Situations when the standard arrangement of the refrigerator door leaf no longer suits the owners arise quite often. This may be due to remodeling the kitchen, replacing furniture, or simply a desire to change the ergonomics of the space for greater convenience. Two-chamber models Stinol, popular due to their reliability, often allow you to change the opening side, but this process requires care and adherence to technology.
Before taking up the tools, you need to clearly understand the design of your model. Some modifications have hidden loops or specific ones that cannot simply be ignored. Incorrect actions can lead to damage to the housing or loss of tightness, so it is important to act consistently and carefully, without applying excessive force where it is not required. stopsthat cannot simply be ignored. Incorrect actions can lead to damage to the housing or loss of seal, so it is important to act consistently and carefully, without applying excessive force where it is not required.
In this article we will analyze all stages of the work: from preparing the tool to the final adjustment of the gaps. You will learn how to properly dismantle fittings, move fastening elements to the opposite side and avoid common mistakes that beginners often make when repairing household appliances on their own.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
Any technical the operation begins with the organization of space. A refrigerator Stinol is a large unit, and for comfortable work there should be enough space around it. Move the equipment away from the wall at least 50-70 centimeters to have free access to the back wall and side edges. It is better to cover the floor under the unit with thick cardboard or fabric so as not to damage the floor covering when moving heavy parts.
To complete the task, you will need a standard DIY kit. The main tool will be screwdriver or a Phillips screwdriver, since most fasteners in refrigerators of this brand have a corresponding slot. It would also be useful to use a flat spatula or a knife with a wide blade to carefully remove decorative plugs.
Be sure to prepare a container for storing small bolts and screws. The loss of even one small screw can stop the entire process or lead to poor-quality door fixation. Some craftsmen recommend photographing each stage of disassembly so that during reassembly there will be no doubt about which screw to tighten where.
- 🔧 Phillips screwdriver (PH2) or screwdriver with the appropriate bit for unscrewing the main bolts.
- 🔧 Flat screwdriver or thin spatula for prying up plastic plugs and caps.
- 🔧 Wrench (usually 8 or 10 mm) for working with hinge nuts, if they are not hidden under plastic.
- 🔧 Masking tape for temporarily fixing the door in the closed position during work.
⚠️ Attention: Before Before starting any work, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply! Remove the plug from the socket to eliminate the risk of a short circuit or accidental activation of the compressor during the process of dismantling the elements.
Dismantling the top door and removing the fittings
The process always starts from the top compartment, since this is where the main supporting hinge is located. First, remove the decorative cover that covers the fastening mechanism. It may be held in place by clips or a small screw, which is often hidden under a sticker or plastic plug. Proceed with caution, the plastic of older models Stinol may be fragile.
After removing the cover, access to top hingewill open. Do not rush to unscrew all the bolts at once. Loosen them first, but do not remove them completely to prevent the door from falling. It is best to ask an assistant to hold the door leaf while you work with the fasteners. If you don't have an assistant, use masking tape to stick the door to the refrigerator body in several places.
When the top hinge is free, carefully remove the door and set it aside in a safe place. Now you can completely unscrew the bolts from the housing and remove the hinge itself. Pay attention to the pins or bushings that may be inside the hole - they need to be saved, as they will be needed for installation on the other side.
Working with the bottom door and magnetic valve
The bottom door of the refrigerator Stinol is attached to the middle partition and the bottom support. The procedure for removing it is similar to the top one: we free access to the hinges, unscrew the fasteners and remove the canvas. However, there is an important nuance here - a magnetic valve (if it is provided by the design of your model), which fixes the door in the closed position.
This magnet is usually installed in the lower corner of the case on the side where the door opens. It must be dismantled and moved to the opposite side. To do this, you may need to unscrew the screw holding the magnet in the seat, or simply remove it from the groove if it is held on by latches.
Don't forget about the plugs. On the side where the door will open after rehanging, there will be empty holes in the body. They need to rearrange the plastic plugs on the opposite side, where free nests have formed. This will provide an aesthetic appearance and prevent dust and moisture from entering the thermal insulation.
What to do if the magnet cannot be removed?
If the magnetic valve is jammed or stuck, do not use brute force. Apply some penetrating lubricant (such as WD-40) around the base and wait 5-10 minutes. Then carefully pry it with a flat screwdriver through a soft cloth so as not to damage the paint.
