StratfordShark

How do you approach loosening the locknut on the hood latch 'barb'?

I need to slightly lengthen mine, but can't get a good grip with wrench because of the spring coils. Do you have to remove the spring?

When I get the wrench on as well as I can (17mm), it's too tight to turn though part is brand new.

Thanks

dr bob

Can't remove the spring until you loosen the locknut. ;(

But you may be able to compress the spring enough to get it clear of the nut for a good grab with a wrench. Small wire ties threaded around a few coils of the spring make for a poor-man's mini spring compressor, cheap and easy.

Mrmerlin

pull the spring down enough to put on the wrench. then you can adjust the hood catch rod with a screwdriver and then tighten the locknut

Dennis Wilson

You may be able to use a screwdriver on the end of the plunger to lenghten it without loosening the nut, but you will need retighten it. I use a thin open end wrench pushed into the spring opening to tighten mine. A small bite is all that is needed to lock it in place.

Dennis

StratfordShark

Thanks Dennis, will try that as I'm not having much luck trying to pull spring away, either that or the thing is just too tight to loosen when I get a wrench on it

123quattro

I just adjusted mine this past weekend. I fed the wrench in through the coils. Once it was in there, it wasn't hard to loosen.

ZEUS+

Use a line wrench.

LeRox

A spring wrench is also handy for these kind of applications....

Bill Ball

I haven't had too much trouble just jamming an open end in there between the coils.