Tailgate Lock Big Nut

[fastrack1966]

My tailgate glass got broken and I was lucky enough to find a tailgate the right colour and in better nick than mine. Better than paying £100 plus for glass replacement.
However I need to swap locks and undo that big nut. Haynes just says "Undo the nut". Autodata is slightly more help by saying "Hit it with a hammer and punch"!! Its not the size that is the problem, it is confined behind the bodywork members of the tailgate. Even if I had an open ended spanner that big I doubt if I could access the nut.
Is there a better way than the Ammerandpunch?

BrianJ

[G51 NAV]

Sorry I can't help with this, but I'll look forward to you getting a reply from someone who can. The "big nut" on my car's tailgate has partly come loose, and since then I've had to disconnect the central locking on the tailgate-motor until I can find some way of tightening the nut up! :shoot:

[Austin-Rover]

Yes, that nut is a pain to undo. The only time I have had to do it, I used a hefty flat bladed screwdriver and a hammer. Worked fine for me!

[ChrisM]

I've done this before, but I can't for the life of me remember what I did to remove it... :o

[Austin-Rover]

I've done this before, but I can't for the life of me remember what I did to remove it... :o

Thats about as much use as the Haynes Manual! :toothy:

[ChrisM]

Thats about as much use as the Haynes Manual! :toothy:
Hush you :toothy:

I seem to remember it was fairly easy though... it was when we removed the lock set from the VP the other week...

[H48HPE]

cant you get some waterpump pliers in there? seem to remember thats how I've done it before.

[Simon]

Hammer and cold chisel worked for me. A quick dink and it's off. Being brass, it won't have seized on the lock itself.

[fastrack1966]

Thanks everyone. The hammer and screwdriver was easier than I thought, esp if you file a notch in the nut. Obviously no-one tightened these with a torque wrench thank goodness

BJ

[Rich]

I am pretty sure the last one I changed I used waterpump pliers. Will have to do it again pretty soon, so will see I can do it the same way again.

Glad you got it off, usually tightening it up is harder!

[G51 NAV]

Wonder if the waterpump pliers would help me to screw mine up...

[Maria]

Chuffin' big molegrips and a strong hand, in our case.