Transferring the fastening elements to the new side
The most critical stage is preparing the new opening side. On the refrigerator body Stinol from the factory side there should already be mounting holes closed with plugs. Remove these plugs and check the threads. In some cases, the thread may be “jammed” during initial factory assembly, then it must be carefully passed through with a tap or the bolt itself.
Now let’s work on the door itself. There are also holes for hinges at the end of the door leaf. If on the factory side they are covered with decorative inserts, remove them. Install the hinges in new places using the same bolts that were originally there, or new ones if your model includes a separate set for rehanging.
Pay special attention handle. If the refrigerator model requires the handle to be moved (it is not symmetrical), it must also be dismantled and installed on the other side. For this purpose, there may be hidden holes at the end of the door. In models with a hidden handle (recess in the end), this step is skipped, since the profile is already symmetrical.
☑️ Checklist before assembly
Installation of doors and final assembly
Assembly is carried out in order, reverse disassembly. First we install the bottom door. Lift the door, insert the lower pin into the bushing on the refrigerator body and carefully lower the door into place. Then attach the top hinge (which will now be the middle one) and tighten the bolts. Do not tighten them completely at once - this will allow you to adjust the position of the door.
Next, install the upper door. Align the holes in the top hinge with the mounting slots on the refrigerator lid. Insert the bolts and just tighten them. Now that both doors are installed, you can begin to align. Tighten the bolts evenly, constantly checking the tightness of the seal around the entire perimeter.
It is important to correctly install closers or limiters, if your model has them. These elements prevent the door from hitting the body when opening 90 degrees. Make sure that the mechanism operates smoothly and does not require excessive force to open.
| Element | Action | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Upper loop | Transfer to the opposite side | Monitor the length of the bolts |
| Lower support | Repositioning the bushing | Check alignment |
| Magnet | Removal and transfer | Important for tightness |
| Plugs | Replacement in places | Close old holes |
Adjusting gaps and eliminating distortions
After installation, a situation often arises when the door is skewed or does not fit tightly. In refrigerators Stinol adjustment is carried out using pins or eccentrics on the hinges. If the door warps in one direction, you need to loosen the fastening slightly and move the door in the desired direction, then fix it again.
Check the horizontal installation of the refrigerator itself. If the unit is not level, the door may open spontaneously or, conversely, not close completely. Use a building level and an adjustable support (legs) at the bottom of the case to align the equipment strictly horizontally.
Evaluate the performance of the compactor. It should fit evenly along the entire length of the body. If a gap is visible in some place, try heating this area with a hairdryer (without overheating!) or placing a thin cord under the seal to straighten the deformation. Sometimes simple lubrication with silicone oil helps to make the rubber elastic.
⚠️ Attention: Do not over-tighten the hinge bolts “all the way” effort. This can lead to metal deformation or thread failure, especially if the holes already have traces of previous repairs.
Frequent errors and troubleshooting
One of the most common mistakes is the loss or confusion of bolts of different lengths. The design Stinol can use screws with different thread lengths for the upper and lower hinges. If you screw a long bolt into a short hole, it may rest against the plastic or damage the inner chamber.
Users also often forget about decompression valve. In some models it is located on the side wall and serves to equalize pressure. When hanging the door, it must be carefully removed and moved into the prepared hole on the other side, otherwise the refrigerator will open with a bang or, conversely, with difficulty.
If after all the manipulations the door still does not fit tightly, check the integrity of the seal itself. It may have been damaged or stretched during operation. In this case, adjusting the hinges will not help - you will need to replace the rubber cuff.
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging?
Full defrosting is not strictly necessary if you work quickly. However, if the refrigerator is old and there is ice in the drainage system or on the evaporator, water may leak due to tilting or vibration. It is better to carry out the procedure when the unit is dry and clean.
What to do if the holes on the new side do not match?
In the original cases Stinol the holes should match perfectly. If this does not happen, you may be using a hinge from a different model or the door was previously replaced with a non-original one. In such cases, it may be necessary to drill new holes, but this is a complex procedure that requires professional tools.
Is it possible to rehang the door if the refrigerator is built into the furniture?
This is possible, but extremely difficult. You will need to completely dismantle the refrigerator from the niche, since work requires all-round access to the body. Built-in models often have specific hinges that require removal of the furniture front panel.
Why did a whistle appear when closing after rehanging?
The whistle usually occurs due to the seal fitting too tightly or the rapid release of air from the chamber. Try to lubricate the seal with silicone or check if the door is twisted relative to the plane of the body.