in a safe place, move on to the bottom of the refrigerator. The algorithm of actions here is similar, but there are some peculiarities associated with the design of the freezer. First, remove all drawers and shelves from the freezer. Then remove the top hinge of the bottom door (which is now the middle hinge of the entire refrigerator). This element is often combined with the axle or bushing on which the bottom door rests.
After unscrewing the middle hinge fasteners, carefully remove the freezer door. It may be heavier than the top one due to the thicker insulation layer and the design of the drawers. Place it face up on the prepared surface to avoid scratching the façade. Now you need to remove the lower support hinge from the refrigerator body. Unscrew the bolts holding it in place and remove the axle. Inspect the seats: if the openings on the new side of the opening are closed with plugs, remove them and install them in the vacant spaces on the current side.
- ❄️ Remove all drawers and guides from the freezer before dismantling.
- 🔩 Maintain the order of the screws: the fastening of the upper and lower hinges may differ in length.
- 🛑 Do not leave the refrigerator open for more than 10-15 minutes to avoid defrosting the evaporator.
It is important to check the condition of seal the bottom door. If it has cracks or has lost its elasticity, the moment of repositioning is the ideal time to replace it. Also inspect the door itself for any distortions. If the geometry is broken, a new hinge may not correct the situation, and the sash itself will need to be adjusted or replaced. Make sure that all holes fasteners on the new side are free from the factory plugs.
Rearranging the fittings and hinges to the new side
When all the doors are removed and the old fasteners are dismantled, the stage of preparation for installation on the new side begins. Refrigerators Atlant are often supplied with a set of spare plugs and, in some models, additional fittings. If the door handle on your model is asymmetrical, it will need to be rearranged. To do this, unscrew the fasteners on one side and screw the handle onto the opposite end using the holes provided by the factory. If the holes are closed, use plugs on the reverse side.
Now let's do the loops. The top hinge, which was removed first, is usually universal or has symmetrical holes. If the design is asymmetrical, you may need to reverse the hinge or use the included mirror piece (if available for your series). The same goes for the middle and lower support bushings. It is important to orient the pins and axles correctly: they must face up in order to install the door on them. Lubricate the rubbing parts of the hinges with a small amount graphite grease or lithol to avoid squeaking in the future.
| Element | Action | Feature for Atlant |
|---|---|---|
| Upper hinge | Repositioning to a new side | Often has offset holes, requires precise orientation |
| Middle hinge | Axle dismantling and installation mirror | May require turning 180 degrees |
| Lower support | Transfer to the opposite corner | The bushing must be strictly vertical |
| Handle doors | Transfer to another end | Check the length of the screws, they may differ |
Don't forget about the decorative plugs. All vacated holes on the old opening side must be closed to maintain an aesthetic appearance and protect the inside of the case from dust and moisture. Usually the plugs are simply inserted with your finger until they click. If the kit did not have enough of them, you can use the plugs from the old side, if their design allows it. Make sure that all fasteners tightened, but not overtightened, so as not to strip the threads in the plastic inserts of the case.
Installation of doors and final assembly
Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling, but taking into account the new opening side. We start with the bottom door of the freezer. Reinstall the lower support sleeve in its new location, making sure it is vertical. Carefully slide the door onto the spindle, holding it upright. Ask an assistant to secure the structure. Now install the middle hinge, aligning the holes in the body and in the door itself. Insert the bolts and tighten them, but do not tighten them completely yet - this will allow adjustment.
Next we move on to the upper door of the refrigerator compartment. Install the intermediate part of the hinge (if your model has one) or immediately prepare the upper hinge for installation. Place the top door onto the middle hinge pin. Align the gaps between the doors and the body. Now you can install the top hinge into the refrigerator body. Tighten all bolts completely. Check that the doors close tightly, effortlessly, and that they fit around the entire perimeter. seal adhered around the entire perimeter.
⚠️ Attention: When installing the doors, keep an eye on the control cable (if your model has one Atlant with a display). It can pass inside the loop. Make sure that the wire is not twisted or pinched by metal, otherwise the display will stop working.
After mechanical installation of all elements, check the operation of the lock (if provided) and the closers. The door should close on its own when opened at an angle of about 30-45 degrees. If the door slams or, conversely, does not reach the end, it will be required position adjustment. Loosen the hinges a little and move the door left and right or up and down to achieve the ideal gap. Then tighten the bolts completely. Install all shelves, drawers and contents back.
