Front vent flaps

[farmerlake]

As the weather is starting to warm a tad, I need these vents working. The passenger side one opens a bit, halfway maybe, but I think it's just bending the metal it is hinging on, as seen in the picture. It's holding it up/wonky angle, and the drivers side will not budge an inch. The knob inside (not the driver) will move a little left to right but absolutely no way will it go downwards to open the vent. I will soak in a penetrating fluid to see what I can do to remove, but is it a case of undoing the little nuts and pulling a pin out (no hope of that I'm sure)
Any advise on how to get them out would be greatly appreciated, I have a farm workshop full of tools at my disposal, but thought a punch and hammer wouldn't suffice.
Thanks

 

[Cabbie]

I had the same problem with the vent flaps on a Series 2A. Like you have already said - penetrating oil, lots of it and one person inside working the lever gently and another person outside working the flap in time with the movement of the lever. Just little movements and mine eventually shifted.

 

[farmerlake]

Cheers, that will be my first option then, going to take some freeing up though!

 

[Cabbie]

It took me and my mate 2 hours. Enjoy!!!

 

[Al2O3]

Best bet is to get the pins out. There's not much thread on the end of them, so might come apart easily. Once you get the pins out you'll be able to fold the flaps down and lubricate the linkages inside, though it's probably those hinges that have them seized by the look of them. You can get replacement pins like these stainless ones LINKY

 

[farmerlake]

That's great, thanks for that as I didn't know you could get them. Will order a set up this week and soak it each day before attempting something next weekend.

 

[Al2O3]

You might be able to get them cheaper or postage free off ebay?

 

[waldamar]

Not drafty enough already? Try unbolting the roof!

 

[james6546]

I changed mine not long ago, most likely the nut will sheer off rather than undoing. Try to wiggle them a bit before that happens and get some WD40 on it. Then once they have sheered off, or unlikely unbolted, tap them out using a hammer and a thin punch. That was how I did it. Then when you put it back together get stainless pins and use lots of grease.

It is also easier if you can undo the thing that keeps them open as you can then move them forwards and backwards to free them up, and take them off to hammer them straight again.

 

[farmerlake]

I changed mine not long ago, most likely the nut will sheer off rather than undoing. Try to wiggle them a bit before that happens and get some WD40 on it. Then once they have sheered off, or unlikely unbolted, tap them out using a hammer and a thin punch. That was how I did it. Then when you put it back together get stainless pins and use lots of grease.

It is also easier if you can undo the thing that keeps them open as you can then move them forwards and backwards to free them up, and take them off to hammer them straight again.

This is how I fully expect it to go. Started a `program` of WD40 for this week, will order some stainless pins tonight.