332
Make
sure your hood toggle catches are fixed correctly
Michael Bernhard
(Woodcote Green 1169) in Switzerland posted a useful caution on the V8 Bulletin
Board. (Aug 10)
I thought I would share with
you all my adventure when closing the hood of my RV8 just before a rain downpour:
The chrome toggle catch that fixes the front hood frame to the windscreen snapped
clean off at its hinge. So no complete closure - and a wet passenger. Later I
replaced it with an MGB part available here in Switzerland at my MG parts wizard.
The MGB part is shorter (6 cm instead of 9 cm), not more difficult to open and
looks great. The reason that the toggle catch broke was simple - both were loose
on the frame and this created fatal torsion for the one which snapped. Moral:
check if both toggle catches are tightly screwed down on the hood frame from time
to time!
Two
bolts fixing the toggle catch to the hood frame need regular checks of tightness.
The bolts are fully adjustable, as is the fixing into which they fit behind the
support, so there is no excuse for misalignment before tightening them even if
this is a bit fidgety.
| Peter
Garton noted it is "advisable to check them for tightness at regular
intervals and also for freedom of their action via occasional oiling. If your
hood doesn't slowly fall back down on its own when you want to fold it for open
driving, then the hinges are seizing up and placing unwanted strain on the whole
hood frame".
Fractured
hinge on the hood toggle catch.
When
closing the roof, always take the time to see if the two toggles are well centred
and inserted into the slots on the hood frame before locking them!
|
