TIGHTENING DOOR HINGES
The Box passenger door just wasn’t shutting properly anymore, often needing a good slam and, even then, not always catching the latch fully. We all know that’s most probably due to loose hinges and the simple solution is to take off the leather door strap, open the door fully and tighten up the three screws in each hinge. In my case, the screws just kept turning round without biting into the wooden door frame so matchsticks and bigger and longer screws were called for. It seemed to work – at first – until the last job, winding up the window. Yes, the longer screws in the top hinge had penetrated into the window channel slightly and blocked the ascending glass. Having a cup of tea to think it through, I rang Roger Ballard who simply said – “Rawlplugs, old chap. Simple”. And, of course, they were the solution. No matchsticks, no slightly sticking out screw heads, just a neat and very tight solution. Thanks, Roger. Sometimes the obvious solution just evades us, so I thought I would pass it on.

ADDENDUM From Roge Bateman: Members may be interested in the inserts, which I have used to great effect many times in my old cars. Unlike Rawlplugs, they screw in and can’t pull out. Instead of a wood screw, they take a machine screw and I usually fit a raised countersunk slotted type for the best appearance. The insert has a gentle taper on the outside to ensure a snug fit. To use, simply enlarge the damaged hole using a drill that is approximately equal to the diameter half way along the root of the outside thread, not the crest of the threads, and screw the insert in flush with an Allen key. The centre bore is threaded to accept the machine screw. I have never needed to Araldite them in and the machine screw can be removed as often as required. These inserts are available in various sizes on eBay at about £6 for twenty. Search on ‘Threaded Wood Inserts Type D’.
David Whetton DA7C