Crack of Doom

[2729]

I believe that a crack/split in the glassfibre starting from the near-side boot hinge on three litres is not unusual, yet it does not seem to be a stress point and rarely if ever appear below the off-side hinge. Has anyone got a cure? Roger 2729

[R_D_Olivaw]

Hi Roger,

I think I may know what you are referring to.

My boot lid had been patched up around the nearside boot hinge which necessitated some tidy up work to make the boot lid flat again. However I noticed that the boot lid was splitting and on further investigation it turned out that someone had inserted a steal plate into the lid. That seemed to prevent it from splitting, but the plate rusted, expanded and ultimately split the lid.

This picture should give you an idea of the area covered by the plate.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/upqvyfakp6sg1q8/IMG_2028.JPG?dl=0

I've asked a local fabricator to make me up one in stainless steal, which I'll fibreglass back into the lid tomorrow I hope.

I think the title of this thread could relate to something else. Sorry, but I had to say it. It's just the way my mind works.

[2729]

Ian I do believe you have put your finger on it
Thank you
Roger

Hi Roger,

I think I may know what you are referring to.

My boot lid had been patched up around the nearside boot hinge which necessitated some tidy up work to make the boot lid flat again. However I noticed that the boot lid was splitting and on further investigation it turned out that someone had inserted a steal plate into the lid. That seemed to prevent it from splitting, but the plate rusted, expanded and ultimately split the lid.

This picture should give you an idea of the area covered by the plate.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/upqvyfakp6sg1q8/IMG_2028.JPG?dl=0

I've asked a local fabricator to make me up one in stainless steal, which I'll fibreglass back into the lid tomorrow I hope.

I think the title of this thread could relate to something else. Sorry, but I had to say it. It's just the way my mind works.

[Tony Hayward]

Ian / Roger

The reason for the cracking often evident in front of the nearside hinge, is because that is where the support strut is. The bootlid flexes (bends) using the strut as a pivot, back towards the hinge. There is much greater mass on one side of the strut, than the other. Cracking is less evident on the offside because there is no strut (pivot) there.
The solution, as you have found, Ian, is to reinfoce the area from the hinge back to the strut and beyond. The bootlid components can be seperated and strengthened internally, then bonded back together. Another way I have also done, is to add strengthening along the edge of the bootlid on both sides to stiffen the flat deck of the lid; this seems to have worked on mine-I used small aluminium angle along both edges. I also have two stuts which shares the load partly.

Hope all this helps

Tony

[2729]

Thank you Tony
Roger 2729