*"I suspect things got off a bit when the van was painted several years
ago"*... I'd think you're right...

Well Eric ... that's why I learned how to adjust the rear hatch and the
sliding door. My son hit a deer with his van a few years ago, the insurance
paid for body work and painting. After it came back, the hatch, the sliding
door all messed up. I guess they removed them to paint and didn't put them
back correctly. I spent a lot of time adjusting them.

:-)

On Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 10:48 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:

> Success!
>
> Thank you friends on the Vanagon List.
>
> Everyone’s suggestions helped me figure this out.
>
> In the end the most significant adjustment was the striker plate on the
> deck.  I was able to loosen the three screws and moved it toward the back
> of the van.  This didn’t seem to change the hatch position much when closed
> as viewed from the outside, but made a big difference in operation of the
> release button.  It is now vastly easier to depress.
>
>         I then adjusted the side bumpers to touch the hatch and all seems
> great.
>
> The 85 hatch is still a bit easier to release but the 84 is now very good.
>
> I also found that cleaning and lubricating all the latch parts  made a bit
> of an improvement even before I adjusted things.
>
> But, this hatch definitely was improved by adjusting the parts.  I suspect
> things got off a bit when the van was painted several years ago and the PO
> seem to me to be VW folks that adjusted to the van changes rather then
> working on changing or adjusting the van.
>
> This is providing me with opportunities to dial things in all over the van.
>
> Eric Caron
> 84 Westfalia
>
>
> > On Dec 6, 2022, at 9:46 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks Dan,
> >
> >        I’m learning and will get there.
> >
> > I’ve been able to turn out and in the side plastic, or rubber hatch
> bumpers.  So far that makes no difference.
> >
> > I’ve also moved the latch on the hatch bottom in and out.  I’m settled
> on in toward the front of the van as slightly better.
> >
> > Pushing on the hatch seems to make it easier to open.  I’m dreading
> working on the striker plate on the rear deck as I’m afraid of messing up
> those screws.
> >
> > But, I soaked them last night in BP Blaster and plan to see if I can
> move that.  I think it needs to go back toward the rear of the van.
> Compared to my 85 that opens easily the striker plate seems more forward on
> the 84.
> >
> > Again any tips or experiences appreciated.
> >
> >        Amazing that I’m still learning about these vans after all these
> years.
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >> On Dec 5, 2022, at 9:42 PM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >>
> >> in my experience/trouble with the rear hatch... but you may find
> something
> >> differently... There are 3 points to adjust the rear hatch...
> >> - The center latch mechanism (moving it in and out slightly)
> >> - The 2 rubber bumpers on the left and right side of the body. Turning
> them
> >> to the Left to move them out, turning them to the right to move them in.
> >> - Move them OUT too much and make the hatch hard to catch...
> >> - Move them IN too much and make the hatch hard to open...
> >>
> >> On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 6:14 PM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Turn to the right to increase the height, turn to the left to increase
> the
> >>> depth.
> >>>
> >>> Jim
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 8:04 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> OK,  Now I understand what plastic bumpers we are talking about!
> >>>>
> >>>> So, looking at those rubber and plastic stops, how do I adjust them
> in or
> >>>> out?  I feel a nut shaped exterior but it looks fragile.  Do I somehow
> >>> turn
> >>>> that or does the rubber end pull off?  Or does it adjust from the
> inside.
> >>>>
> >>>> I want to avoid braking the stop so knowing how it works would help.
> >>>> Eric
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Dec 5, 2022, at 8:22 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Plastic bumpers: extreme left and right of the back hatch opening,
> not
> >>> on
> >>>>> the door.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jim
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 6:44 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> OK,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>      I need a little more simple direction here.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I don’t know where there are two plastic bumpers.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> If the Striker plate is on the deck then I see a little rectangle
> >>> rubber
> >>>>>> thing on the left and the post on the right.  I feel three Philip
> head
> >>>>>> screw.
> >>>>>> The screws seem very locked in place.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Not sure how to proceed to make it so the hatch will go a bit more
> >>>> forward.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On the hatch side I have three hex head bolts.  They are able to
> turn.
> >>>>>> This has the moving latch.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>      I have noticed that pushing on the hatch makes it easier to
> >>> open
> >>>>>> so I need to figure out how to adjust something.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Another description of how to adjust from a blind perspective of the
> >>>> rear
> >>>>>> hatch parts is greatly appreciated!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Eric Caron
> >>>>>> 84 Westfalia
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Dec 3, 2022, at 8:56 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Sorry ' made mistake in last message…set the striker plate more
> >>> forward
> >>>>>> than original when testing first…..
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Alistair
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> On Dec 3, 2022, at 4:44 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Hi folks,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>    My 84 rear hatch is hard to open because the lock button takes
> >>> a
> >>>>>> great deal of thumb pressure to disengage.  My 85 is much easier.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Can someone give me some tips on what can be tried to relieve the
> >>>>>> pressure a bit?  I’m guessing there is some adjustment on the latch
> >>>>>> somewhere but this is not something I’ve done before.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Tips on my starting place appreciated.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Eric Caron
> >>>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
>