well since I can't search or seem to find were to buy a star these days, I have a question for the RRC guys who have been around.

The rear hatch on my RRC will not stay latched, I have tried everything, adjusting the latch pins, lubed up the latch keys themselves, and even did some fine tuning with a hammer. :laughing:

What is a good fix beside new replacements?, the thing just pops open when ever. :rolleyes:

Worn pins?? latch keys toast?? easy fix??

I am a fabricator by trade and have access to MIG and TIG welders for fixing the keys or pins.

any ideas that have worked in the past??

thanks D

bungee cord from the handle to the bumper.

-Jeff

try Discoweb.com for some tech on replacing the glass frame, they sell aluminum relpacements for about $400. Rust is the culprit, they are not really fixable once they hit a certain point.
http://www.roversnorth.com/RRD04/RRD04_77_80/RRD04_page78.htm
The locking mechanism is odd, but if you canreally fab I guess you could duplicate the frame and just remount the glass, mount up the lock itself. I bought a newer used one about 2 years ago, it is holding up but does not have much life left.

the only rust I have that I can see is a little on the 2 panels just starting at the rear, the tailgate is fine and so is everything else.

I might just use the TIG welder and build up some material on the latch keys themselves and build up the material on the pins. Then die grind them to latch good.

I suspect everything is worn down from time.

or could it be excessive body flex? from the rust? bad frame from hidden rust??

The hatch assembly on a Classic is a stupidly complicated piece of kit. The first step is to confirm that the latches at each outside corner are actually latching. If they are, we can look at the arms that run to them and their relationship with the center actuator. If the latches are good, (which I'm suspicious of) it is likey in the center section.

Remove the covers and see how it works with the hatch open.

PT

one more thing, when closing the upper tailgate try pushing down on the bottom left and right edge of the tailgate, not the center. Just a thought..

OH goody, I get to contribute some tech.

Take the covers off of the lower edge of the window (phillips screws), and you'll see a rod that goes from the center handle to the outer latches.

Two things can go wrong. The first is that the pin that pushes the lock inwards can wear and get shorter. The second is that the rods that extend out towards the outer latches can bend and get out of adjustment.

There's a threaded hex piece that also has a lock-nut on it. Loosen the lock nut and adjust to your heart's desire. WARNING: this will take a while...be patient.

And it's a good thing to keep the bottom tail gate open while adjusting, since it is possible to get it to the pojnt where you can not open it anymore. By pulling the rods, you can open, but only if you can reach the, hence open lower gate.
Annoying, especially if you have a dog guard...

T

thanks guys for the advice. I was going to tear into the latch mechanisms tomorrow. Everything works, it might just be the internal adjustment.

I also readjusted the tailgate inward just a little and so far that seems to work.