| Author | Message | ||
     Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 493 Registered: 5-2007 |
Over the last several years I have had the torsion bars in the boot break three times. The boot had never sat straight on one side and it seems attempts to 'force' it to do so through various adjustments put stresses on the weakest point: The hole for the split pin on the end of the torsion bar inside the hinge. Having tried everything I could think of multiple times I've finally narrowed it down to the following. On the underside of the boot lid are two removable plates onto/into which the hinge is bolted. One of these is bent considerably - probably from attempts to remove the boot using only 2 people and/or without enough support while the bolts were being undone/done up. As can be seen, the culprit is warped. It shouldn't (I hope) be too difficult to get it straightened in a body shop but I wonder if it might be worthwhile to weld a reinforcing length of steel to the flat side (with holes for the bolts and socket of course). Or is this extra weight likely to further stress the hinge geometry? Any suggestions appreciated - including ways in which to mount/unmount the boot lid without ending up with this problem again. Top is the bent one   | ||
| Maxwell Heazlewood Prolific User Username: tasbent Post Number: 181 Registered: 9-2017 |
Hmmmm....what's happened tot he pics....flatlined? | ||
| Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 494 Registered: 5-2007 |
No Maxwell - they are long narrow plates. I had to crop and shrink the photos to fit but the proportions are correct. They are usually hidden under the carpet on the boot lid. The car is SRH20280, a Shadow one. | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 243 Registered: 7-2012 |
Interesting. Been involved with Shadow from introduction in 1965, never come across this issue! Unfortunately, do not have answer, but to say problem unusual. | ||
| Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 495 Registered: 5-2007 |
Just another photo showing the 2 plates side by side. I suspect the easiest solution is to try and buy a second hand one from a wrecker but my experience with these has been mostly receiving parts that are just as damaged as what I'm trying to replace.  | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 782 Registered: 4-2015 |
Jeff... So the hinge has broken three times during which time the plate has been bent each of those three times? What is the saying about repeating the same thing and expecting different results? Having identified a possible problem contributing to the issue, were it me, I would be inclined to straighten the plate without modification unless necessary for the repair and see if that resolves the issue. The only cost will be the repair and possibly a fourth hinge and by now you are well versed in hinge replacement! Just saying. . | ||
| Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 496 Registered: 5-2007 |
It was only by a process of elimination that I picked it up - it was very much not obvious. The first 2 times I paid marque specialists to "fix" it. Neither of them noticed the problem, prefering to just screw the hinge adjusting nut in to the maximum. The first time (after 30 odd grand in body work!) was just put down to age - the torsion bars do snap; the second was a replacement installed to fix it at a different shop: the third I bought a new bar and tried myself. In the process I disassembled everything and discovered the hidden anamoly. I think the steel is by now beyond straightening but I'll try it and see - I suspect it's pretty fatigued and will just warp again under pressure. The lesson is I think that it takes 2 people to hold the boot lid in position very firmly and a third to screw/unscrew the bolts - both during removal and refitting. | ||
| Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 497 Registered: 5-2007 |
Just for reference this is where the plate normally sits. It is not normally taken off the boot lid when the lid is removed to work on the hinge mechanism. The hinges are extremely robust but, as I mentioned, the weak point is the split pin through the end of the torsion bars inside the gubbins once it has been tightened. The other end of each bar is inserted into a movable lever on the outside of the hinge.  | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 783 Registered: 4-2015 |
Jeff... I think what I was trying to express is to fix the found and now known faults first and see if that resolves the issue. Changing/modifying things only if necessary. Fingers crossed for good luck. Avoiding shortcuts that can compromise the entire mission. etc. , | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Experienced User Username: wraithman Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2017 |
The narrow channels are designed to dissipate the force needed to close the boot. The boot is aluminum and the hinges are actually sandwiched within this metal channel and bolted thru. Bending the cover in a hydraulic press should rectify the problem. If an unusiual amount of force is needed to close the boot I would look for improper torsion bar install or a defective hinge. | ||
| Jeff McCarthy Grand Master Username: jefmac2003 Post Number: 498 Registered: 5-2007 |
True Robert. Just to be precise though it's an aluminium skin on a steel frame. As far as I can tell the frame is fine - fingers crossed. I'll look for a hydraulic press equipped shop tomorrow. |
