Tightening bonnet catches
Discussion
I may be being a little thick, but I can't work out how to tighten the bonnet catches on my Spitty. They fasten down nicely, and I can feel them bite, but after a couple of miles they undo themselves and come up. I rarely go over 140mph in her, so i'm not too bothered, just a little annoyed with the rattle when they come undone!
On a separate note.... best thing I ever did was to buy a classic car. Went out in my Mk3 tonight...and I do mean after dark, top down, 40 mile trip for no other reason than to go for a drive! Could just as easily have jumped into my lovely warm, power steering comfy, drive itself, every day car, but nothing matches the feeling of driving something that's well over 40 years old. Loved every second of the drive. I hope you feel the same!
Thanks for any help.
A
On a separate note.... best thing I ever did was to buy a classic car. Went out in my Mk3 tonight...and I do mean after dark, top down, 40 mile trip for no other reason than to go for a drive! Could just as easily have jumped into my lovely warm, power steering comfy, drive itself, every day car, but nothing matches the feeling of driving something that's well over 40 years old. Loved every second of the drive. I hope you feel the same!
Thanks for any help.
A
You'll almost certainly find the catches are worn. If you look carefully at the mechanics of the catch on the inside of the bonnet, you will see it's a lever that is supposed to roll over a small rotating bush. Lack of lubrication causes the bush to seize, and the lever wears a notch in the bush. Replacement is the only solution, unless you want to fit an aftermarket bonnet lock. Even that won't stop the external lever from flapping about.
I'm not putting that rallyspit has put anything that is incorrect but depending on what's wrong I think there might be adjustment/fix/bodge you can do on this but I can't remember what now so do a bit more research (or I might be totally wrong about a fix and it's yet another example of my bad memory)
for service and repairs it's John at JY Classics - http://www.jyclassics.co.uk/
email me if you want the name of two people/companies in the Triumph/classic circles you want to avoid like the plague
for service and repairs it's John at JY Classics - http://www.jyclassics.co.uk/
email me if you want the name of two people/companies in the Triumph/classic circles you want to avoid like the plague
Thanks nta.
I was hoping there would be a bodge job of some sort, nd im sure there is...even if its just wedging a bit of something in somewhere until I get the replacements, or a more permanent repair! I will have a look again in the light of day and see.
P.s thanks for the notes, printed off and filed.
I was hoping there would be a bodge job of some sort, nd im sure there is...even if its just wedging a bit of something in somewhere until I get the replacements, or a more permanent repair! I will have a look again in the light of day and see.
P.s thanks for the notes, printed off and filed.
DocArbathnot said:
Doesn't the bonnet have a couple of rubber cones that it locates on? If these are worn the bonnet catchs don't pull the whole thing tight enough, I cant remember if they adjust.
It does have locating cones. One was missing when I got the car so replaced it....hadn't really thought about them being out of alignment though...if theyre too high then I suppose it would stop the lever biting properly. Something ill check tomorrow. Thank you.Mk3Spitfire said:
DocArbathnot said:
Doesn't the bonnet have a couple of rubber cones that it locates on? If these are worn the bonnet catchs don't pull the whole thing tight enough, I cant remember if they adjust.
It does have locating cones. One was missing when I got the car so replaced it....hadn't really thought about them being out of alignment though...if theyre too high then I suppose it would stop the lever biting properly. Something ill check tomorrow. Thank you.As for bodgery, if it's worn a grove could you bead weld over it & grind it back to shape?
Hooli said:
Too low can let the bonnet rattle IIRC from having cars of that age.
As for bodgery, if it's worn a grove could you bead weld over it & grind it back to shape?
It does rattle like hell, along with the rest of the car! I have access too a welder, but never touched one. Aiming to go on a welding course in the not too distant, and this sounds like possibly the most basic of jobs to start with! May give it a go. Cheers.As for bodgery, if it's worn a grove could you bead weld over it & grind it back to shape?
chap turned up at today's club event in a very nice GT6 Mk3 so I asked him about the catches, first thing he said was adjust the rubber cones 
then that the catch hooks plates bolted to the body are adjustable and that you can get rattles from the rear of the wheel arches touching the body tub (outside) the engine bay
also (if fitted) the small rubber trims that fit the end of the rear of the front wheel arches can catch and possibly also rattle with their clips
I'd also guess if the bonnet catch lever assembly has not been regularly maintained then there's plenty of looseness potential in them too and if the bonnet seal is worn then there's more movement there too, as well as the bonnet hinges and so on and so on, one can effect the others and the effects build with the accumulation
ETA: to add the word 'not'
then that the catch hooks plates bolted to the body are adjustable and that you can get rattles from the rear of the wheel arches touching the body tub (outside) the engine bay
also (if fitted) the small rubber trims that fit the end of the rear of the front wheel arches can catch and possibly also rattle with their clips
I'd also guess if the bonnet catch lever assembly has not been regularly maintained then there's plenty of looseness potential in them too and if the bonnet seal is worn then there's more movement there too, as well as the bonnet hinges and so on and so on, one can effect the others and the effects build with the accumulation
ETA: to add the word 'not'
Edited by nta16 on Saturday 21st September 16:56
I'd suggest adjusting the bonnet cones first. Adjust them up until you have the bonnet pulling up nice and tight but do not tighten them fully. If you leave the final tightening until after you have opened and closed the bonnet a few times the cones should align themselves with the correct point on the bonnet - otherwise they will probably shear off at some point. If you can operate the catches easily without first pushing down gently on the wing then the cones are almost certainly too low and need raising. Of course if raising the cones throws out the fit of the bonnet you will need to lower the plate on the bulkhead where the catches locate... if that throws out the fit you will need to adjust the bonnet at the front hangers but that's another story...
Nta, Spoodler - great advice, thanks. I haven't had a chance to look at it today because of work, but now you mention the pushing down on the wings part, it makes sense. At the moment, there is absolutely no need to push down on the wing whatsoever. Im thinking it is almost certainly largely to do with the cones being set wrong, as im sure the catches themselves are good. I will re-adjust tomorrow if I can finish work on time, and let you know! Thanks again.
spoodler said:
I'd suggest adjusting the bonnet cones first. Adjust them up until you have the bonnet pulling up nice and tight but do not tighten them fully. If you leave the final tightening until after you have opened and closed the bonnet a few times the cones should align themselves with the correct point on the bonnet - otherwise they will probably shear off at some point. If you can operate the catches easily without first pushing down gently on the wing then the cones are almost certainly too low and need raising. Of course if raising the cones throws out the fit of the bonnet you will need to lower the plate on the bulkhead where the catches locate... if that throws out the fit you will need to adjust the bonnet at the front hangers but that's another story...
(and others who suggested it)...fiddled with the bonnet cones, and the catches are much tighter and feel more secure now. Wont really know until I take it on a little run, but confident that its certainly made a difference. Thanks for your help. Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff