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MG Midget and Sprite General - What do I need to know about the bonnet latches

I got my bonnet re installed tonight after almost 3 years of being bonnet free. I got the lines all adjusted with good tight straight gaps, but I got over heated and had to call it a night.

i cant get the bonnet to latch,,,,

Ive got good reason to be concerned, .... """"Custom made radiator"""", I can PUSH the bonnet down all the way into PERFECT place ,,,, with some vary little minor force, and has to be held into place which makes me think the bonnet is riding the radiator by just a tad. ( how bad an issue is that ? )

That said, there is no warpage or buldging in the bonnet, but could this be why its not latching....or could the latch mechnisem just be sticking from time and some rust from washing

Anyway im probably worring over nothing, as I didnt get a chance to see whats really happening.... Im really looking for insight into the latch system, any thing to watch for, tricks, adjustments ect as time is going to be vary close tomarrow, and just im just looking for a shortcut on time as I need to have the car driving before monday morning...just alot of ittle piddle must do stuff to do tomarrow and time is not on my side

Oh and yes I did manually move the hook into the hole at the feont of the bonnet so its not fouling the bonnet closure

1971 usa spec midget


Thanks guys....ill post pics tomarrow

Prop
Prop

Prop. It sounds like the center pin, the one which goes into the hole where the latch mechanism is, is out of adjustment. It can be screwed in and outwards just like a bolt. I believe you need to extend it somewhat further downwards at which point it should latch properly. But, operate the locking mechanism by hand and make sure it is moving freely. A little axle grease or lithium grease on the sliding surfaces is in order.

Les
Les Bengtson

If you think it's touching the radiator, make up little "tall" bits of blu-tak and stick them on the radiator. If the bonnet is fouling it'll flatten them right out.
OrangeSpyderMan

Hey les

Thank you, I wasnt aware that the spring center pin was adjustable, it also occured to me last night that the cup that the center pin fits into might need re-centering


orange..... ill try that tape idea also

After some thought last night, if the rad is making contact ...its only hitting on the far outside edges of the rad where the bonnet curves downward, as the radiator was the exact same hieth as the orginal but longer horizontial....if thats the case, that would suck buteasily fixable by a pro with a tig welder, just have to angle off the edges of the rad .... LOts of room to do that and fairly straight forward and wouldnt have tto pull the rad out of the car


Thanks guys

Prop
Prop

Great news and bad news

Great news...radiator is not an issue its the center spring pin

Bad news....the problem is a potentially bad one .. The round spring retainer that fits on the centering spring pin, is badly warpped along the cly that the pin runs thur. So because its warpped, its sliding off the latch, ive tried to turn it 180 degrees but the spring gets in the way and does not have a (trust worthy) grip

Im not sure how to fix it for 2 reasons....

1. The spring retainer is pot metal, so im sure it would break or crack if forced

2, the cly/corethat the center shaft runs thur is vary thin, and I fear it would crush

So anyone else have this issue or a fix.

I have been driving on barrowed time...it was never a case of if but when I was going to get a face full of bonnet

Photo on the way

Prop
Prop

Prop,
I'd be carefull if anything is "pushing up" on the hood.
Trust me it's no fun to have one let go at 65mph. All I saw was a wall of Teal Blue

I put a $10.00 safety in
It is a race type pin, installed upside down from the hooh thru the valence



Phil Burke

Phil...thats not a bad idea, is that a universial part I can get at autozone ? Its not viable from on top is it?, Im going to make a temp nylon strap with a boot clip for the time being

here is what im talking about, it you can imagine the shaft being perfectly vertical ... which its not in this photo, you can se what I mean by warpage


prop

Prop

Oh now I see what you did... vary cool Phil, how hard is it to install the cotter pin

Prop
Prop

I think it should still latch. Are you sure you haven't run the side bumpers down too far?

Trevor Jessie

Yes I checked the bumpers postions and there good...i got it latching, but im yellow on trusting the latch...im just afraid of a big bump in the road and that latch would spring right open....

its good for know, ill just do a temp tie down with some nylon strapping,,,untill I have more time to give it a proper fix

Thanks guys

Prop
Prop

Prop. I do not understand what you are trying to say. The spring retainer does look somewhat lopsided, but what of it? The center "stem" piece is what locks into the seat of the latch mechanism, the spring retainer sits on top of the latch, and the spring pushes downwards, pulling the center piece into firm contact with the underside of the latch mechanism. Thus, the fact that the spring retaining collar is not perfect is of little importance as it just means the spring will be pushed upwards more on the high side than on the lower side--assuming that the collar is not self leveling as it sits onto the top of the latch mechanism.

Your center pin is out of adjustment and needs to be properly adjusted.

There should be a safety latch that, if the central latching mechanism is forced open, will prevent the hood/bonnet from coming upwards more than a few inches. Does your car have the secondary, safety, latch?

Les
Les Bengtson

"Does your car have the secondary, safety, latch?"

mine did

at "quite quick" on a long straight country road it did not prevent me seeing my reflection and that alongside it of my passenger in a freshly sprung up bonnet/hood…

Phil I saw a wall of very shiny British Racing Green, pretty but

there is a time and place

Prop

listen up

Read very carefully, then go back and read it again, what Les is telling you

That big part of the retainer is ONLY to hold back the spring that retracts as you close it under spring pressure

The drop down rod looks fine, just unscrew it a little

NOW

I will tell you the very most important thing about bonnet latches

you need to use the proper return spring under the slam panel, not the pretty little shiny one you found in the bits box

That was why I saw myself in mine that fine summer's evening, so many years ago
Bill 1

The pin is invisible from the outside
I tacked a small rod onto the clip and access it thru the grill

Yes, It's a stock hood/racing pin. They come is sets of two
Phil Burke

Ahhhhh....i didnt realize that, I was thinking the latch connected over the retainer....so thats good to know ... Ill drop the pin down a little longer

Thanks guys

Prop
Prop

This thread was discussed between 03/07/2011 and 04/07/2011

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