Originally Posted by dm_td5
Reply With QuoteWell I've managed to get some more work done on the wheel carriers.
I found out that on Defenders from ~02 have a metal trim which blocks off the gap between the chassis and the body, so this prevents the use of the top bracket.
I've fabricated a new mounting bracket which goes on the inside face of the chassis, but there are no crush tubes at this point, so I've made the bracket in a way that it spreads the load as well as 'gripping' the top and bottom of the chassis. The big door plate is to suit Defenders ~02 to Puma with the pressed steel wheel mount on the one piece door.
I've made some other changes from what I first made up. I've extended the whole carrier 60mm to the left so there is more clearance between the tyre and indicator lense when it's in the open position, and I've used a heavier tube for the pivot arm.
Another thing I wanted to achieve was a system where the carrier automatically locked in the open position and was then easy to close again.......I mean easy enough that it doesn't seem like a hassle to close the door. I tried a couple of different things, but this is what I came up with in the end. It's a spring loaded lever with a vertical 12mm pin which locates in a hole in the open position. To close the door, you simply push the lever down. I've never liked those fiddly little pins dangling on a tiny cable. I'll also be using a piece of high density polyethylene on top of the mounting bracket where the pin rubs to prevent it rubbing through the powdercoat/paint.
I hope to get one to the powdercoaters in the next couple of days, so we'll see how it comes up.
Murray
We all need a day off now and then.
Bookmarks