Bonnet spring

Elan Discussions
1

I am told that the Elan bonnet should open up a bit and spring hold it up a little when the inside released are pulled.

My car does not do this- I have to pull it up. I fit a new spring and it appears to be mounted as original, unless I’m missing something (likely).
Do most of them pop open?

Mark

2

When the catch has released, the bonnet should pop up about 6 inch, you then have to lift it yourself to release the spring from the hook and then you can remove the bonnet .As far as I am aware It is not designed to lift the bonnet completely to get access to engine bay.

Regards

G

3

Try a little grease on the slides. Often provides a simple and instant fix.

4

All bonnet springs were not made equal. A friend of mine had a spring that was weak as f…k, would not raise the bonnet when the catch was pulled, and he wondered why not. When I tried hooking and unhooking his spring, I could pull it out about a foot, the spring was so weak.

Get yourself a correct spring and the bonnet will pop up.

Leslie

5

This one seems pretty stiff- I have a hard time pulling it up to hook. But of course not much room to get hand in there for a good grip.
I will try suggestions. I bought this one new from one of the usual suspects.
I know it will not hold it up- but having it pop up a few inches would certainly make things easier.

Thanks for suggestions.

Mark

6

Does your bonnet rotate on nylon bolt heads and have a metal shell, or directly on the fibreglass?

7

Hi Mark,
For years I have used this method of unhooking the spring.
I have a 400mm long 10mm wide cable tie, the end pushed into the lock to form an elongated loop about 150 to 200mm long. This is placed over the spring and drops down by the bottom of the rad.
When I want to unhook the spring, from the right side of the car, with the right hand I reach down to the cable tie and position it under the hook alongside the bonnet clip. Then, with the left hand (resting on the top of the radiator) I take the strain of the spring. With the right hand, I pull the hook out from the bonnet clip, then gently allow the spring to relax. The cable tie tends to stay on the spring and is retained when the spring is hooked to the bonnet.
As they say “Replacement is the reversal of the procedure outlined above.”
Once you get the hang of using it, it is a quick and easy, safe way to remove the bonnet spring.
Graham

1 « J'aime »
1966 Elan FHC, my bought-not-built car
8

It rotates on nylon bolts and a metal sleeve.
I put a bit of silicon grease on it- still the same.

It was just around the steering racki- that is correct, yes?

Mark

9

It might be the catches are not fully releasing.
On my Sprint I pull the bonnet release and tap the bonnet slightly for it to pop up.
Even with a very strong bonnet spring

10

Yes you are correct
the spring fits around the steering rack an bonnet rotates on nylon bolts onto a stainless flat slide. If the bonnet catches the bodywork that could make the bonnet harder to release .Also over the years lots of body filler on the bonnet could have made it heavier from various repairs etc etc.
Regards
G

11

This^^^. After my last paint job, I found the bonnet to weigh almost twice what it originally weighed. The
painter thought ‘if a little is good, more must be better’ :frowning: . Hate to think how much more the car
weighs now. And the bonnet barely raises because of this.

12

I cannot see damage from the underside, but likely has several layers of paint.

It appears to be releasing well- even when off the latches is will not stay up at all- not even a few mm.
Lubing the metal/nylon didn’t seem to help.
New spring is no different than the original one.

The metal tab where it connects seems ok, but then I don’t have anything to compare. I will look at that also- but it does not seem it could be distorted very much.

Thanks for all the ideas.
Mark

13

Hi
Have you checked the hook on the bonnet is not bent in a downward position, thus relieving the pressure on the spring to pop the bonnet to a reasonable height. My sprint releases to approx 150mm.Take the bonnet off and bend the hook more towards the front of the car.
Good luck
G

14

Hi
Alternatively, you can modify everything a little.
Not for purists, of course. :laughing:

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I can remove my hood in seconds, although I rarely have to do that, not even to check the oil level :smiley:
Urs

15

Here is the anchor on mine

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16

Hi
That is a totally different set up to my sprint. Whether it’s an early set up or a bodge up I don’t know. Unfortunately I cannot send pic from my Mac.I could do it on my phone if you send me an email.
Regards
G

17

Hi Mark
Pics sent to your email.Hope they help
Regards
G

18

Mark,

This is probably not what you want to hear. My bonnet would not lift, neither the old or new spring seemed strong enough. I used my tool bag hanging from the hook on the bonnet front, and kept putting things in the bag until the bonnet lifted, I then had a nearby spring company make me a spring to apply the same force. This spring is so strong I lost my nerve and have fitted two small compression springs at the screen end of the bonnet. The bonnet now pops up enough to get my fingers in and lift it up or off.

Hope this helps,

Richard Hawkins

19

That seems the easiest solution.

20

Have you considered going to the type 26 arrangement of two springs, one on each side near the hinge. My bonnet pops open nearly 45 degrees and is very easy to close. I don’t have a heat blanket on the inside and I know there is no filler on it. Gary