Good tip, Frank.
For a while, my bonnet would pop open often. The safety would hold it, but
it was still unnerving. I found that when the grille is removed, it is easy
to see what is going on with the main latch. In my case, it was a
combination of misalignment and a gummed up mechanism. The piece of flat
stock that makes up the moving latch did not slide all the way under the
cone that is the latch part that is attached to the bonnet. Spring tension
is supposed to engage it, but I could push it much further under the cone by
hand (with grille removed). I had to play around with it for a while to get
it aligned right.
Test the safety catch as well, make sure it will hold the bonnet when it
springs open.
Ulix
----- Original Message -----
From "Frank Clarici" <spritenut at Exit109.com>
To: "Spridgets" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 4:09 PM
Subject: Safety Check
> Square body Spridget owners
>
> For your own safety and piece of mind, grab the front lip of
> your bonnet,
> wiggle it vigorously from side to side and up and down, see if
> it unlatches.
>
> The 67 Sprite I am working on showed signs of a creased cowl.
> I know from experience that when a bonnet pops open and flys
> up, it will crease the cowl, smash the widscreen, and fold
> over the top. (My own 67 Sprite did just that back in 1972)
> When the bonnet flys open, not only does it do damage to the
> car but you can not see. Picture 50 mph and all of a sudden
> you are blinded by a bonnet covering your windscreen. Aim for
> the shoulder and hope for the best.
>
> The 67 I am working on recently popped it's bonnet on a short
> drive.
> I know it was latched and I always give them a tug after I had
> one pop.
> So I grabbed it, wiggled it and it popped open fairly easily.
> The catch was worn out just a bit and this was the cause.
>
> Maybe this problem is unique to 67 Sprites, I doubt it. Check
> those bonnet catches. I fixed this one before anything
> happened to me. And sure there is a safety catch on Spridgets
> too but back in 72, my safety catch didn't help.
>
>
> Frank
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