A striker plate, also called the strike plate or keeper, is the plate on the tub frame that the door's tapered locking pins press into when the handle is turned, giving the door gasket a firm, even surface to compress against. On Ella Transfer tubs with the L-shape outward-swing door, the striker is what the two-latch lock engages, and it is the reason the seal is just as tight when the tub is empty as when it is full.

How It Works

The handle sits on the front of the L-shape door and turns clockwise to close. Inside the door, gears on a shaft drive two oversized, tapered pins out of the latch edge and into the striker on the frame. The tapered pins press the door evenly into the gasket. With the door open and the handle in the locked position, each pin should extend about 1 1/2 inches. If one pin sits noticeably shorter than the other, the pins have usually skipped a gear inside the door, and the bottom pin can be adjusted on its own. L-shape Transfer door pins and striker plate shows the adjustment on video, and operating the L-shape Transfer door covers everyday use.

Which Ella Models Have It

The tapered-pin striker plate belongs to the Transfer family: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL, all of which use the aluminum L-shape door that opens to 172 degrees for wheelchair transfer. Profiles: Model profile (Transfer26), Model profile (Transfer30), Model profile (Transfer32), Model profile (Transfer60), Model profile (TransferXXL). Other Ella door families lock differently; the door latch and handle guide explains each one.

What to Know as an Owner

Re-level first. A leveling leg off the floor lets the frame flex, which can cause or worsen stress on the striker plate, so check that every leg is touching with equal weight before anything else. Never open the door until the tub has drained, and never lean on the door. From time to time, open the door, lock the handle and measure both pins; they should match at about 1 1/2 inches. If the striker plate wobbles or shows a crack at the weld, photograph it with the tape measure in the frame and open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number. A failing weld is replaced as a warranty part once the team has reviewed the photos; labor is not covered, so plan on your installer doing the swap. The striker plate nuts are reached from inside the front apron, so any tile or trim over the apron must come off first. After any adjustment, close and lock the door, fill to a normal bathing level and watch the gasket line for 20 minutes.

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