I have a bit of a problem with the tailgate on my '62 Laurentian Safari. It wont open/fold down.
The lock on the left side seems to be frozen or stuck in the lock position. I can just about see the mechanism that has a notched wheel and lock lever with spring. The 'wheel' part is solid as is the lock-lever part. I am not sure how the lock works and would appreciate a picture of the lock mechanism out of the car or a diagram as to how it works.
The catch 22 is that I cant get the tailgate panel off unless it's open and cant get to the mechanism with the panel on? Any clues as to how to release the lock?
The right side is unlocked/ready to fold, the interior handle operates the rods and latches either side, no position on the wind down lock makes any difference, obviously the window is wound down. I have sprayed the mechanism with WD40 and will leave it to soak.
I wish it was that simple! I have checked all the mech from the centre to the arms on the end and it all moves, it was a little seized but I have freed it all up fairly easily. I am sure it's the wheel and lock parts that are seized, I just cant get at them. I am worried about the glass so don't want to use too much force, especially as I am not sure what should move and what should not :(
If it were me, the first thing I'd try would be to spray some anti-seize oil, like WD-40 or LPS1 down through the window channel, aimed at the latch. Let it sit overnight and give it a try the next day, so it has time to soak into the latch. Sometimes with latches, the action to make it work is just at the very end of the travel of the handle, so even if you've pulled the handle and figured it should have released, it might not have been quite enough - the anti-seize oil might be just enough to allow it to move. If it doesn't work the first time, and the latch is badly seized, you might have to repeat the process a couple more times. That's assuming that a seized latch is the problem, of course.
Thanks for your help MC, yep I have done that and has had no effect. I will try plus-gas next, the WD-40 may not be heavyweight enough. I agree with the travel thing, I thought I had solved it as I got the travel of the rods and arms to increase, but still didn't do it. The car stinks of WD-40 now too. It should cover the smell of the carpet that has got wet over the winter!
trouble is my car lives outside all year and it gets very wet here, plus under a tree. So it has all got too wet and 'stuck'. The clutch was stuck on and I have managed to free that off. Guess the tailgate is the least of my worries as I have some earth issues too, with lights and the horn. Next winter the car will be undercover!
Oh, I figured you had already tried that, but thought I'd toss it out there just in case. Unfortunately I don't have any more constructive advice at this time, but do wish you luck in solving your car issues.
The wagon in the pic was only one that I grabbed from the net to illustrate my post. I don't know any of the details surrounding it.
Thanks MC, anything helps, last night I removed the tail light as I had issues with that too, and sprayed WD in the cavity towards the catch and lock. I will keep spraying it from above too. Maybe just driving around, (especially with all the potholes round here), will loosen it off. One thing, I managed to get almost all of the lights working, just back lights on full now. They wont come on with the switch fully out. Probably the switch or wires to it. That is the next job, I will go back to the tailgate!
I have used Fluid Film as a lubricant and it works wonders. Pricey, about 10.00 a can at Canadian Tire. Comes with a spray tube for getting into tight places.
A tip about the spray tube, it seems that after you use it once or twice the tube gets "lost" I take a piece of windshield washer hose and tape it to the body of the spray can and it is a convenient storage spot for the tube when you put the lid back on the can.
I even had a pair of pliers that were completely seized and put them in a plastic bag and sprayed Fluid Film in there rather generously and left them for a week, came out just like new, just wipe off the film and great to go.
Thank you Pontiax! some great info there! I will scan through these pictures and see if I can work it all out. If not then I will take up on your kind scanning offer!
Thanks again!
