Rear hatch question

[briank]

Out of all the blazers and hatches I have had, I have never had one hatch that works correctly. Now I have a driveable 70 Jimmy I'd like to get this one working. It doesn't want to seem to latch. When I turn the handle with the hatch open, nothing seems to happen with the catches on either side. When I shut it and twist ...or just shut it, they still dont catch. I can simply lift the hatch back open. Any suggestions?

[richard2717]

I just lost all of my computer saved pictures to a ransomware attack but I will go out and get more pics of my original 72 hatch and catches later today to post. It is the only one i have ever had that works as it should. One thing I noticed with my other one that was not latching was that the latches were not moving in and out when twisting the handle. They were froze up. I took them apart and cleaned with pb blaster then lubed them up with white grease and they seem to be working pretty good now and latch finally. You might start with that. When they were stuck, they were not full out in the closed position and would not quite contact the strikers on the top.

Richard

[briank]

Thanks Richard, Ill give it a try. At least Im not alone with it (all of them) not working.

[cleszkie]

The catch mechanisms on the hatch are spring loaded. When the spring breaks after a million cycles, the catch won't work properly, or at all. I suggest pulling the mechanisms out of the hatch and taking a quick look at the spring coils. If they are loose and able to spin free, one of the stops on the ends of the coil has broken off, releasing all of the spring "preload". I don't know if this is your case, but worth a look. I had one of mine die that way and had to replace the entire mechanism with a donor unit.

[timski69gmc]

I would like to get mine working as well. Just hasn't been a priority. I am pretty sure I'm missing some pieces. So any pics or diagrams would be appreciated.

[richard2717]

Here are some quick pics of how everything looks from the outside and bolted down. I have to keep digging to find some latches already taken out of a hatch but i Might have sold them already


.

[briank]

Anybody have a picture of how the rear hatch catches go together? I took mine out and besides the catch I had a lever and a spring all loose. It seems as if a rivet may have broken , allowing the lever to become unattached and I have no idea how it all goes back toghether. I have attached a picture of the parts I found. Man I regret selling all my parts!!

[briank]

Think I figured it out. Heres my mock up using a long bolt...not sure what was originally used but it seems to work in hand. May use a washer between the spring and trip lever so its a little tighter. Can anybody comment on what was originally used instead of my long bolt I have pictured?

[DeadheadNM]

Here are some pics of a nos latch.

[DeadheadNM]

....

[DeadheadNM]

Uno mas

[briank]

Thanks Pete! I had it right then..just need to find a rivet and peen it carefully. Then.....figure how to hook the rod up to it

[DeadheadNM]

You bet! Good luck.

[1rippen6]

I disassembled one that had a broken spring and that rivet has a very large shoulder. I drilled the peened end to remove my plan is to reuse the rivet and weld the rivet back in were I drilled the peen away if that makes sense. If you get a bolt that fits the mechanism that has a shoulder no threads cut it so it just contacts the peened hole should be the small one and weld it. Could have something machined also, sorry using my cell phone to type lol, on vacation. I can get you a picture of the rivet when I get home.

[briank]

I was able to fix it. I found a flat , large head rivet and placed a washer in between th release lever and the spring for this lever. The rivets diameter was too small on the other side so I sleeved it and cut it flush then x'ed and peened the rivet. Put it in and it works. Thanks for the info and pictures everyone.

[robs71k5]

I came up with a replacement rivet that I machined Down onceyou get things cleaned up you only need to aseemble it and peen the rivet as per the original .i would possibly entertain selling these for $10 each plus shipping . However you can easily make them on a drill press and a couple good files if you are more patient

[robs71k5]

Then taking a spring with roughly the same wire size .you can unravel enough to make a new spring by finding a shaft the same size as the pin . Put my he spring on the shaft . Clamp one one to the shaft and with vise grips pull the other end straight out from the shaft enough to make he length required for a he new spring .
Next clamp the end on the the shaft again and wind it on to the shaft as tight a possible following the spool effect for the correct number of turns . Heat one end to form the shape with needle nose pliers. Done . Assemble onto latch and peen the end of the rivet to factory look alike . Done email me at srpenner@hotmail.com if you still having trouble .This latch can be built from scratch if need be.