17 replies to this topic

[mini-man-dan]

Hi
A couple of months back I bought some nice new tailgate hinges for my Pickup from Somerford Mini, and they don't seem to fit...
Here's a picture



This is the maximum they'll go up, the way they've welded the 2 parts together stops it from collasing any further.

Do these not fit, or am I fitting these wrong?

Dan

Edited by mini-man-dan, 14 March 2010 - 10:45 PM.

[Calman]

Best bet would be to get onto Sommerford!

[mini-man-dan]

I'm going to, just want confirmation that I'm not doing something wrong before I ring them and they tell me to turn them upside down (which I have actually done and that is completely wrong )

[Calman]

Ah ok Lol! Well if you was to take them off and have them in your hands do they fold to a 90' angle at all?

[mini-man-dan]

No, the lower part goes dead on 90' (which I'm 99% sure) should go further, so the upper part is then at 90' and tucks the tailgate in

[Calman]

Im all confuzled now ! Would be best to check in with them tommorw then.

All the best!

[mini-man-dan]

Take a look at the 1st picture, the upright part has a crease in. The lower bit should go back further than 90' so that the upper bit is at 90' to the car...

[Calman]

Im with you now!

Does seem strange... Sorry i can't be of anymore use than to spectate though

[Dan]

Have you not just got them the wrong way around?

[mini-man-dan]

A friend of mine just suggested that they are the wrong way, but when he fitted his he had to drill out the holes in the floor mounted part of the hinge to bring the bottom in. We tried it the other way and there was a large gap, so presumed they must go this way to bring the bottom in.

[hystrix cristata]

I'll have a look at mine tomorrow and try and work out whats going wrong

[mini-man-dan]

Cheers. i'm sure if i turn them round they'll stick out way too far at the bottom, really confused about it

[Dan]

Actually I think they probably are right because the crank throws the hinge pin to the back of the tailgate and pulls the bottom in as you say. It's not just paint build up stoping them moving further is it?

[mini-man-dan]

Just found a picture with my old originals on (which definately had never been removed, screws were very rusty) and this is the correct way round! And nope, there's 2 spot welds attaching the plate to the loop around the pin. This isn't present on the originals

Edited by mini-man-dan, 14 March 2010 - 11:07 PM.

[Dan]

Yes I think I can see that in the first photo now you mention it. Definitely a call to Somerford I think, they need to know if the hinges aren't right. I don't think these are a Heritage product but they are in stock with a lot of body repair suppliers apparently so they must be aftermarket. Hadrian panels maybe?