Bonnet latch problem!!

Hello Morris Forum,
My first post and likely not the last. I am in process of completing restoration of a family treasure, 1958 Morris Minor 1000 four door, been in family since 1959. Will post some pictures in due course.
Problem is today I pulled bonnet release under the parcel tray and the thing pulled right out. So my question is how do I open the bonnet now to fix the release attachment??
Thanks in advance/////

Well firstly, I'm guessing you were in a shed at the time, because I'm pretty sure it was HOSING down in moo-moo land (certainly was up here, anyway). Secondly, a question - are we just talking about the handle, or the entire cable assembly? If the cable's still in situ, you may be able to access it from under the engine bay. But if the whole thing came off...hmmm!!! Nice!!! Worst case scenario, unscrew the bonnet hinges that hold the bonnet to the bulkhead and try to lift the bonnet off...OR...I dunno. Never heard of this one before!! I guess you've got a couple more days of rain to tinker around though...

Let me know if you work it out - would love to know...
J

This isn't easy but you can reach the lever that operates the latch from under the car. You have to reach up between the radiator and the engine, grope around for what seems like a month and pull the lever. I've done it when my bonnet got latched by mistake during my restoration...I may stress "it isn't easy".

Firstly thanks for the huge and helpful response, especially Rick Feibusch, Jim Kruer and Jonny Webster.

This is how it went:
I loaded the big car with my fifteen year old daughter, the Beagle and myself and we drove out to the workshop on the other side of town, and yes it is raining. I took the daughter as she will be driving the Morrie 1000 for a year or two so has to put in sweat equity for a part share, the Beagle, well she provides that distraction you need when you tend to over focus on stuff.
First attempt to open the bonnet without the pull handle involved me trying to squeeze my arm between the radiator and the engine, this was going well until until my elbow got jammed.
Second attempt involved getting my daughter to try it, that fell apart well before I could get her to agree to sticking her arm up between the dirty radiator and oil smeared engine. As I had little idea what the bracket looked like or what was on the end of the release handle I was unable to explain what she was to attempt.
Third attempt I lay under the car with a torch and was able to see the bracket up beside the radiator and the end of the release handle which is a rod with a small hook, I directed my daughter to manipulate the handle until the hook lined up with the hole in the bracket, unfortunately this was way hard and after ten minutes moved on.
Fourth attempt was based on the fact that the rod and hook were to hard to line up with the bracket, I found a piece of 10mm diameter aluminium tube about 600mm long and cut a notch in one end then filed it out with a rat tail. I found I could then support the hook end of the rod with the tube while the handle end was manipulated to line up with the bracket hole, easy. Now with the handle connected back up I attempted to open the bonnet only to find it would not budge, I had been warned this might be the case but could not believe it was so ridged, I tried a few more yanks but no joy. I went back under the car with the torch only to find a second bracket slightly higher up with similar hole so on to five.
Fifth attempt with same notched tube and manipulated handle, removed the hook from bracket one, a few minutes later hook through bracket hole two. Inside pull handle to get the magic pop as the bonnet catch easily released, yahooo.
I have now bent the hook over making it that much harder to slip out, only hope it don't as it would be considerably harder to hook back in now. I also see the first bracket is fixed but cannot see what it is meant to do or what should connect to it. Anyhow spent another couple hours removing doors ready for the new hinge pins, window rubbers and seals, and maybe handles and catches.
Thanks again for the advice, Till next time!!

Genius. And extra points for sticking at it! Nice one geezer. (and if I ever have the problem, I'll skip straight to "fifth attempt" LOL!)
J
(happy new year btw)

Glad you sorted it out, Paul.

For future reference, depending on why it was so hard to release, having someone push down on the bonnet might have made the release easier. The spring on the bonnet may be adjusted incorrectly. Also, if you know how the mechanism works and where things are situated, it's sometimes possible to reach through the top grille slat and the surround and push the mechanism.

if you want to solve the problem incase of future mishaps, and arnt worried about originality, why not discard the rod and lever system and attach a late model bonnet pull ( cable ) instead, or if there is enough room, weld a rod to the pull mechanism that protrudes far enough down so that it can be accessed from the grille.

I have drilled a small hole in the bottom of the "hooked end" of the release rod, and put a washer and cotter pin on to stop it climbing out of the bracket.

Instead of drilling the rod and using a cotter pin get a carburetor linkage clip. It works great on my hood release rod. See photo.

Come over and see me at Tamahere and maybe by looking at my car we can figure out a way to get you sorted Paul. 859 0075