TR2/3/3A Dzus on Bonnet [hood] - Is there a spring?

[TR Mike]

Hi all, I am replacing the two DZUS that hold the bonnet down on my TR3A (TS77971LO). When I removed the old ones there were springs around them. The new ones from Moss do not have springs and their instructions do not show them. The picture on the Roadster Factory site shows them on the side curtain DZUS (556023) but it doesn't look like they are on the hood DZUS (552971). I can't find them discussed in any other literature or forums online. Question: Does anyone else have these springs? Do they belong there? How should they be installed?

 

[charleyf]

No spring on mine. There is the grommet that is metal and is put on and then spread onto the bonnet. Then the Dzus fastener is put on followed by the washer on the underside.
I vividly remember putting on the gormmet the first time as back then the recommended method was to use two ball pin hammers, one above and one below and hit the top hammer with yet another hammer to spread the grommet. This of course is all done on a newly painted hood. I like the new method of using a bolt and nut to compress the grommet. A whole lot less stress!!!!
Once the fastner is pulled down onto the mating fitting on the fender there is no need for any spring.
Charley

 

[Crankshaft]

Mike, It was over 50 years ago but it does seem to me that the '62 TR3B I bought new had springs on the bonnet Dzus fasteners.
Like you though, I've not seen any indication in current literature that there are any.

 

[TR3driver]

The bonnet (hood) Dzus buttons are made differently than the side curtain ones; and do not normally take a spring. Instead the hood has a spring that causes it to pop up when the buttons are undone.

However, it's apparently not uncommon for people to fit the side curtain buttons, with springs, to the bonnet. That's the way TS39781LO was when it came to me, and I rather liked it.

If you have the side curtain buttons & springs, then the spring would go over the shank of the button before inserting it through the grommet in the bonnet and forcing the retaining washer over the end of the button.

With the proper bonnet buttons though, I don't see any way to install a spring effectively. With the retaining washer locked into it's groove, the head of the button is locked against the bonnet and so unable to move even if there were a spring involved.

 

[charleyf]

Mike, It was over 50 years ago but it does seem to me that the '62 TR3B I bought new had springs on the bonnet Dzus fasteners.
Like you though, I've not seen any indication in current literature that there are any.

My TR3 was also a 3B which had no springs.
Charley