Door hinge spring on 68 help request
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
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From: Catlett VA
Door hinge spring on 68 help request
On my 68 convert, the S-shaped door hinge springs - to hold the door open - keep slipping down so the bottom part of the spring eventually does not contact the little rollers on the hold-open mechanism on the hinge. Any suggestions for keeping them up in proper position? I'm getting pretty good at using the special bent screwdriver installation tool.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
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On my 68 convert, the S-shaped door hinge springs - to hold the door open - keep slipping down so the bottom part of the spring eventually does not contact the little rollers on the hold-open mechanism on the hinge. Any suggestions for keeping them up in proper position? I'm getting pretty good at using the special bent screwdriver installation tool.
Installing them requires a 12' flat blade screwdriver or similar tool with a 45 degree bend 2 " FROM THE TIP..Spring is put in place on the upper end and then screwdriver tool used to coax the lower part og the "S" to engage the detent and hole in the lower part of the door hinge..jim
ps there are some good ho to vids on utube and Wilcox and others sell the proper spting and tool if you are not handy..
Last edited by jim in oregon; Apr 18, 2016 at 03:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
The proper hold open springs for your careshould not drop down too far to where they are not engageing on the lower hinge detents.
Installing them requires a 12' flat blade screwdriver or similar tool with a 45 degree bend 2 " FROM THE TIP..Spring is put in place on the upper end and then screwdriver tool used to coax the lower part og the "S" to engage the detent and hole in the lower part of the door hinge..jim
ps there are some good ho to vids on utube and Wilcox and others sell the proper spting and tool if you are not handy..
Installing them requires a 12' flat blade screwdriver or similar tool with a 45 degree bend 2 " FROM THE TIP..Spring is put in place on the upper end and then screwdriver tool used to coax the lower part og the "S" to engage the detent and hole in the lower part of the door hinge..jim
ps there are some good ho to vids on utube and Wilcox and others sell the proper spting and tool if you are not handy..
Former Vendor
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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New spring or old? Like you said about filing it flat so it sits properly, that could be a problem but something isnt right for it to fall down. Iit should always have some tension on it to stay in there
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
When loaded properly there will always be tension... The video above shows how to load the spring from both angles and should help Ron figure out the issue..
At least I hope so. Willcox
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Catlett VA
Thanks. The video, which I also watched a couple months ago, confirmed what I suspected. The "upper" part of the S spring on the aftermarket (Chinese?) spring is the wrong dimension. It is just a little too long to tap up far enough so the end will pop into the "D" slot. The top of the spring hits the inside of the fender and will not go up far enough. I have whacked it really hard to try to go the additional distance- probably only 1/16 inch- to get the end in the D slot, but it will not go. The passenger side is OK. Either that spring is a little smaller or there is more clearance between the hinge and the fender. I'll file the end a little until it fits. BTW- I did not buy the springs from Willcox. Probably should have.
Last edited by ronarndt; Apr 20, 2016 at 01:30 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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Can you flip the spring over on the chance the other leg is a different length
Former Vendor
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The best thing you can do is just take a die grinder and cut off a tiny bit (about 1/8") and it'll seat just fine.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Catlett VA
"cut off a tiny bit (about 1/8") " Yep- that's the fix. I guess the Chinese were just trying to give a little extra with their springs.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Catlett VA
RR- the other leg is a different length- a lot longer- so that makes it worse if you try to flip it. The Willcox suggestion to cut a small piece off worked. I should have laid the two springs side-by-side before I installed them. One of them worked, so that was the correct dimension and I might have been smart enough to trim the other one before installing it.