Bumper latch cartridge replacement
Received my replacement tire-side bumper latch cartridge the other day from Aluminess. A very quick, simple install, and the assembly latches better than ever. I used to have to push the swingarm towards the rear of the van body while depressing the trigger to get the latch to release. Now it latches quickly and firmly, and unlatches cleanly.
Old Latch. Notice the trigger is not visible since it completely dissappeared inside the housing and would not come back out
Old Latch, other side. Newer Aluminess bumpers supposedly come with the holes and bolts completely through the handle
Remove one bolt and use the hole as a pilot hole to drill through the other side of the aluminum latch housing. After drilling one hole, replace the bolt, and remove the other bolt and repeat the process. The bolt is 1/4", so I used a small drill bit to drill the pilot holes through to the other side of the housing, and then stepped up the drill bit size from the other side after removing the cartridge
With both bolts removed, the latch cartridge slides out the bottom of the cartridge housing
Pic of empty cartridge housing with both 1/4" holes drilled through the handle
Pic of new cartridge. The holes in the body of the cartridge are threaded (1/4" course thread) to accept the bolts. FYI, the old bolts had Loc-Tite on them and were a little tough to remove
Pic of new catridge in housing
Pic of other side of cartridge housing
Herb
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SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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