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Old 08-24-2012, 07:04 PM   #1
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Electrical outlet in Winnebago

I loosened the switchplate by the sink to install new wallpaper border. Now I am unable to tighten the outlet again. It seems like something at the back of the screw has fallen between the wall. Any ideas how to fix this?
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Old 08-24-2012, 07:11 PM   #2
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This kind of thing can be a real pain. Two easy things to try are: 1) just insert a very short, plastic wall anchor for the screw to bite in to... 2) take some wooden toothpicks and push them in to the hole, breaking them off in there. When you insert the screw hopefully you can get them to bite into the toothpicks enough to hold.

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Old 08-24-2012, 07:13 PM   #3
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Hi,

Apparently you lost the wing of a toggle in the wall. I would try to use a toggle bolt in place of the screw you have there and get it to catch on one side thereby pulling in the receptacle.

The other solution would be to replace the receptacle and get a new one from your winnebago dealer.

Good luck!
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Old 08-24-2012, 07:14 PM   #4
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There are two fingers on the back of the box that squeeze the box to the wall material. If you loosened it to the point that the fingers fell off the screws, you're right they fell down in the wall. You can get a replacement box at Lowes with little blue fingers on it. I have successfully used these fingers as replacements.
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Old 08-24-2012, 07:48 PM   #5
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Glue a small piece of wood on the backside of where the screw went.
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Old 08-24-2012, 08:02 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BBBEEBOP View Post
There are two fingers on the back of the box that squeeze the box to the wall material. If you loosened it to the point that the fingers fell off the screws, you're right they fell down in the wall. You can get a replacement box at Lowes with little blue fingers on it. I have successfully used these fingers as replacements.
This is your best solution. You can find remodel boxes with metal or plastic fingers. I believe that you need the plastic ones, but the metal might work.
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Old 08-24-2012, 08:39 PM   #7
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For some of the answers, how would you put something behind the wall to hold it there when the box needs to be in place to put the screw in.

The toggle or new box approach should be the better of the solutions.

Good luck.
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Old 08-24-2012, 08:47 PM   #8
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Thanks everyone for the quick responses. I will see what I can find locally in our hardware store to use. I think the toggle might just be the way to go. Would be hard to change the box at this point without having to do some damage to the wall.
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Old 08-24-2012, 10:10 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M View Post
For some of the answers, how would you put something behind the wall to hold it there when the box needs to be in place to put the screw in.

The toggle or new box approach should be the better of the solutions.

Good luck.
I understand what some of the answers are trying to say...you pull the box out, glue a piece of wood behind the wallboard/panel and then re-install the box with a new screw going thru the box flange, thru the wallboard/panel and into the piece of wood backing. Sounds pretty simple.
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Old 08-24-2012, 10:18 PM   #10
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Thank you. That is what I was thinking. It works especially well when there is no box and the wallboard strips out.
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Old 08-24-2012, 11:25 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M View Post
For some of the answers, how would you put something behind the wall to hold it there when the box needs to be in place to put the screw in.

The toggle or new box approach should be the better of the solutions.

Good luck.
Perhaps the OP has something different, but I think that what he has isn't really a "box" at all. Many RV's have a recepticle that is an outlet and box in one unit. They are approved because no wires are exposed. If you are thinking about what you have in your S&B house, you are on the wrong track. Picture a combined recepticle and remodel box in one unit and you will begin to get the idea.
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Old 08-26-2012, 09:04 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M View Post
For some of the answers, how would you put something behind the wall to hold it there when the box needs to be in place to put the screw in.

The toggle or new box approach should be the better of the solutions.

Good luck.
Wayne, there is always a portion of the box that does not get a cut-out behind it. This is generally the part where the screw goes through.
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