I will give anyone $100...
 

who can put in the copper piece in the door for me on my '31 truck. I've read all the previous threads about this. The rubber pieces are in, trimmed to allow the copper piece to go in. Soaped up and slid the copper in, but there is no way in this world that I am going to be able to get the ears to bend around and into the door. Would it hurt to leave this out and let the dovetail ride on the rubber only?
Thanks

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Squeeze the springy piece with needle nose pliers and push the flattened "ears" toward the back bumper. You might have to do get one side seated first, then the other. It is not an easy thing and will porbably take serveral tries.
I know this because I pushed them into my Roadster ... without trimming the rubber. Didn't read that that was necessary until after the catch was installed.
(Just think how fast that guy on the assembly line must have been at sticking that sucker in there!)

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Do some searches as most of the rubbers have to be "modified". Marco's site is a good one.
Paul in CT

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Paul,
Like a lot of things on a Model A, there are right ways to do things. Thank Goodness the right way is NOT the only way. Lots of parts work just fine, even though they are hooked to the wrong hole or attached with the wrong bolt or just plain forgotten in the bottom of the parts cleaner. One great thing about Henry's Lady is she is not terribly demanding and very forgiving.
Of course, if you take your sweetie to a gathering of Model A enthusiasts, there will be half a dozen to tell you what you've done wrong -- and quite a few who will want to argue with them!

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

I looked on Marco's site but didn't find much about this problem, but thanks

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

These are from Marco.

Bob

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

I bent the ends back just a tad with needle noses. Put the bottom rubber in first, then the copper and then slid the top rubber in. Then I pressured the copper into the right position with a screw driver, bumping it against the end of the copper until it slid into place. Closing the door gently seated it correctly.(The second one went much easier.)

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Just did these on my roadster pick up. I did as others have said, ground down the rubbers. This gave the room needed but the trouble with repro parts is they usually need modifying. So I cut off a little on each end of the copper (brass actually) and then coaxed it in place. Then I spread it open after it was in place. Both sides work well now, door opens and closes giving adequate pressure on the dovetail.

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Steve, if those guys before me don't take the hundred bucks, I will.....! LOL

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Take a look at this post where I compared the bumpers from different vendors.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ers#post453092

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Bring it to me in Ohio and I will do them!
Bend the ends straight , but as little as possible, push it I between the rubber pieces and bend it back in place with needle nose. I just did two and I see some other guys here do the same thing.

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

I live in SE OH so anyone that wants the $ can come on by and do the job, thanks for all the suggestions

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

will you consider 120.00 plus travel expenses :D

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Gave it a try again today, the offer still stands

Re: I will give anyone $100...
 

Try a test install of the clip without the bumpers to rule out a problem with the clip. There were two different dovetail stricker clips, one was deeper than the other. Also some of the repro clips are not formed well at the back.