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MG MG Y Type - Bonnet (Hood) catches

Hi All,
It may sound like a silly question, but does anybody know how our bonnet catches come apart - that is - if they do?

The reason I need to know is that I am investigating the possible reproduction of these items and the catch needs to be broken down into its component parts to assess casting requirements etc..
Thanks.
Keith

Keith D Herkes

Hi Keith,

as far as I'm aware, they don't come apart. When I rebuilt my car I tried to take them apart, hoping that the MG octagon handle end would unscrew from the catch - no such joy. I then heated the bend in the 'hook' in the vain hope that I could straighten it out and remove it that way. No such luck - it simply snapped.
Regards,
Jack
J.L. Murray

Abingdon Spares has a box full of new ones. Ask Bobbie.
S.R. Barrow

Keith

As Jack says, these do not come apart, easily!! That said, if you need a sacraficial one to play with I may have one somewhere that I can send you possibly. Email me off line and we can discuss more.

In the interim, if any one needs some, it would appear from Scott Barrow's post that Abingdon Spares LLC will be worth contacting. Details can be found on the Links Page at www.mgytypes.org.

Paul
Paul Barrow

They can be taken apart by carefully heating and straiting the hook. Have had all four taken apart in this manner and rechromed and put back together. I did not do it myself but had my restorer do it for me as he has had a lot more experience at this type of thing than me.
Frank
F.G. Russell

Hi Frank

That sounds positive! I will drop you a note off line.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks Scott for your post, - I contacted Bobbie at Abingdon Spares and post their answer;

"We do have some. Three (3) are new - but I actually believe they could have been rechromed.Price is $75.00 each plus shipping. There
are also some used for $50.00 each plus shipping."

Hope this helps someone.

Frank, I was coming to the conclusion that the only way to do it was by bending the hook, but Jack's experience (thanks Jack)had me doubting if it could be done safely. Will need to investigate further.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

Finaly got to talk to Doug on how he took apart and put back together the bonnet catches.
Push the shaft in and grip with a pair of vice grips (holds it and also acts as a heat sink).
Use an oxy acetylene torch to apply heat to the area to be straightened or bent. Staiighten or bend carefully.
Do no use a propane style torch as it will not heat up the area fast enough.
If you do not have a oxy acetylene tourch and most of us do not take to your friendly machine shop.
Frank
F.G. Russell

Going back to where Keith started this thread (i.e. making new bonnet catches)I think he was asking how to disassemble an old catch in order to make a list of new parts to be manufactured.
Once that has been done, perhaps the simplest way to assemble the new bits (remember these would only be made in limited numbers) would be to put a male thread on the upper end of the hook and a corresponding female thread in the lower end of the octagonal handle. On assembly, the parts would then be simply screwed together,the correct orientation of hook and MG script on the handle being fixed with a blob of threadlock.
Bill.
W M (Bill) Bennett

Hi,
Just back from holiday(vacation). Frank, I am grateful for your further input which proves that they can be taken apart and re-assembled in the manner you describe. However, as Bill says, re-manufacture is my goal, so I may well have to go the practical route that Bill very kindly suggests. Paul Barrow has generously sent me some old catches to "play with", so I can experiment "to destruction" if needs be. Further report in due course. But in the meantime, back to head lamp brackets project.
Keith D Herkes

I like the way you are thinking there Bill and I am sure Keith will do something smart!

All great stuff for getting and keeping these great cars on the road!

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2010 and 04/08/2010

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