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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Stuck Bonnet

After replacing the bonnet release cable a couple of weeks ago the bonnet was now releasing nicely, but now for some reason the release cable appears to be pulling the bonnet release catch and releasing it, but it looks like the bonnet safety catch is stuck down, so the bonnet is only partly released in the center and to the left, but the right hand side is stuck securely down by the safety catch.

Anyone had the same problem and can give any tips on how to release the safety catch to release the bonnet?
Tim Lynam

Yepp...I call it the grandma effect, it has its good days and its bad days, just like grandma

I havent figured it out yet...ive lubed it many times , and play with it from time to time as well in the spring spiky section, as well as the 2 buffering blocks on ither side

I wonder if its some kind of heat expansion taking place, between the extreme seasons of winter and summer...luckly Its a rare issue for me, so ive never messed.with it much... I did have to mess with it agian about a months ago but its usually only 15 minutes at a time... just one of thise pesky issues not worth loosing sleep over... thats why we have 2 shoes so you can scavange a shoe string to tie down the bonnet with till you can massage the bits agian into working order

Prop

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Im ive thought in the past to move thr release cable to the front in the grill and maybe that might help loosing 3 feet of cable ...but its a better thought then ive got time to put into practice

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

But in this case I do not think the bonnet release cable is the problem, as per the attached pic it looks like the safety catch that is stuck, but when you cannot see through the bonnet its hard to know for sure whats stuck.




Tim Lynam

Now that is strange...

And it does eventually sit square ?

Id look at the 2 buffer blocks and see if there both making contact

My guess is once the buffer blocks are alinged properly you will have the same issues I got where it take 10 - 15 attempts to shut and secure the bonnet, before it finally latches hold

Id mentioned the cable in passing, but I mess with all the componets and have not found the cause or the cure... its fine for along time, then all of a sudden, its grandma time agian... 15 min to 1/2 hour later it works agian for another 6 months... and I have no idea why or what ive done

The best advice I can offer just play with it for awhile... I think its a temp expansion contraction issue....but thats just a guess, with no evideance other the the timing of its hick up

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Looking at that photo agian

Im wondering if that spike/spring is hanging up on the edge of the cup it slides into and is not sitting squarely... maybe move that cup over one direction or the other slightlty

Or put some grease on the spring and spring retainer washer portion of the spike and see if that helps slide into the cup

In the photo the rubber bumper appears to be deformed... is it always that way or only when the bonnet appears like it does in the photo... I dont have any ideas or thoughts as to that, just the observation that makes me go.... Hmmmm ????

Prop

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Thanks for the thoughts Prop, after forcing the bonnet open as far as possible with the bonnet release catch held open, the bonnet is released in the centre and is just held tightly by the safety catch on the right hand side.

I will just have to ask a local midget owner to see how the catch usually releases so I know which bit of the catch to force open and which way to push or pull.

Its strange how normally you just pull the bonnet release flick the release catch under the bonnet without thinking, but when there is a problem and you cannot see whats what, the simple task has disappeared from memory and I am sure there will not be a John Twist video for a jammed bonnet safety catch, is there!

The rubber bumper is not deformed it just looks that way from the photo with the left hand side of the bonnet partly open and the dodgy angle of the photo.

Tim Lynam

Hi,
I'm assuming that the RB bonnet catches are the same as the CB, but I reckon what may of happened is this;

The safety catch normally latches behind the wire loop as shown in the photos grabbed off the web:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/3821398902_8bc8831600.jpg

http://www2.mg-cars.org.uk/images/bbs/posts/97_201103191228412058_71427636207095_1300548020.jpg

It normally allows the bonnet to rise about 1.5 inches to allow enough room to get your hand in and push the latch rewards to unhook it from the wire loop. I suspect that the adjustment went out on yours and when the bonnet was last closed the latch has wedged itself in the gap in front of the loop and is either jammed or hooked below the normal level? If the forward gap is smaller than the release hook, I'm not sure if you will easily release it?

Possibly a steel rule slid in may help unhook it?

Jim
J Smith

Ive actually done what jim just suggested... you only do that once and learn fast to guild the hook past.the safty catch wire...so thays a possiablity of what you might have done and can be a real bear to un hook it

I was thinking more center that spike with the coil spring

By the way, if you detach that coil.spring, and its under load... what ive found that works pretty good to compress it and get the spike screwed back is ...

2 heavy dutie nylon zips compress both sides of the spring but leave a loop of spring at the top and the bottom to sit flush agiast the bottom of rhe bonnet and the coil spring washer...once the spike is screwed into the bonnet several turns, then just cut the zip ties and a small spanner can finnish adjusting and tightening the spike thur the coil

I hope that helps....if your going tobe playing with that.center spike... photo it with your phone 1st, when it explodes coming off, parts go everywhere...

This way you will know what to look for 230 yards away from the event....hahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

new parts should you need them

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGB-MGC-RV8-MG-MIDGET-AUSTIN-HEALEY-SPRITE-STAINLESS-BONNET-SAFETY-CATCH-AHA5617-/251553583830?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a91c312d6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-AUSTIN-HEALEY-SPRITE-MINI-STAINLESS-BONNET-HOOK-FITTINGS-4B8644-/251564397652?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a92681454
Nigel Atkins

Thanks for the tips, it unfortunately took quite allot of brute force and levers to prise the bonnet open.

Jim was partly correct the safety hook was the culprit but had not got stuck in between the wire safety catch, somehow the rear of the catch was pushed back and was caught at the rear of the catch opening, as per the dent in the picture.

The strange thing is that after slowly lowering the bonnet back down the safety catch correctly latches on to the hook, but on pushing the bonnet down to catch on to the centre coil spring the same thing happened again, so I presume its the centre coil spring incorrectly lined up.

Oh well I am sure I will fathom out which part is causing the issue, but its annoying how something so simple can cause such aggravation.



Tim Lynam

Tim, have you tried moving the wire bit forward? I notice yours is adjusted right back and if my memory is correct the safety catch is tapered i.e. bigger at the top which would explain why it fouls when pushed fully down.

Trev
Trevor Mason

Trev, yes your right the wire catch needed bringing forward, as well as the bonnet, but it's strange how for the past two and a half years the bonnet had opened perfectly well.
Tim Lynam

Tim ,

Figure that one out, let me know... im thinking poultergist

Stupid dead chickens...hahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed between 29/06/2014 and 02/07/2014

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