I have just checked my UK based 15M 1999 Cobra trailer (glass sandwich
top). This has only been towed on reasonably smooth roads (excluding the
odd field) and only very occasionally opened in strong winds .
There is some slight compression to the glass shell at the outer mounting
holes on each handle. When checking the bolt tightness I noticed that the
nuts on the outside mounting bolts (inside the trailer on the hinge plate)
are both not square to the hinge plate as though they were fitted at a
slight angle. (approx 1mm gap is at the top of the bolt ) .
I have vague recollections they had always been like this and assumed at
the time that this was because it was not possible to square everything up
when mounting the bolts at the factory. However, I now wonder if the lid
has moved up slightly inclining the outer bolts.
I “gently” tightened all the bolts a couple of turns (using a small 6”
spanner to limit torque) so it would appear that they were working loose.
I was in a hurry when I did this and seem to remember the extra torque
reduced the gap at the top of the inclined bolts.
Few of questions
- Has anyone else noticed if any of their hinge mounting bolts were at a
slight angle when delivered ?
- Does anyone have a “method” of judging how tight to do these bolts
should be. I am loath to snap them or do more compression damage before I
get round to re-enforcing the handle area and fitting stronger bolts.
- Regarding clamping the hinge to the aluminium cross member. When the
bolts are removed what stops the aluminium cross member from ripping out
of the top shell. I assume it is glued in ?