Yes, I used the Jim method. I have one tool set that had lots of Philips and other screw head sizes.  With the correct one and a a socket wrench it moved easily without stripping.  I love that tool set.  
Eric  

> On Dec 7, 2022, at 8:10 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> I have actually had better luck with a 3/8 inch drive large Phillips
> “socket” than with an impact driver. You can really put the torque to it
> with an 8 or 10 inch wrench, but it’s critical that the socket is an exact
> fit to the screw head and not an approximation.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Wed, Dec 7, 2022 at 6:56 PM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
>> Impact driver, manual kind. And they do work. Good tip dave.
>> 
>> Other way wouldn’t be impact gun.
>> 
>> Or a big square shanked Phillips screw driver, hit the end of then driver
>> with hammer to try to break the hold, then a wrench on the shank of the
>> driver to turn, pressing down with other hand to keep driver in screw head.
>> 
>> Ab
>> 
>>> On Dec 7, 2022, at 2:52 PM, ddbjorkman@verizon.net wrote:
>>> 
>>> A tool is available, I don't know the name, made for turning
>> ultra-tight screws.  It is a cylinder probably twice the diameter of a
>> normal heavy screwdriver.  It is made so that one seats the driver end
>> (phillips or straight) into the problem screw and then you slam the other
>> end of the cylinder with a heavy hammer.  It turns the screwdriver end, by
>> means of an internal thread in the cylinder, about a 1/4 to 1/2 turn and
>> breaks it free.  The pressure from being hit keeps the driver in the
>> screwhead and does not damage it.Ask the list what it's called (I wish I
>> could) and see if you can get one.
>>> Dave Bthe Boston one
>>> P.S.  Merry Christmas and hopes for a healthy and happy New Year!!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Sent: Tue, Dec 6, 2022 9:46 am
>>> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Tips on rear hatch lock adjustment
>>> 
>>> 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
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>