Bonnet catches letting go!

Bonnet catches letting go!

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Discussion

AxemanS

Original Poster:

45 posts

112 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
I am having problems with the bonnet catches letting go when I drive over unexpected bumps in the road.
Have tried adjusting the bonnet pins several times now but haven't managed to sort it.
Is there an ideal way to set up the bonnet catches or are new bonnet catches and pins still available ( which might be a better bet)
If new original type catches and pins are no longer available - are there similar catches that are near enough to work?

Thanks.

S2Mike

3,065 posts

149 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
They are a fiddle but its probably that they are not completely engaged, if you can loosen the pins a little to extend the length that passes through the catch, they should, if well lubricated click across fully and hold . It took many attempts to get mine adjusted but once correct I had no more trouble. Good Luck.

v8s4me

7,234 posts

218 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
AxemanS said:
I am having problems with the bonnet catches letting go when I drive over unexpected bumps in the road....
thumbup
It's an 'S' - join the club laugh So long it is just one side at a time you'll be OK.

AxemanS said:
....Have tried adjusting the bonnet pins several times now but haven't managed to sort it...
As soon as you drive down the road the car flexes and your hours of careful setting are undone.

AxemanS said:
....are new bonnet catches and pins still available....
You could try Mini pins, it might help. For a while.

AxemanS said:
... are there similar catches that are near enough to work? Thanks.
Phillpot will be along shortly with his solution. Good luck

lewdon

316 posts

164 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
I had the same problem, even after adjusting the position of the pins (masking tape over the clip and then gently closing the bonnet until the pins mark the tape.)
Eventually discovered that accumulated crud was stopping the clips moving forward enough to fully engage with the pins.
Lots of WD40 and pulling the clips forward and back with a pair of pliers eventually loosened them enough to fully catch the pins. Bonnet hasn't popped open on its own since.
It's worth a try.

v8s4me

7,234 posts

218 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
lewdon said:
....Eventually discovered that accumulated crud was stopping the clips moving forward enough to fully engage with the pins...It's worth a try. ..
Tomorrow's job thumbup

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
v8s4me said:
Phillpot will be along shortly with his solution. Good luck
Who, me?


Mine never pops open wink ..... Aerocatch



AxemanS

Original Poster:

45 posts

112 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Guys,

Will try cleaning out any crud, lubricating and re-adjusting first.

Might end up with aero catches if I still can't make the old ones work and gain in confidence with cutting the fibreglass neatly.

Fortunately I have no glass or frames in the doors yet so can reach around to hold bonnet down ( both catches do let go!) so no disasters yet.

kevroe

157 posts

215 months

Sunday 14th June 2015
quotequote all
Same problem here but solved just with disassembling the catch. Problem was the sliders were getting stuck and with wd40 etc they started to move. Replaced all of the nuts and washers and all was well.

greymrj

3,316 posts

203 months

Sunday 14th June 2015
quotequote all
ML Performance Parts did stock them but they are not listed now. If yours are too badly worn of damaged it might be worth giving Neil a ring, he might still be able to source them to order. They were however over £35 each if I recall.

I would love to know where the originals came from. Careful examination revealed that they were cut down from something TVR sourced. But where from? I have tried lots of places and asked lots of people who might identify them, and rummaged in autojumbles, without success. There has been at least one previous thread on this with several suggestions made, I followed them all up and none were right! In suspect it is something quite simple and I will kick myself if/when I finally make the connection!

I drove out of a motorway services once with the catches not engaged properly. I noticed the bonnet pop up and shot onto the hard shoulder and braked.....big mistake, the bonnet rose right up, fortunately I was still in gear so I accelerated hard and the bonnet slammed back and engaged. SO close to losing the entire bonnet!

v8s4me

7,234 posts

218 months

Sunday 14th June 2015
quotequote all
You can use these parts which match the original TVR parts (on mine anyway).

http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/Body/Bon...

http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/Body/Bon...

http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/Body/Bon...

The Clubman spring and pin are longer so you could try these as an alternative if the standard ones don't quite work. If you do use longer ones make sure you don't wind them up too much or you might screw them into the bonnet skin!

robinlarry

113 posts

111 months

Tuesday 16th June 2015
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You might also check to make sure the cable is adjusted so the releases do not remain partially open when the level is set to closed.

ATS3

319 posts

108 months

Tuesday 16th June 2015
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Not that I have had an opportunity to check them in any great detail but the pins and springs from MG midget MGB bonnets look similar to those used on the TVR

Andy

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
ATS3 said:
the pins and springs from MG midget MGB bonnets look similar to those used on the TVR
Mini, MG .... quite possibly generic to a lot of old BL cars scratchchin

greymrj

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
The pins and springs seem to be the easy bit, I even found some on a Merc* which would probably do!
The problem is that b...y catch. Anyone with an S1 will find it is basically the same as the one that holds down the boot. Look at it carefully and you will see it has obviously been modified by TVR from something else; it has been cut down.
But what was it? The link to BMC seems very strong as, at that time, they were using the sprung pin inserted into a catch system pretty well throughout, while the other manufacturers were using basically a hook round a bar. My thinking moved toward BMC commercial but I cannot get at suitable information. Frustrating! This should be an easy one.

  • have a look at a Sprinter for example
Edited by greymrj on Wednesday 17th June 21:49

greymrj

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
Oh, Oh, just spotted this on ebay, I haven't double checked but it does look familiar. If so that looks like a blind alley...unless.......3 wheelers???
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RELIANT-SCIMITAR-GTE-SE5...

Maybe fuel caps aren't the only thing we have in common with Scimitars??

greymrj

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
I have been mad enough to buy one to try. If it is Reliant sourced then that looks likely to be a dead end. At least I will be able to stop looking!

v8s4me

7,234 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
I'd say the spring loaded pin on the Scimitar one is the same we use (and Mini's, MG's etc) and Reliant fabricated the safety catch/hook plate to bolt onto the the latch mechanism. Looking at the enlarged photo's it's quite possible the latch is the same as ours as well.

greymrj

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
quotequote all
I don't know about yours but it is the strike plate on the latch which has taken the 'hammer' on mine and is damaged. I can change the pin but it doesnt do much good as the strike plate is deformed. Once I have the Scimitar one I can see what is involved in getting the strike plates made.
Looking at the pics it appears TVR cut off the flange for the 'safety' catch, perhaps on the basis that we would have two catches!

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
greymrj said:
Oh, Oh, just spotted this on ebay, I haven't double checked but it does look familiar.
Close but "no cigar" wink




Edited by phillpot on Thursday 18th June 15:19

Kitchski

6,514 posts

230 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
Got an MG TF here at the moment. Striker pin on the front 'bonnet' (if that's what it's technically known as) looks mighty similar to me.