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MG MGA - Closing the bonnet

I'm putting the bonnet back on the car, i noticed that when i close the bonnet i have to put the safety latch back by hand.
Is this normal or does the safety latch to slide over the bracked backwards.
serge

http://www.car-identification-plate.eu/
serge

Hi Serge, I just let my bonnet drop over the catch and it slams shut by itself so the catch just pushes out the way. ( some DPO has pushed it shut at one time and left a small dent!)- cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

The safety latch should ride on the bracket and just move out of the way as the bonnet drops. No human intervention is required if properly adjusted. I belive that the latch and the bracket are adjustable as is the bonnet itself.
Chuck Schaefer

The bonnet should be adjusted to close by just dropping it as Cam states. It should close if dropped from about 12". DO NOT push it closed or you WILL dent the bonnet. The secondary (saftey) latch should be adjusted to slide out of the way on its own while closing.
R J Brown

Don't forget that there should be a return spring on the catch.
Barry Bahnisch

The problem is the safety latch stands to much forwards and won't slide over the bracket,even when i place the bracket total forward.
Is it posible to adjust the safety latch,can't see anything there to adjust.
serge

Sounds like the catch (mounting) may have been bent, in which case it should bend back to the right position.
Neil McGurk

The latch on mine is welded to the bonnet, so no adjustment there. It is only the bracket that is adjustable. This is what it should look like when working ok.

Steve

Steve Gyles

On the matter of letting the bonnet drop into position I would never ever do this. Its a long bonnet with fairly flexible hinges and the front of the bonnet can easily drift off line and hit the edge of the shroud as did mine when an MOT mechanic dropped it from a foot or so and chipped the paint. I manually move the catch clear of the keep and then gently push down at the front edge -where it has timber stiffening.
J H Cole

You are spot on Steve with your answer, the bracket does adjust. You just have to take care not to mess up the paint around it when you move it.
Like JH I also would never let the bonnet drop to close it, aluminium isnt really up being dropped and will probably be dented or bent or, at the very least, suffer some paint damage to the front edges.
My bonnet doesnt have the wood re-inforcing at the front so I just carefully push it closed and it latches with no problem.
Colyn
Colyn Firth

i have atteched a picture of mine
when the bracket fully moved to the front of the car the safety latch won't go over it
looks like the safty latch is to much forward


serge

Serge,
My bonnet has the same problem as yours. I always have to push the safety catch back to allow it to go over the bracket. A fellow once told me to insert a screwdriver in the safety catch and bend it back. I am afraid it may not work, so I never did this.

Closing the bonnet I always "spread my hands" out over the front of the bonnet and press down.
Years ago on my B I put a dent in the hood closing it,so learned my lesson long ago.

Ray
Ray Ammeter

the problem is also when i'm open the bonnet the safety latch is stuck on the metal rail where the brack is bolt on so the bonnet won't open enough to push the safety latch back.
I think i have to weld something on the safety latch so that it won't come so far forward

serge
serge

Serge

The latch is either bent forward or its end stop has worn. If you look at my photo you will see that it should be vertical as it strikes the catch. Yours is slanting forward.

Steve
Steve Gyles

looks like the safety latch is straight

serge

where the screwdriver is pointed is where it comes to the bonnet


serge

Serge

It looks no more worn than mine. Can you post a close up picture of the latch mount and surrounding area of the underside of the bonnet/

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve

here is one

serge

Serge

It's a little inconclusive from the photo, but my gut feeling is that it is a new bracket that has been welded to the bonnet too far forward and it is angled forward. There is a right angle plate immediately behind the main locking mechanism. The front edge of the latch bracket should be 2,5cm behind that plate.

Cheers

Steve
Steve Gyles

Serge, my bracket seems to be farther forward then yours.

I wonder if you could weld a small piece of metal on the bracket so the lever wouldn't come as far forward?

It looks as though it was designed to be perpendicular to the bonnet, and your leans to far forward.


Good luck
-Bruce

B Suelzle

Serge

Just to clarify, see image.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Hi there
Please note the difference between the part where the latch hooks on to, in the Steve/Serge pictures. Is Serge longer then Steve?

Martin
m zazvorka

Serge,

random thought - have you put the spring on the right way round? I made a bit of a faux pas with mine when I reassembled the bonnet, and it took a magnifying glass on my copy of Original MGA to see which way round the spring went on the catch.

Kind regards,

Grant
G Hudson

Serge
I bet after 50 years its just worn out. I had this too, careful welding and some fettling (or filing) and a bit of trial and error should put it back in the right place.
Pete
Pete Tipping

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2010 and 19/05/2010

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