How to swap the door hinges on your Bushman DC-L Series fridge

Your Bushman DCL series fridge comes with the door hinges fitted to the right hand side from the factory. You can swap these to the left hand side. Please follow these instructions carefully. It is imperative that the doors are aligned correctly when the hinges are moved from one side to the other. Incorrectly aligned the doors will cause significant ice build-up and failure of the door latch while underway. In our experience this is a 2-person job. If you are unsure at any stage, please call Bushman head office on (03) 8080 9990 for assistance.

Swap the hinges

To change the hinge side, simple unscrew the door hinges from the fridge cabinet, move to the other side and re-affix using the same screws. Detailed instructions as follows:

1. Carefully remove the top, middle and bottom hinges and both doors. Ensure any washers on each hinge pin are kept in place.
2. Affix the bottom hinge to the preferred side of the fridge cabinet. Only tighten screws finger tight.
3. Move the bottom hinge pin to the other side of the hinge.
4. Locate main door onto the bottom hinge.
5. Affix the middle hinge to the fridge cabinet. Only tighten screws finger tight.
6. Locate the freezer door onto the middle hinge.
7. Affix the top hinge to the fridge cabinet. Only tighten screws finger tight.

Realign the doors

1. Align the freezer door first until it is square with the fridge cabinet, by twisting the door into position and manipulating the position of the top and middle hinges.
2. Tighten top hinge screws fully.
3. Align the main door until it is square with the fridge cabinet, also by twisting the door into position and manipulating the position of the bottom and middle hinges.
4. Tighten the bottom hinge screws fully.
5. Tighten the middle hinge screws fully.
6. Double check that both doors open and close freely without rubbing on anything, especially in the last few centimeters. Both doors should close freely without any extra force. If there is any rubbing, adjust the hinges until both doors open and close freely and are square with the fridge cabinet.

Reset the rubber door seals 

When the doors are closed, visually inspect the rubber seals to make sure they are making a smooth line of contact all the way around each door. Even a small bump or gap will let air get inside the fridge and ice will build up quickly. This issue is most prominent when the door has been removed at some stage (often during installation, or when the hinges have been swapped to the LHS). Use the instructions below to realign the seals.

1. With the fridge door closed, start from a corner, gently heat up the rubber seal with light heat from a heat gun (be careful not to overheat the rubber or it will melt). As the rubber heats up, the magnets inside will pull the seal towards the fridge cabinet. Using this method you will be able to close a gap up to 15mm wide. Slowly work your way along the rubber from one corner, all the way around the fridge door, until it is fully sealed.
2. Leave the fridge door closed in this position for 10 minutes for the seal to cool down in this position.
3. Once the fridge door is done, you can move onto the freezer door. Repeat the exact same process for the freezer door. Make sure you leave the freezer door closed for 10 minutes so the seal can cool in this new position.