My engine lid lock is very stiff Is it possible to take it apart and clean it up internally so it works? I think its a 72/73 engine lid and lock It looks like there is one screw that that will allow me to remove the entire lock. Gratefully for any pointers on how to take it to bits and refurb it! Thanks
@paulcalf i think it is just one screw to remove it. Unless you really want to strip it down though just spray some plusgas in the keyslot itself and on the latch at the back, a few turns with the key should get it going
Thanks its the button that is really stiff, so i think it needs a full strip down and clean. I wasnt sure if i would need any specific tools etc I've just found a you tube video and it does look lile it all comes apart without any tools
Surely somone on here has done the job. I'll wait for a reply of someone who has done it, before i remove mine
I’ve done it @paulcalf Just remove the retaining screw, to get the handle out you may need to push the button in so the latch tucks away and you can pull it through the hole in the engine lid. I think the only thing holding it together is a dowel pin which acts as a pivot for the latch. Drift that out and the barrel and spring should slide out
On the key mechanism only use powdered graphite to lubricate, I'm sure the latch parts will be fine with ordinary grease.
Thanks v much. I'll attempt it after returning from camping this bank holiday. Don't want to try it before I depart in case I cock it up and can't shut the engine lid!
@paulcalf prob best to wait til you get home yeah! I think it’s the top one of these two pins that you drift out to remove the lock barrel, been a while since i did it though
Ooops I forgot to attempt this job after the bank holiday weekend. Before this weekends camping trip, I attempted to open my engine lid to check oil level etc It wouldn't open! Eventually got it sorted so I could open the engine lid, topped up my oil ad had a lovely weekend away. I've cleaned up the lock and it all operates smoothly when the lid is open, but when the lid is shut i really struggle to open it. I assume it a problem with alignment Any suggestions on how I can adjust it so it opens freeley - i need to be able to get into my engine compartment!
Here are some pics which may help. The push button operates freely when the engine lid is open. When engine lid is closed the button is stiff and I can't easily open it. Could it be as simple as adjusting the bottom bit of the catch plate. Any ideas @davidoft or anyone else who has cured a hard to open engine lid, even though push button operates freely
Just fitted a new seal on the engine bay and got a similar problem, easy when open really hard to press button in when shut. Smoothing the latch on the body and catch on the boot helped. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Mine has been skilfully "restored" with the striker plate bolt holes in the rear valance set up so the striker does not align with the latch. To work out what was happening I set my mobile phone to video with the LED flash on and propped it up and videoed the action from inside the engine bay. I had to file out the holes in the striker plate to get it to fit in roughly the right place. Now I can just get it to shut but a big bump then it pops open...And the button is hard to press because the latch is wedging on the striker plate rather than popping fully open after passing it. The paint is chipped where I have to slam the lid. Its also cracked the paint on the sides of the number plate recess..
I did that the other day once I finally got the engine lid open. It seemed to help but it still not sorted
Should I try and adjust the striker plate so it sits (further back) towards the front of the bus or (further forward) towards the back of the bus then? I don't want to make it worse as I can only just open it as it is (at the moment)
There are two adjustments you can make; the striker plate and the latch itself. Moving the striker plate towards the back of the van should make it easier to open, but may result in the engine lid sitting further out than it should. I'd try that first to see if it makes it any easier. There is also a small amount of up and down adjustment on the latch which will allow more/less of the little tongue to catch behind the striker plate. I had fun getting ours to fit with a new engine lid and seal. I had to proper slam it to get it to shut, and then it would always pop open again after a few seconds. I moved the latch down a little and it then shut perfectly. Left it for a week or two for the seal to bed in, and it now shuts with a satisfying thunk.
