Decklid Latch Fix
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2020 8:53 am
I love having a lathe. Mine is from 1963, nothing fancy, and I know needs to be re-calibrated. Still though, I can do a lot of stuff that doesn't have to be NASA spec. quality. The center part fell out of the decklid latch on my bus years ago and I don't want to drop $80 or more for a newer one. I got around to fixing it this weekend with some aluminum tube, aluminum round rod, and thin bolt and nut.
The tube section would sit stationary and the round bar will be the push-button actuation. The fit of the round bar into the tube was close so I opened up the tubing by drilling it with 1/2" bit and then cleaning up the end of the tube on the lathe. Still wouldn't fit, so I turned the round bar down a couple thousands on the lathe. I couldn't figure out a good way to get the hook portion to retract (with a spring, etc.) as well as keep the round bar from falling out. I went with a nut and bolt all the way through and dremelled out a channel. Works great, just a quiet click when I close the decklid now.
The tube section would sit stationary and the round bar will be the push-button actuation. The fit of the round bar into the tube was close so I opened up the tubing by drilling it with 1/2" bit and then cleaning up the end of the tube on the lathe. Still wouldn't fit, so I turned the round bar down a couple thousands on the lathe. I couldn't figure out a good way to get the hook portion to retract (with a spring, etc.) as well as keep the round bar from falling out. I went with a nut and bolt all the way through and dremelled out a channel. Works great, just a quiet click when I close the decklid now.