Is there a trick to getting the rear windows to stay open?

I had to replace one of mine because the latch broke off the window and now the replacement won't stay open. If I push on it from outside it won't close so I think the latch itself is too loose so it moves away from the open position.

Before I make one of the pins tighter is there a proven method to fix it?

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis

Obviously they are an overcentre catch so if they stay open but vibrate off centre they slam close. Is this what you mean?
The last one I changed took me forever to get the hinge in the right spot to work properly. In the end I got it but I think it was more luck than judgement. There did not seem to be any logic to why it didn't work.

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Cheers Dave.

I tend to agree with Steam about the "overcentre" catch. The more open the window is, the less damping is applied by the hinge geometry and the easier it is to move it.

I've had that happen to me on occasions over the years - even with a new car, many years ago. After a highway run in summer, at least one of the windows will be partly closed. I never got concerned about it - just accepted that it was normal for a 60 year old car design.
Remember that many sun roofs from the same era also leaked badly...

I found that if the RH-rear window was open, there was less buffeting from having the driver's window open - a flow-through effect? So I think the cause of self-closing has more to do with pressure changes in the cabin.

Exactly that.

That is why I was thinking making the hinge tighter might solve it. The new window will close fully after a very short distance whereas the old window would stay open all the time (recently it did start to occasionally close)

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis

I have heard of others tightening the hinged section to overcome this. Assume it is by judicial use of a hammer. Haven’t done it myself.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

if you want the ultimate solution then this is your man.
https://classicminisjapan.com/products/ ... ctric-kit/

Also there are lots of possible solutions on the UK forum, one that is often remarked on is the older catches are much better than the newer ones. I presume this problem is on your 86 with newer flimsy catches.

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Cheers Dave.

One of our local members used an occy strap from one window catch to the other (over the back window). It definitely held them open nicely!

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I am thinking of tightening the hinge by using locking pliers.



Yes it is on my 1986 however the original windows were fine. Maybe the changes were made later than that and the window is likely from a newer one.

I will have a look on the UK forum, I never actually even searched for this problem first.

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis

How old is your window rubber? Fitting new ones fixed mine.
Years ago, and they still hold open.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

About two years old unless I had them sitting around, in that case it would be maximum five years.

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis

This problem is made worse if the tiny screw holes are stripped in the thin body steel.
When rebuilding my son's clubby we used M3 screws and rivnuts instead. More robust.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I ended up tapping the rivets in the hinge a few times as it just wouldn’t hold over centre. I think it was a 2 hammers and a punch job.

Even though with new rubbers they wouldn’t close completely by themselves, they would rattle and move in and out with air pressure which messed with my ears. Tightening the hinge gave it just enough to hold onto once over centre.

A few people on the UK sites used a cloths peg to keep them open. You put the peg on the hinge pin (handle/puller or what ever you call the bits that stick out either side of the hinge), and the other end of the peg wedged in a place so the window cant close. I did use this method for a bit and this also worked, You just couldn’t open the window and do the peg while you were at the lights so less convenient.

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1966 Mini Deluxe - “Gabby” 34 years under restoration and counting...
1970 MGBGT
1959 MGA

Well, I was going to make the smart comment that I enjoyed driving with a breeze from the rear window which stayed open....... except they didn't stay open.
So I have so,e time messing about trying to work out why. The catch pivots need to be tight enough to hold over centre.



I worked out that the drivers side centre pivot was tight when locked closed but not when open. I found that the pin wit the 2 lugs can turn or pivot and this changed wnere it was tight. So I turned it to be tight when over centre open. It is catch 22 though as the catch is now not as tight or positive when closing or locked.



The passenger side however made no difference when pivoted turned so it must depend on the actual catch. I now have one 9n the drivers side which stays open which is fine as I can reach it to open and close from the drivers seat and I cannot reach thee passenger side so I am happy for now.

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Cheers Dave.

I do still need to look at fixing mine. I will look at turning it like you say.

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1986 Mayfair (998 auto), 1974 S, 1974 Van, 1972 PMG Van

Too many minis