Position adjustment and elimination of distortions
Even with careful assembly, a situation may arise when the door is skewed or does not fit tightly. This is normal and requires slight correction. If the upper corner of the door moves away from the body, and the lower one is pressed too tightly (or vice versa), it is necessary to loosen the fastenings of the middle hinge and slightly move the door in the desired direction. For precise adjustment, you can use adjusting screws, if they are provided by the design, or simply place thin washers under one side of the hinge.
If the door is skewed diagonally (one upper corner is further from the body than the other), the problem may be an uneven floor or that the legs of the refrigerator are unevenly unscrewed. Use a spirit level to check that the frame is level. Tighten the front adjustable legs of the refrigerator so that the body is stable and the doors open smoothly. Often, a slight tilt of the body back (about 2 degrees) helps the door close on its own under the influence of gravity.
- 📏 Check the gap between the door and the body around the entire perimeter - it should be uniform (2-3 mm).
- 🌡️ Let the refrigerator stand for 2-3 hours before turning it on if you have kept it in for a long time horizontal position.
- 🔊 Creaking when opening is eliminated by lubricating the rubbing parts of the hinge, but not with oil, but with thick grease.
It is also important to check the operation tightness. Do a test with a sheet of paper: clamp the sheet with a door around the perimeter. It should pull out with noticeable force. If the sheet falls out freely or is pulled out too easily, it means that the seal does not fit in this place. Try heating this area with a hairdryer (carefully!) and pressing so that the rubber straightens. If this does not help, you may need to replace the seal.
Frequent errors and operating tips
In the process of self-repair, users often make mistakes that can negate all efforts. The most common of them is the loss or confusion of fasteners. The screws from the top and bottom hinges may have different lengths and threads. If you screw a long screw into a short hole, you can damage the plastic or even pierce the inside of the refrigerator, which will lead to a freon leak and costly repairs. Always sort the fasteners as you dismantle them.
Another mistake is ignoring the condition of the seal. When rearranging the door on a used refrigerator, many people forget that over the years of use the rubber could “remember” the old sealing perimeter. After changing the opening side, the old crease may interfere with tight closing. In this case, only replacing the seal or keeping the door open for a long time to straighten it will help.
⚠️ Attention: Technical characteristics and design of the hinges may vary depending on the year of manufacture and the specific series. Atlant. Always check the official instructions for your model, if it is available, or look for a diagram using the exact model number on the manufacturer’s website.
After completing all the work, do not rush to load the refrigerator with food. Let it run idle for 4-6 hours to reach operating mode and make sure that the seal is not broken and the compressor is operating normally. If you did everything correctly, your Atlant will serve for many years to come, delighting you with the ease of use from a new perspective.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to rearrange the door on an Atlant refrigerator with the No Frost system?
Yes, you can. The design of the loops in models with No Frost almost identical to the drip system. The only difference is to be extremely careful with the sensor wires that may go to the top door through the hinge. They must not be pinched or torn.
What to do if the holes for the hinges on the new side are closed?
In most cases, at the end of the door on the reverse side there are already ready-made threaded holes, closed with plastic plugs. You just need to remove the plugs from the new side and install them on the old one. If there are no holes (rare old models), rearranging is impossible without drilling, which is not recommended.
Do you need to defrost the refrigerator before rearranging?
Full defrosting is not necessary if you work quickly. However, it is recommended to remove all products and shelves to make the structure lighter. If you plan to keep the doors open for more than 15 minutes, it is better to turn off the refrigerator so as not to overheat the compressor and prevent the evaporator from freezing.
Why, after rearranging, the door does not hold and opens itself?
Most likely, the refrigerator is not level. For proper closure, the housing must be tilted slightly backwards. Try unscrewing the front adjustable feet by lifting the front of the unit. Also check if anything on the floor (mat, wire) is preventing complete closure.
Where can I get new plugs if the old ones are broken?
Plastic plugs are a consumable item. They can be ordered at service centers Atlant by spare part catalog number. As a last resort, the holes can be carefully sealed with a decorative sticker in the color of the case or use plugs from another, less noticeable part of the equipment.