DURING PREFLIGHT PILOT NOTICES THE MAIN CABIN ENTRY DOOR SUPPORT WHEEL DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE ON THE CRJ-200. LATER QUESTIONS WHETHER THE NON-STANDARD REPLACEMENT PIN WAS A PROPERLY AUTHORIZED LEGAL PART.

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I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO ARRIVE AT THE ACFT AFTER A LONG OVERNIGHT AND ACFT CHANGE AND STARTED TO PREFLT THE ACFT. I NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT WHEEL AT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND CALLED MAINT IN ZZZ. A CONTRACT MECH SHOWED UP SHORTLY AFTER. I ASKED HIM WHAT THE VERDICT WAS AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FIX IT. HE APPARENTLY GOT A PIN FROM THE TUG'S TOW BAR AND PUT IT IN TO REPLACE THE MISSING PIN. IT LOOKED AS IF IT COULD CUT THE PRESS SEAL; SO HE CUT IT OFF. HE THEN SIGNED THE MAINT LOG AND SENT US ON OUR WAY TO ZZZ1. BEFORE WE LEFT; ONE OF THE RAMP AGENTS TOLD ME I OWED THEM A PIN FOR THEIR TOW BAR. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE FLT OUT AND DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE INCIDENT UNTIL AFTER WE LEFT. IT JUST DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT. FINALLY IN ZZZ3; I DECIDED TO ASK MAINT IF THAT WAS LEGAL. I KNOW THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; NONSTANDARD PARTS CAN BE USED; BUT WASN'T SURE IF WE WERE IN FACT LEGAL TO USE THAT PARTICULAR PIN. I DON'T THINK THAT BOMBARDIER WAS CALLED TO GET PERMISSION TO USE THAT PIN; BUT HAVE A HARD TIME THINKING THAT A MAINT CTLR WOULD AUTH AN ILLEGAL PART AND A MECH WOULD ACTUALLY PUT HIS LICENSE ON THE LINE AND SIGN A FIX LIKE THIS. MAINT IN ZZZ3 REPLACED THE PIN WITH AN APPROVED PART.