Sorry, you are quite correct, mine is not Simmonds, so apologies for being in the wrong thread. If anyone can point me to the correct thread that would be a great help. I seem to recall DaveW posted something a while back about the delicate nature of these 'cones' and he alluded to them being sourced from another manufacturer, basically they are simply bonnet releases and not overly strong.
Since I do a lot of hood down (self) and then hood up (no sidescreen) driving (+SWMBO) I have learnt to release the rear hood catch while engaging the front "claws" on the windscreen header to get the tension set in the hood. Lastly I shut the rear back down and have maybe been too zealous of late, but it seems to be the only way, correct? My arthritic digits are incapable of setting the claws with the rear engaged, and if I slacken the claws too much they disengage.
