1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

[JakeCo88]

I recently purchased a 1956 Fastwin 15hp which was missing the front cowl latch. I purchased a replacement online and put it on, but I must not have installed it correctly, it won't pull tight when latched. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

You need to put a little more curve in that spring latch, that catches the opposite side, so it pulls it in tighter.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

Hate to ask the obvious but they are adjustable and I assume you tried that?

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: 1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

Are the rubber grommet/bumper pieces correctly in place on the engine? One mounts on the reed block and the other on the cylinder head.

The cowling clip was probably removed for a reason. The PO must have been having issues with getting it to close properly.

 

[tin knocker]

Re: 1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

Apparently this is not an uncommon problem. If I recall, I removed the latch assembly and elongated the mountig hole with a rat tail file to allow room for adjustment.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1956 Fastwin Cowl Latch

Over years of operation, that spring hook in the assembly will loose it's tension. all You have to do, is take a long nose plier and bend it back to more of a curve and it'll pull tighter when you close it up.