[Mgs] suggest, lock trunk MGB

[Paul Hunt]

Glad that wasn't my car he was clattering!

I never could really see how you could hook a length of coat hanger wire
through the reversing light aperture to open the boot lock, as it would have
to be hooked round the top half of the pivoting latch and pull it towards the
front of the car to be effective.  Inserting it through a hole in the rear
bulkhead maybe.  Twist's method stands more chance, but the business end has
to bear on the lower half of the pivoting latch and press it towards the rear
of the car.  Even though not much pressure is required where you have a
straight push against the latch given the angles involved I don't think steady
pressure through the reverse light hole would be enough.  Hitting it using his
tool may well work as he says, but I'm not surprised it can take an hour or
more of trying to get lucky.  Anyone with a GT can see for themselves what is
involved by removing the cover plate and working from inside the car, as
http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/wn_bodyframe.htm and clicking on 'Boot/Trunk
Release' shows.

As far as twisting the handle goes the both the body of the handle and the
hole in the lid have flats to prevent it twisting any more than is necessary
to allow insertion which only gives a few degrees normally, and not the 1/8th
or 1/4 turn mentioned (YMMV).  Nevertheless this can be enough to drill a
small hole immediately below the body of the handle, which will be covered
when the handle is twisted the other way, and will allow a pin to be inserted
to press down on the upper half of the pivoting latch.

PaulH.
  ----- Original Message -----


  John Twist posted a video on UTube and attempts to open the boot lock here:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUA-OlW-nK0