Dino 246 bonnet strut won't close

Need some help here. Could not close bonnet today after charging battery. I pull up on the bonnet, the catch in the strut releases as usual, then it only goes down an inch or two. Played with it for an hour, lubed it, finally removed it to get the hood shut (what a pain in the ass job that is-you can't get a socket over the screw head because the sides of the strut almost touch the screw head. Who engineered that masterpiece? Spent 2 hours with a needle nose plier).
Anyway, it's on my desk now and still won't close. Can't take it apart to check locking mechanism as it's got a rivet holding it together.
Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Doctor, study it carefully. You will find the hitch. Don't try to take it apart. The problem is usually a spur of metal on the rotating cam/lock. If you locate the raised spur, you can file it or chip it down with a flat (old) screw driver and a few gentle taps.

And if I understand correctly, you are trying to place a socket over a screw head? Is it a hex bolt? It should be a slotted, shoulder screw with a thin wave washer on both sides of the strut where the screw fastens to the chassis or the lid.

Jim S.

 

New ones are available from Rutlands if you can't fix yours.