I’m going to have to have a good look at the hinges when I’m a bit more with it. Like you I have took this hatch off and put it back in again a fair few times some times holding it on my own Other times with another person to just help hold it and I’ve never had this problem before. I’ll have a look in the Bentley manual tomorrow to see if there’s any info there on tweaking the hinges. If not then god help me I’ll have to have a delve into the samba to see if there’s owt. I don’t mind using a bit of force I just don’t want to be making it worse.
My guess - the springs do a U at one end through two holes it the u- channel part of the hinge as I pictured above. I vaguely remember once having some trouble getting the spring through both holes in that part as it's very close to the end of the spring, so my guess is it's slipped out and now pushing the bracket sideways. the other side of this bit. Probably not quite that close but not far out.
Pull the left down slightly , push the right up slightly remove the latch , pull the top in slightly , close slowly , see where it touches first
There’s no more adjustment up or down available on the top two bolts either side It’s quite strained getting the bolts in on the left hand side. The latch wasn’t fitted.
I can’t find any info in the Bentley manual About the hinges or any adjustment. I do recall reading somewhere about removing the spring that it requires a special tool. I’m hoping Zeds suspicion about the bar popping out is correct If not I’m wondering if it’s possible to remove the spring and then try to fit the tailgate Then if I can get it all to sit correctly refit the spring afterwards?
I don't think you can do that, the hinge flops about without the spring. I used a nail bar with grooves ground into it - not ideal - full concentration required!
I think if you give your hinges a good looking at you should spot some difference from one side to the other.
I’m hoping so But as I’m unable to get back to the workshop for a while I’m just musing through different things. You don’t happen to have a pic of your modified nail bar do you?
No, but if you find a suitable lever and eye it up, you'll find it wants to slip - a slight groove stops that. What you end up with is sort of fitting it on and off on the end of a stick, the stick being used to twist it.
Like this - looks like this chappie bent his and I suggest that was a result of using it rather than deliberately though it might have been deliberate - nail bar is cranked at the end so it probably just worked. This is a split, but same idea.
Ditto. Mine isn’t perfect yet but only just touches the rubber when fully open. @paradox do you have these bulges on the inside that restrict it? My left is making contact with them whereas the right is a couple mm off touching.
Yes mine has the bulges When I’m next down I’ll check if the arms are sitting on them when the tailgate is open The side that’s sitting too high might not be As when I folded up a rag and put it between the arm and the body there was more clearance on that side than before.
