[TR] Help Needed With TR4A Hood Latch

[Peter Fullam]

Hi George,

Same thing happened to my TR4 years ago. I wiggled into the passenger
footwell with a saber saw and cut a 3x4" hole in the top of it, from the
under side. I reached in with a wrench and unbolted the latch from the
bonnet. I got the latch problem sorted and made a patch for the hole, which
I installed with sheet metal screws. I also replaced the release cable with
a solid wire version from JCWhitney. That was around 1976, and it has been
trouble free ever since.

Pete Fullam

-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of GHaynesTR4 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:18 PM
To: triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: [TR] Help Needed With TR4A Hood Latch

Here's the sad scenerio: 
 
We're installing the hood on my TR4A following a new paint job.
While adjusting the front hinges, we allowed the hood to latch (at the
back).
Now the latch will not release. 
 
THE RELEASE LEVER IS RETRACTED FULLY (both from inside the car and using the
emergency cable.) We removed the hinge bolts by reaching up from below, so
the front now opens maybe 3 inches.
With a stick and a hook, we were able to poke the latch and pull on it.   
No luck releasing it!

Short of torching a large hole in the rear of the (freshly-painted) hood,
does anyone have a suggestion for releasing the latch pin, which may have
sunk too deeply into the latch?
George Haynes
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