Bonnet Release

Duplio7 · Postby **Duplio7** » 14 Jul 2013 17:44

Hi guys, perhaps you could help. Stripped the car for re-spray. Re-building now. Just got the bonnet hinges correctly positioned, and the bonnet attached. Bolted the bonnet catch in place loosely, and checked position. re adjusted the position of the catch on the bonnet, and it seemed to hit the mark. Nipped it up and closed the bonnet. It struck home. Pulled the release, and the bonnet clicked up a notch, but it is stuck. How do I release the bonnet, so I can re-position the catch? Thanks in advance. Regards, Duplio7.

This never happened to the other fellah...!

gaz · Postby **gaz** » 14 Jul 2013 17:50

If it has gone up one click then you may be able to get a spanner in and undo the torpedo on the bonnet
Failing that you'll need a metal coat hanger and pull the release lever towards the passenger wing not as hard as it sounds

www.classiccarrunblackpool.co.uk

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car

Duplio7 · Postby **Duplio7** » 14 Jul 2013 17:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gaz

If it has gone up one click then you may be able to get a spanner in and undo the torpedo on the bonnet
Failing that you'll need a metal coat hanger and pull the release lever towards the passenger wing not as hard as it sounds

www.classiccarrunblackpool.co.uk

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This never happened to the other fellah...!

darrellw · Postby **darrellw** » 14 Jul 2013 17:52

One trick, particularly with a DHC, is jacking under various places to flex the chassis a bit, in hopes that will shift things just enough to free the catch.

Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA

Duplio7 · Postby **Duplio7** » 14 Jul 2013 17:54

Thanks guys, will try both tomorrow eve.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by darrellw

One trick, particularly with a DHC, is jacking under various places to flex the chassis a bit, in hopes that will shift things just enough to free the catch.

Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This never happened to the other fellah...!

Duplio7 · Postby **Duplio7** » 14 Jul 2013 18:47

Thanks for that, great idea, will try tomorrow after work.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duplio7

[quote]Originally posted by gaz

If it has gone up one click then you may be able to get a spanner in and undo the torpedo on the bonnet
Failing that you'll need a metal coat hanger and pull the release lever towards the passenger wing not as hard as it sounds

www.classiccarrunblackpool.co.uk

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This never happened to the other fellah...!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This never happened to the other fellah...!

parrish · Postby **parrish** » 14 Jul 2013 19:37

Have someone push down on the bonnet above the catch and someone pull the handle at the same time.

1983 Del lines TR8. FIAT 131 Abarth Replica.1977 FIAT 131 1600 TC, 1996 BMW Z3, 1960 Mini Hustler. 2009 Sport Ka, 2012 Ford Fusion.

saabfast · Postby **saabfast** » 14 Jul 2013 20:20

I have had great problems adjusting the bonnet release, just can't seem to get it right. I do have a permanent fixture of a thin coat hanger wire through the catch pull lever which lays externally under the rear edge of the bonnet. This has proved invaluble when it has not opened properly from the under dash pull.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
Saab 9000 2.3 LPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

jclay (RIP 2018) · Postby **jclay (RIP 2018)** » 14 Jul 2013 20:37

[url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me/triumphtechnical/Bonnet_Pin_Align.html"]Bonnet alignment[/url]

[url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me/triumphtechnical/Bonnet_Pin_Align.html"]Bonnet release[/url]

Clay

[url="http://www.jclay.me/"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8MWEvqOpX3udEF4SmFQUW9RS09hbU5uNW5Wd0xrUQ/edit"]My Public Folder[/url],

Sautie · Postby **Sautie** » 17 Jul 2013 09:30

Strange but true. This bonnet release problem was recognised durin the TR7 design so what did the do? They simply did not install a full length rear bonnet seal but left a gap over the air inlet box so that you could get a spanner in. On later models they even increased the length of the gap to allow greater spanner movement. Unfortunatel many restorations mistakenly think that the gap in the seal is due to shoddy/careless finish & so remove the gap by fitting a full length seal.

DNK · Postby **DNK** » 17 Jul 2013 12:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Sautie

Strange but true. This bonnet release problem was recognised durin the TR7 design so what did the do? They simply did not install a full length rear bonnet seal but left a gap over the air inlet box so that you could get a spanner in. On later models they even increased the length of the gap to allow greater spanner movement. Unfortunatel many restorations mistakenly think that the gap in the seal is due to shoddy/careless finish & so remove the gap by fitting a full length seal.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What????
Pics of how it should be ,please!!

Don
Stick a Wedge In It
80 TR7 V8 Kick in the pants

John Clancy · Postby **John Clancy** » 19 Jul 2013 13:15

I find I can pull the rubber seal out when this happens and wifey's little fingers can get in there and move the release over.

It's generally caused by trapping the cable in the fresh air dam. I've done it so often that I always try to remember to check the release pull is free before shutting the bonnet.

<center>[url="http://www.triumphdvd.co.uk"]Triumph TR7 and other car documentaries on DVD here[/url]</center>

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 19 Jul 2013 13:55

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems we have two different problems here. One is the latch not releasing because the cable gets trapped (or less commonly breaks). My car has round holes cut in the screen so you can access the latch with something at hand to release it.

The second is the post jamming on the release latch because of misalignment necessitating loosening the post mount through the split rubber seal after first click release so it can be repositioned.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

whitenviro · Postby **whitenviro** » 19 Jul 2013 16:36

There could be a possible third issue - the hooks on the corners of the bonnet. When I had my repaint done I pulled them off, then when re-installing apparently didn't get one as tight as it should have been; the thing turned almost a quarter turn after the bonnet was closed and wouldn't let go regardless of what the latch did. Very tricky to reach in there and turn it back into a position that would open!

[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

Hasbeen · Postby **Hasbeen** » 19 Jul 2013 23:35

I had the bonnet refuse to release on a 7 shortly after I had bought it. It had been adjusted too tight on newly fitted seals in the sale preparation.

To free the thing enough to pop open I had my son, about 14 at the time, stand on the back of the bonnet, facing forward, with his heals on the ridge of the second hump, & bounce gently.

It worked, BUT, he slipped back slightly, & left 2 shallow heal imprints equally either side of the centerline. Fortunately they were so light & evenly spaced that no one but he & I ever noticed them.

I had learnt to be careful with bonnet catch adjustments in future.

Hasbeen

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