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Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:48 am

My '63 was sans the deck lid spring when I bought her, I have since purchased a WW version and seal, since they seemed the closest to stock and good quality. Now I feel like a schmuck 'cause without one in front of me I can't figure out how to mount it properly. I am using the set of holes closest to the tag light, and that was a feet to accomplish. :roll:

But now it just really wants to close and won't stay up. :x

Do I need to use the other set of holes?
Is this best accomplished by removing the deck lid and then reattatching the spring?
Any help is appreciated, pics might help too, soory for the "dolt" question.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:09 am

You are not a dolt. It ain't like falling off a log. This needs a sticky.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:55 am

Well I did a search and it seems somebody has asked this Q every month or so since 2003. :lol:

The general opinion seems that removing the decklid is the easier way to go about this, I actually got mine in place with it on, a little cussing and a few bandaids later. Only it isn't staying up???? WTF

It is a one piece spring and I have it in the outer holes, should it be in the inner holes?

Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:02 am

You may have the spring on "backwards"... :?:

IMO it is easier to install the spring on the decklid and use the "padding on the head"... start the spring and then the hinges technique.

Sometime I forget just how to orient the spring and have to look at another car right as I am doing it.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:05 am

and i have answered this question every time it was asked. when you search you need to read answers -not just search to see if asked. set your spring on the ground. colils horizontal. it needs to look like rocking chair from side ,not coils humped upwards. the two hooks go into hood bracket holes closet to rear bumper not louvers. on body there is a tab with C cutout -it goes into C,not on top or bottom of tab. slide drivers side onto big U shaped brackets and pivit right side of decklid hinge onto big U. install bolts. speaking of sticky-wash your hands before reading your bentley. you do have a bentley workshop manual,correct?

Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:23 pm

Yes I did also read the posts too...
So why don't we try a photo, the only other pic I found showed a 2 piece unit to a later model I think, and it was hooked into the other set of holes you refered to as: close to the louvers.

Don't know if my "colils" are Horizontal, don't know wtf a colil is, presuming it is the coiled portion of the spring I guess it is horizontal and appears to be in a reclined "rocking chair position", since flipping it over seems impossible I guess I need to try the other holes, but you (Bill May) clearly state it should be mounted to holes closer to bumper. What gives? Somewhere there is a German engineer laughing his ass off.

BTW- My Bently catalogue library includes split busses and Vanagons so no go.............yet.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:36 pm

Mine is mounted exactly like yours, vwjedi, EXCEPT THAT I'm using the other set of holes (those closer to the louvres and further from the bumper).

Mine works perfectly and keeps the lid up just fine.

Go figure. :lol:

Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:44 pm

Also, I should have added that I found it's actually pretty easy to install the spring if you leave one bolt in one of the hinges (loose) and remove the other three. Then install the round end into the bracket as you have it, then the two prongs into the holes in the bracket closest to the louvres, then (using the lid for leverage) compress the spring while lining up the holes in the hinges, finally installing the bolts and tightening them.

Once you figure out what needs to be done it's really pretty easy if you do it this way.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:49 pm

perhaps this enigma has been solved............ :shock:

Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:39 pm

move it to other holes and try it. i use the stronger 2 piece.

Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:08 pm

bill may wrote: move it to other holes and try it. i use the stronger 2 piece.
That's because you have a 67 beetle ;)

Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:25 pm

my 60 is 7 years older than 67

Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:44 pm

crap..mine are in the back holes, too. and it opens and stays up fine, too. i think the difference is mine is cheap chrome CRAP and bill uses genuine VW stuff. :D
btw, you think installing the spring is hard, try installing the spring last when using hoodlum and standoffs :lol: after several unsuccessful attempts, i read the instructions and installed the spring and decklid together...go figure

Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:18 pm

Wow i cant beleive that nobody has said this:

1. place the spring on the firewall mount and hold it steady
2. Have somebody lower the decklid kind of down on you(since its already bolted on).
3.Then put only one side of the spring in the hole on the decklid, you can do this because each side of the spring will move seperately. This is alot easier than trying to squeze both sides of the spring and puttin it in place.
4. Then put the other side in.

If i did not explain this clearley enough i could provide pics or a better explanation. THIS METHOD IS WAY EASIER THAN THE OTHERS DESCRIBED. Trust me!!!! :P Your just asking for scratched paint and bloodied nuckles with trying to put the spring in place they use your decklid for pushing it then bolting.

Once you think about what i said it will make sense to you and be hella easy.

Hope it helps!!

Mon May 15, 2006 10:20 am

Check out how Ryan Price did his super..

Mon May 15, 2006 11:03 am

Does that suprise you ?

Mon May 15, 2006 11:04 am

vw trends tech is as helpful as the john muir idiot book.

Mon May 15, 2006 6:32 pm

Color me stupid, but the idiot book has been VERY helpful to me. Combine that with the Bentley and I get a great idea of what's going on. I keep a set in Bridget and Anne, and Betty will have a set of her own when I get her on the road.

Mon May 15, 2006 6:45 pm

My '67 is just like this:

But my '65 has the spring in the center notch of the bracket on the body. Both car's decklids work fine, except the both springs creak like a mug when I open either decklid! (I chock it up to "character" :wink: ) I had the damndest time trying to figure out how to get the f'ing spring back on the bracket after I had taken the decklid off my '65. It finally occurred to me to attach the spring to the lid and also position it on the body bracket, then using the leverage of the decklid I could work against the force of the spring to slip the deck hinges over the body hinge brackets and work it into position to install the hinge bolts. (similar to Harley52) Pretty simple if you do it that way.

-kent

Mon May 15, 2006 7:00 pm

It should be in that C part :wink:

mine used to spring up, good one if you wernt thinking and opend the bonet and let go