van hinge adjustment

Post by **alzax3** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:38 pm

I've just refitted the van doors, there is (as there always was) about 4mm difference in height (left door lower) There doesn't seem to be any obvious provision to adjust the hinges, since all the bolts go through tube reinforced holes and there seems little you can do with the brass balls (which aren't worn.)
So am I missing some well known tweak, or do I just have to live with the difference?

Post by **alzax3** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:19 am

28 views and no suggestions...... either I'm fussing about the difference (it is enough to stop the top seal sealing or I wouldn't be bothered), noone who knows has read the post - or there isn't an accepted way of adjusting it!

Post by **MarkyB** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:35 am

I've never taken a hinge apart but I find it hard to believe there isn't any wear.
Isn't there any way to put a washer or something under the brass ball?
Have you tried slackening off all the bolts then tightening them up while levering the door up?
That should get a mil or two.

Post by **alzax3** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:42 am

Thanks for that - I had a spare set of hinges - so was able to sellect balls that were crisply round, did try slipping in a washer which raised the door nicely - unfortunately it made the lower hinge arm collide with the upper bolt head on the body end, to the point where the door wouldn't close. Arms from the spare hinges didn't help, so the originals aren't bent. Loosening and levering didn't seem to help, which was the point where I thought I'd not risk doing any damage if there was something simple I wasn't doing!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:27 am

If your balls are worn there is a repair kit available from ESM

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 0939d8ea0b

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:00 pm

alzax3 wrote:28 views and no suggestions...... either I'm fussing about the difference (it is enough to stop the top seal sealing or I wouldn't be bothered), noone who knows has read the post - or there isn't an accepted way of adjusting it!

I'm watching the thread with interest to see what the answer is, as I have to replace the rear doors soon on my own van

aupickup will probably be able to offer some valuable advice, when he wanders along

Post by **MarkyB** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:08 pm

How about selecting balls that are rather worn and put them on the higher door hinges?
The other question is, how square is the opening?
I've owned at least one van where the doors would rub against each other as I drove down the road due to a distinct lack of rigidity in the body

Post by **alzax3** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:05 pm

I hadn't thought of lowering the high door, good lateral thinking....but then neither top seal would work! The higher right hand one with the catch looks 'right'. Haven't checked the opening for squareness, but the doors seem nicely even in the space with good vertical and horizontal alignment, it's just that one hangs low!

Post by **aupickup** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:42 pm

one door even on original non restored ones are lower on one side

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:44 pm

aupickup wrote:one door even on original non restored ones are lower on one side

Do you mean they built them like that deliberately? Or did they just come out that way due to poor manufacturing tolerances?

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:11 am

not sure but on 4 odiginal vans i have seen , this has ben the case
maybe 2mm difference, and i think on the passenger side door was a little lower

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:51 pm

Traveller rear doors are similar - I placed plastic washers under the balls on the slightly low door - you can't see them and they lifted the door nicely.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:00 pm

alex_holden wrote:
aupickup wrote:one door even on original non restored ones are lower on one side
Do you mean they built them like that deliberately? Or did they just come out that way due to poor manufacturing tolerances?

I think he's just trying to cover his butt before the weekend

Post by **alzax3** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:43 am

Since I had a spare set of hinges, and after some careful head scratching, I heated a pair of the long arms red hot, adjusted them judiciously (scribed a straight line down the centre first so I could see the progress as I worked) with a large copper hammer and have reduced the mismatch to something more acceptable. (when I measured the original, it was closer to 6mm than 4)
I wouldn't have been able to get a perfect line-up, as the hinge-side top edge of the door would have collided with the top of the frame before the top lined up with the driver side - though I guess the 'fitting-worn-balls-on-the-drivers-side-hinges' idea would probably get everything even........

Post by **jaekl** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:44 pm

Since this has gone to extensive modifications, another approach would be to cut the hinge ball in half and insert a spacer to put the door where you need them. Then sweat it together with solder. Now the ball would be an oval. Perhaps the pieces wouldn't have to be soldered together. Having the rotation and wear on the flat surface might not be a bad problem.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:48 pm

Sounds like a good idea. You'd need to make sure the bolt is long enough for the modified ball though.

Post by **alzax3** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:59 pm

Well, yes I considered that, or rather I thought about turning a slightly 'torpedo' shaped brass item on the lathe - But unfortunately in this case it would have resulted in the same problem with the lower hinge arm coliding with the upper bolt on the other part of the hinge that slipping a washer under the ball caused......