Hood Latch Adjustment

[GeorgeG]

I just put the hood back on my '61. Hood is aligned just fine, but the passenger side latch doesn't want to release. Driver's side is fine. If I juggle the front of the hood and have a friend yank on the hood release again, the hood finally opens. Is this just a matter of shifting the latch assembly a bit, or could it be something more complicated?

Thanks

[Jim Wulf]

I just put the hood back on my '61. Hood is aligned just fine, but the passenger side latch doesn't want to release. Driver's side is fine. If I juggle the front of the hood and have a friend yank on the hood release again, the hood finally opens. Is this just a matter of shifting the latch assembly a bit, or could it be something more complicated?

Thanks

Shift the receiver mechanism forward a little bit at a time, barely a 1/16" until the latch releases normally. The best way I've found is to back out the four bolts just enough to allow the receiver plate to move when tapped very lightly with a wood block. Also make sure the pin and and the receiver are properly lubricated before even moving the receiver.

[GeorgeG]

Thanks Jim. I'll give it a try.

[GeorgeG]

Didn't work, Jim. I think the spring is weak. Now to find a replacement somewhere in the interweb universe.

[Jim Wulf]

Didn't work, Jim. I think the spring is weak. Now to find a replacement somewhere in the interweb universe.

So which spring do you think is weak? I'll assume the conical coil spring on the pin and I have yet to see one of those become weak. All it does is push the hood up a little after the catch has already released the pin. The torsional spring on the catch resets the catch after the pin has released, so that wouldn't cause the the problem you have. Have you already tried lowering the pin in the hood a thread or two? I should have mentioned that in my first post. And, again, make sure everything is properly lubricated as well.

I do have spare conical springs and catch assemblies if you really need one.