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best secure bonnet catches
RK - 10/8/10 at 12:04 PM

Looking for secure bonnet catches, as mine come unhooked all the time. Don't want to weld on tabs for pins or dzus fasteners, so what over centre design works best for you?

carpmart - 10/8/10 at 12:34 PM

I was going to say dzus fasteners but as you said not too I won't!

blakep82 - 10/8/10 at 12:38 PM

this one
http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1537-over-centre-catch.aspx
has a little tab that sitcks through for a badlock, or split pin. maybe put a tie wrap through it to stop the latch passing over it?

02GF74 - 10/8/10 at 01:00 PM

^^^ I have those. Although they have a oostive lock, I use a small tube of plasitc and R clip to ensure there is no way thay can be undine.

Also at the front I have long spring loaded clips, I believe as used on Caterhams, again no probs with those.

chris_harris_ - 10/8/10 at 01:14 PM

If you don't want to weld lugs on to the chassis for Dzus fasteners, can you not rivet them on instead?

personally i looked at all the different locks and settled on aero Catches, Sikaflexed to the Bonnet, with brackest made up and rivnutted to the chassis, once set up they are great.

Daddylonglegs - 10/8/10 at 02:47 PM

I've riveted 'L' brackets to mine and used Dzus fasteners. Had loads of issues trying to get the 'clip-over' type to stay down. (And that is before I've even got it on the road!)

[Edited on 10/8/10 by Daddylonglegs]

sucksqueezebangblow - 10/8/10 at 02:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by RK
Looking for secure bonnet catches, as mine come unhooked all the time. Don't want to weld on tabs for pins or dzus fasteners, so what over centre design works best for you?


You can still use Dzus fasteners without welding on tabs. I made four ally l brackets, bolted them to the front of the scuttle and back of the nosecone and mounted the Dzus springs on those (with the fasteners mounted in the bonnet). If you take this approach, leave the Dzus part of the brackets undrilled, mount them on the scuttle and nose cone (I used slots in the brackets to make them adjustable). Adjust them so that they are flat against the inside of the bonnet. Mark their centres and then carefully mark a temporary vertical (onto the body side) and horizontal (onto the nose or scuttle) line to mark the bracket cantres. Refit the bonnet, strap it down so it is in its final position, extend the lines to mark the bracket centres on the bonnet, and then pilot drill each one through the bonnet and brackets behind it. This gives you the centres for the fastners and their corresponding springs.

procomp - 10/8/10 at 03:18 PM

Hi

You cant beat the good old bonnet springs. As long as they are fitted and under tension you cant go wrong. Simples

Cheers Matt

RazMan - 10/8/10 at 05:05 PM

Another vote for Aerocatches - secure and elegant

RK - 10/8/10 at 10:06 PM

Thanks everyone! I've got a few things to think about now, but leaning towards the spring type. Hopefullly whatever I get comes before the next event!

RK - 18/8/10 at 04:23 AM

received boot spring type in the post one week after ordering on fleabay. Excellent!!

coozer - 18/8/10 at 11:24 AM

I used these in stainless with the locking pins after my bonnet went into orbit. With a bit of jiggery poky they can be best placed to hold the bonnet in position as well.

http://www.protex.com/product/show/name/270-600