Barrel style hood lock adjustment
Over the years I have had a few problems with my hood access to the generator. Being that this coach has a fixed mount generator the hood is simply an access door.
Today I am getting ready to hit the road. Doing last minute routines brought me to checking the generator fluids. One side of the hood was hanging up and not opening. For some reason the left hinge (facing the coach) had gotten out of adjustment. Once that was corrected I noticed that the locks were not turning the same distance.
Here is what I found. The lock bar at the end of the lock shaft was out of adjustment on both locks by about 1/2". These locks were installed wrong from the factory. The bar was not going into the slot on the catch that is mounted on the body. One side was latching behind it and the other was just catching it to the rear. It took a while but I finally got both sides locking into the slots correctly.
This may not seem like much of a find at first glance. But it is. I couldn't understand why the body was chaffing so much where the hood closes. I had adjusted the bumpers some time ago but the body was getting a groove there.
The latch catch 'V' groove has a duel purpose. Yes, it keeps the hood securely closed but it also keeps it from going back into the body. With the way the locks were adjusted the hood was forced into the body and thus the damage.
If you have this style hood lock you might want to take a look at it. While pulling on one of the locks, lifting it away from the body, see if you can find a secondary place the lock catches. That will be the correct latching location.
Hope this tidbit helps at least one of my fellow Winne owners.
Happy trails,
Rick
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Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
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