What can you suggest I use to prevent these catches from coming undone?

At the moment I am pushing in a hard plastic tube into the hole but there is possibility, albeit small, of it falling out so am thinking of an R clip type thing.



catch

Aren't those the ones where you are supposed to lock them with tiny padlocks?

Mike

yip try suitcase ones or lynch pins as used on diggers etc.

linky -

http://www.wilsonmfgco.com/fasteners/lynchpins.htm

[Edited on 29/1/08 by Mr Whippy]

A pin with an R clip through it

alternativly a nut and bolt really quick release

ditch

post SVA I have now fitted bonnet springs like they use on rally car boot lids, the caterham c400 racer has them at the front edge of the bonnet.

Mine has dzus fasteners at each corner which are great for sva (flush fitting) but at 100+mph I get worried as the front of the bonnet starts to get air under it and bulge a bit

The springs at the front corners give some peace of mind!

What's wrong with the traditional strip of gaffer tape?

Caber

i don;t have any gaffer tape and knowing my luck, it will take the paint of eacjh time it is removed.

I did think about bolt but it would need a nyloc to stop the bolt from undoing but that is not good as I need to be able to do it up by hand, and my tiny fingers are not strong enough to do up nylocks.

so far the lynch pin seems the best solution - need to measure up the hole and find one that fits.

Actaully what I had in mind was a spring loaded pin with a rotating toggle - hard to explain but if you have one of those usniversal circlip pliers, then use one.

If you wanted to do it the locost way (or perhaps even free) you could easily just use a Key Ring.

It would prevent it lifting up, but you could remove it in two seconds with your hands. You can get hardier ones if you think it might fail.

Personally, I'd just get some more catches that did the job properly.

HTH
Steve