[T3] rear hatch/hinge issue

[Jim Adney]

Daniel,

Bent hinges happen on Squares. Most of the time I suspect the cause 
can be traced back to owners who are not aware of the following 2 
sentences in the Owner's Manual that describe how to unlock and open 
the rear door: [Unlock the door.] "Then grasp the edge of the door 
underneath the lock and lift the door until it is held in the fully 
open position by the torsion springs. Try not to let the door fly up 
on its own as this may strain the hinges." That's from page 8 of the 
'70 manual, but I think all years include that warning.  

I have hinge parts if you need them. Inspect the pivot points of the 
new parts you get, to make sure they have not worn out, as that 
sometimes happens. Lube them before you install them.

You'll need something like the tool shown in the workshop manual. Do 
not plan to dive into this with makeshift tooling, as that's a road 
to losing a finger, or worse. There's serious stored energy in those 
torsion bars. Also, don't try to make do with something shorter; 
you're going to need all the leverage you can get.

I can imagine buying a very long screwdriver at Harbor Freight and 
then bending it into the proper shape. That would require a good 
vise, probably a torch, and maybe an anvil. I've done this job 
before, but I don't remember what I used to do it.

If you want me to make a tool, send me the diameter of the torsion 
bar rod and the center to center spacing across the loop at the end. 
I'll see what I can do. I could then rent you the tool, or sell it to 
you, your choice. I have other parts to ship you anyway.

Jim

On 29 Jan 2017 at 9:59, Daniel Nohejl wrote:

> So as luck would have it, our rear hatch got stuck open yesterday. It has happened once or twice before, but it took just a bit of extra effort to get it closed. Not so yesterday as it was stuck really good and the hinge visibly flexed when we tried to close it. It turns out the hinge is now bent as hell and the hatch closes like this

-- 
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************