Body / Glass: Fuel door spring attachment tips?

[BShaw]

I had some rattle can paint mixed up and removed my fuel door for the scanning. Maybe it's just me but now I simply cannot get those dirty-rotten-sonuva-dirty-dadblamed springs correctly renstalled. Anyone have a tip on this?

[(S)]

If you have nice paint, tape some cardboard around the opening, remove the door from the hinge. Insert springs to the body, then using your third hand, twist the springs into the door, and install the door back onto the hinge. Use your fourth and fifth hands to guide the screws and hold the door in place. There is a front and rear to them, make sure your wife is there so she can tell you they are backwards when you are done..

[Commander Eddie]

If you have nice paint, tape some cardboard around the opening, remove the door from the hinge. Insert springs to the body, then using your third hand, twist the springs into the door, and install the door back onto the hinge. Use your fourth and fifth hands to guide the screws and hold the door in place. There is a front and rear to them, make sure your wife is there so she can tell you they are backwards when you are done..

That is the most lucid response I have heard on any subject. I especially appreciate the last sentence. Wives are good at that.

[SN-60]

If you have nice paint, tape some cardboard around the opening, remove the door from the hinge. Insert springs to the body, then using your third hand, twist the springs into the door, and install the door back onto the hinge. Use your fourth and fifth hands to guide the screws and hold the door in place. There is a front and rear to them, make sure your wife is there so she can tell you they are backwards when you are done..

I enjoyed reading this!

[E. Davis]

This is amazing timing because I just fought this fight last night. The only way I got it was to install the springs after the door was in place. Mine was on a Hawk but I'm sure they are all similar. If you look you will see one end of the spring from the coil is a little longer than the other. The longest end goes to the fuel door. Put the dog leg looking end into the hole on the fuel door first. Be sure the coil will act like a "knee" and bend in toward the filler neck when it closes. Then you will have to kind of force a bow into the other end to insert the dog leg into the fender hole. If you don't bend it too far it will spring right back into shape. Do one at a time. This is really hard to explain but the secret is to have the little coil center going the right direction when the door closes. Hope this helps.

[RD56]

I've only had my President for a couple of weeks now, so I haven't messed with the fuel door (much) yet. My door doesn't stay closed and the springs are pretty rusty with very little spring action. I can take them off and put them back on with no effort at all. I'm figuring that I need new springs? The hinge is pretty rusty too.

[BShaw]

This is amazing timing because I just fought this fight last night. The only way I got it was to install the springs after the door was in place. Mine was on a Hawk but I'm sure they are all similar. If you look you will see one end of the spring from the coil is a little longer than the other. The longest end goes to the fuel door. Put the dog leg looking end into the hole on the fuel door first. Be sure the coil will act like a "knee" and bend in toward the filler neck when it closes. Then you will have to kind of force a bow into the other end to insert the dog leg into the fender hole. If you don't bend it too far it will spring right back into shape. Do one at a time. This is really hard to explain but the secret is to have the little coil center going the right direction when the door closes. Hope this helps.

I've been trying to do that but without success thus far and was beginning to surmise the answer is what (S) has eloquently described. Admittedly, I tend to lose patience quickly when doing things I "know" should be simple but knowing that it worked for you gives me hope and new enthusiasm.

Off topic: Are you a long-time Great Falls resident? I lived there in 1958-59. My dad was wrenching for a fellow named Smithstead and we lived in a mobile home first up on Gore Hill by the guy's shop (loved the sound of the National Guard's jets when they hit the afterburners!) then at the trailer park on 10th Ave. S. Spent the 9th grade there and bought a single-lung Whizzer with money I earned keeping the cars clean at Staley's Auto Sales. My older bro graduated in '58 from the public HS. If anything sounds familiar, shoot me a PM.

[SN-60]

I had some rattle can paint mixed up and removed my fuel door for the scanning. Maybe it's just me but now I simply cannot get those dirty-rotten-sonuva-dirty-dadblamed springs correctly renstalled. Anyone have a tip on this?

Off topic, but I must say that the flashing headlights on Your Hawk 'avatar'? are too cool......GREAT JOB!!!!!

[rockne10]

I'm figuring that I need new springs?

They are available from SI.
My favorite ploy; a few pictures.







Oops! That's not a fuel door!