Capri - Bonnet Catch Adjustment

Being partially isolated due to the pandemic has meant a bit more time to do some maintenance tasks on the Capris. Next on the list was to adjust the bonnet catch on the green Deluxe. The bonnet has a rare habit of popping up when you least expect it. Thankfully, the safety catch works & prevents the bonnet from lifting right up. On a recent run over some country roads, the bonnet popped twice. I have a theory that when the body flexs a little on bends or bumps, the catch releases.
The first thing I did was measure the height of both the bump stops & the bonnet catch with the spring. I then wound back the RHS bump stop a few mm to even it up with the LHS. Next was to see if the rod was entering the bonnet catch correctly. Using some masking tape, it seemed as if this was all good.


Then to lengthen the pin/rod so it would fit more securely into the catch. That's when the difficulty started. The pin/rod would not turn even after the spring locking nut had been released. No matter how hard I tried & with different large screwdrivers, it would not budge. I guess it hadn't been moved for 50 years. OK, out with the RP7 & Inox. Much spraying at different times & still no movement. I ended up leaving it for the day & came back the next day & continued spraying & trying to undo it. Finally, with a spanner clamped onto the screw driver, I got a little movement. Working it back & forward slowly finally cracked it & then it started to undo.
The whole bonnet pin assembly looked like it hadn't been cleaned for many years so it was taken apart & cleaned up.



Then everything back on & with a few adjustments, it all looks good. Let's wait for the final comment after a bit of driving.