bonnet popping open

[zefarelly]

dont know why but the bonnet on my Vixen has started popping off its catches from time to time . . .any ideas why? Ive adjusted the catches and checked them out . . .all seems ok . . . .

[Grantura1800S]

At my Grantura I can adjust the length of my Bonnet catcher pins. When you have bonnet catcher pins with no option to adjust them, I think they are worn out.

Serge

[Colin BlueS2]

My old vixen used to do that, check the bonnet hinges aren't worn allowing the bonnet to move.

Otherwise it may end up on the motorway behind you as mine did one memorable day

Colin

[zefarelly]

yikes . . .better check the hinges . . . .I could always just glue it down . . .given the resty of the cars reliability the bonnet come up so infrequently ;D

[zefarelly]

the pin is actually tapped and bolts to its mounting plate . . . .not easily appareny when covered in grease and bolted to the bonnet . . . .took it off, tightened it and replaced . . .hopefully all ok now . . .hinge pins seem fine si hopefully it wont fly over the roof !!!

[Colin BlueS2]

Has it fixed the bonnet popping open?

Colin

[zefarelly]

no it f****N hasnt! it popped open within a mile of the office, I stopped adjusted, and it popped again, so I just thought bolleux to it and drove home with one catch only

I reckon the things are just knackered, Ill dismantle and bench mount at the weekend . . .if theyre shot then Ill put som proper racing pins on it

doesnt seem to be any play in the hinge mounting at the front either. . . .although the bonnet flexes a bit when driving along at any rate of knots

[richard sails]

I had the same problem with one of my M's

No amount of adjustment would fix it, although adjustment helped for a few miles it soon popped open again.

The locking catch mechanism has a 'pin' which has a cone shaped end that locks into the catch. The back edge of the cone wears and the edge becomes rounded, this allows the pin to pull out under vibration.

The fix is to first remove the pin, try to keep the locking nut on the same place on the shaft as you remove it, then measure the locking nuts position so that you can re-assemble it to the same length.

Take off the locking nut, washers spring etc and look at the end. Put pin in vice and file back of the cone shape until rounded off area removed, try to remove as little metal as possible. Re-assemble and replace pin and no more popping open bonnet.




>> Edited by richard sails on Wednesday 26th March 12:34

[zefarelly]

Ill try that tonight . . . .failing that I may just put a japanese engine in and fibreglass the thing shut permanently!

[krispy]

zefarelly said: Ill try that tonight . . . .failing that I may just put a japanese engine in and fibreglass the thing shut permanently!

Wash your mouth out Sir.

[richard sails]

Well, did you try it and did it work??

[richard sails]

please let us know, did it work???????

[tedebear]

Yep - I think he's cracked it, but has been busy with one of his 5 other vehicles at the moment - you know how it is.....

[zefarelly]

well . . . . . . . I removed the catch assembly and the sprung pin assembly, I filed the pin back to shape as it had rounded quited badly, I made sure the worst point wasnt on the catch side on re assembly, I also lightly filed the catch to allow it to close a little more.

I went fro a quick spin on some notorously bumpy local roads . . .smacked the exhaust a few times, but the bonnets still closed . . . . . .I havent tried opening it yet though !!!