front hood catches problem

front hood catches problem

Author
Discussion

spatz

Original Poster:

1,783 posts

185 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
just wondering if anybody has the same problem that the pin that goes into the catch of the front hood has wear from the lock that will make it almost impossible
to open the catch from the inside. I agree I have made it a tight fit, so the hood is not bouncing around when driving but the tension with the wear makes it almost impossible to open unless somebody is pushing the hood down. I tried grease but wonder if there is a better catch or solution that what ultima is shipping ?

MarkWebb

983 posts

216 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I have exactly the same problem for the same reason. However I cannot see a solution. Also the front wheelarches flexing really annoy me which is why I am having a splitter fixed to the bodywork and not the chassis which will stiffen it a lot.

3Dee

3,206 posts

220 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
scratchchin

idea

How about finding a friendly engineering company and designing the main pin like a roller-bearing type?
i.e the pin would rotate when the mechanism is released thus less resistance?

bowtie
K

MarkWebb

983 posts

216 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Interesting Keith but I think it is the load on the rest of the catch mechanism that causes the problem. ie the shape of the "hook" which holds the pin is quite good. It is the mechanics of the rest of the catch which is not designed for the loads. Maybe more rubber support under the edge would help to stop the movement without needing to load the catch up so much?

F.C.

3,896 posts

207 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
3Dee said:
scratchchin

idea

How about finding a friendly engineering company and designing the main pin like a roller-bearing type?
i.e the pin would rotate when the mechanism is released thus less resistance?

bowtie
K
What he said and something along the lines of a door popper each side to lift the clam around 10mm to clear the pins of the catches.
some thing like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Door-Poppers-X-2-Brand-N...

but executed better.

3Dee

3,206 posts

220 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
MarkWebb said:
Interesting Keith but I think it is the load on the rest of the catch mechanism that causes the problem. ie the shape of the "hook" which holds the pin is quite good. It is the mechanics of the rest of the catch which is not designed for the loads. Maybe more rubber support under the edge would help to stop the movement without needing to load the catch up so much?
read
Ahh is goin' to 'ave a look ovah de wee kend, but io saspeked dat 'tis a kombanana orv tings dat contraband to de hissu.

De frikchin' bitween da 'ook und da pin if aliminayted, will 'elp wiv da rowla pin oidia, in moy umbel upinyin!

whaaa? kant yer undastaynd inrgrish? nuts

spatz

Original Poster:

1,783 posts

185 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
that is actually not such a bad idea but I think the wear is coming from the pin moving around in the catch mechanism when driving.
I will give this a thought making my own mechanism is one way to do it, I thought maybe someone has found a ready to install solution

thanks


3Dee said:
scratchchin

idea

How about finding a friendly engineering company and designing the main pin like a roller-bearing type?
i.e the pin would rotate when the mechanism is released thus less resistance?

bowtie
K

ultimichael

194 posts

254 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Uwe,

I think I have some pins lying around if you need them.

The hook in the catch is hardened, the pin is not.
Only a question of time until the pin is damaged.
Production cars often have a nylon sleeve around the pin that
reduces rattling and helps sliding of the hook.
A stonger spring that pulls back the hook helps a bit
but cannot made strong enough to lift the clip up when released.
Looked for a better suited catch mechanism but haven´t found one yet.

Michael

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
My main concern here is that the catch is being used to pull the front clip down against the bump stops.
If there is that much tension that the latch will not open freely then before very long stress fractures are going to appear in the glass fibre.
Seen it many times before and even have an example today of a kit with a new bonnet that has developed fractures within a month and there does not apear to be any tension in that case.

Steve

Storer

5,024 posts

214 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
MarkWebb said:
I have exactly the same problem for the same reason. However I cannot see a solution. Also the front wheelarches flexing really annoy me which is why I am having a splitter fixed to the bodywork and not the chassis which will stiffen it a lot.
I am looking at fabricating some inner wheel arches over the winter and part of the reason is to strengthen the front clip to remove some of the flexing.

I also want to stop collecting stones on my splitter and in the battery/brake master cylinder area.

If you think about how a normal car bonnet catch works, it uses a spring to put tension on the latch once the hood is down. This is what the Ultima latches lack!


Paul

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
My main concern here is that the catch is being used to pull the front clip down against the bump stops.
If there is that much tension that the latch will not open freely then before very long stress fractures are going to appear in the glass fibre.
Seen it many times before and even have an example today of a kit with a new bonnet that has developed fractures within a month and there does not apear to be any tension in that case.

Steve
Just to clarify. When I said we had seen stress fractures I was refering to a different make of kit.

However I still believe that if someone has to lean on the front clip before the latch will release is not a good thing and IMHO will result in stress fractures.

Steve