[T3] Squareback Rear Hatch

Gary Forsmo gbforsmo at gmail.com
Wed Jun 13 09:43:33 PDT 2012


I'm working on the 1969 Squareback right rear hatch hinge.

It wants to "hang up" and bend/spring the hinge arm when I try to
lower the hatch from the full-up position.  With an (inordinate)
amount of down-force on the hatch, the torsion bars(?) or bars inside
the area where everything is connected, finally emits a loud "snap"
and allows the lid to be closed. But it surely doesn't operate as it
should.
Maybe 43 years of ups-and-downs may have worn some of the pivot points.

I really don't need this aggravation with less than a week to go
before departure for the Invasion.

Is this a common problem on Squares?  Fasty's?
Do the pivot points need to be re-bushed?
Lubricated?
Other fixes?

I believe there is supposed to be an slight angle in the middle of
each arm.  But, the right arm seems to have a slightly greater angle
to it than the left.  It may have been bent because of exerting too
much down-force on the arms, rods, pivots, etc., before it  "snaps"
and is allowed close.

Gary "Frito" - '69 Variant, FI, MT
Rockport, TX (winter)
Lake Geneva, WI (summer)



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