Bures Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Just purchased a Witter F134a tow bar for my Fiesta Mk7 (1.25/14 reg) I have fitted many tow bars to various cars in my time, but this has got me defeated and driving me nuts trying to figure out where I have gone wrong (a) Side bars - Slide this into the Chassis rail and fix with bolt. So I push in bar and fix to hole furthest away in chassis rail - found it and fixed this should leave 2 external holes on which to fix the tow barBut it has gone into the chassis rail so far only one hole is accessible ( see side arm images) Hole E is now inside the Chassis rail My immediate reaction, the bar is too short but thats ludicrous Looking at the Witter site, this is the correct tow bar for my model, The supplier P.J Jones has also confirmed I have to right component So can anyone see what glaring mistakes I have made ? Alan Edited October 2, 2016 by Bures schematic update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 have you not got that bar in the wrong way round and upside down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bures Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 4 hours ago, iantt said: have you not got that bar in the wrong way round and upside down? Not Quite On my schematic the fixing point E has now disappeared into the chassis rail, If I pull it out to expose Fixing point E then F wont line up with the internal chassis rail hole Its what they call a "conundrum" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 take a photo of the bar so i can see, ive fitted a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 do you have holes on both sides of the chassis rail, you could be lining the bar to the wrong side of chassis rail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bures Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 4 hours ago, iantt said: do you have holes on both sides of the chassis rail, you could be lining the bar to the wrong side of chassis rail Only one side of chassis rail The left hole is right behind the two fuel pipes making it a real pig to get inserted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bures Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 4 hours ago, iantt said: take a photo of the bar so i can see, ive fitted a few. Either 2 x Hole F is fixed onto Chassis bar by bolt (a)Total Lenght of side rail 43cm (b)Distance between E and F = 29cm (c)Distance between hole in chassis bar and the rear bodywork - 32cm So as per my first image hole E is inaccessible as it now inside the Chassis bar by 3/4 cm What the heck am I doing wrong Like you I have fitted bars to Corsa, Puntos and other earlier Fords but I have never got stuck like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 been a long time since doing one, so looking at a copy of instructions, does the actual tow bar have captive nut welded in where bolt g would through at hole e? , does holes e and captive nut attatched to f line up with holes in chassis rail even if e hole is hidden in chassis rail. i take it you have got the captive nuts that goes in f looks like the actual towbar slots in to the chassis rail as well so you have hole d showing, e is hidden with bolt first going through chassis rail the e hole , sandwich plate, then towbar inc captive/ welded nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 obviously f has 2 positions depending on model and distance between the 2 holes in chassis rail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bures Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 8 hours ago, iantt said: been a long time since doing one, so looking at a copy of instructions, does the actual tow bar have captive nut welded in where bolt g would through at hole e? , does holes e and captive nut attatched to f line up with holes in chassis rail even if e hole is hidden in chassis rail. YES i take it you have got the captive nuts that goes in fYES looks like the actual towbar slots in to the chassis rail as well so you have hole d showing, e is hidden with bolt first going through chassis rail the e hole , sandwich plate, then towbar inc captive/ welded nut. What i think you are getting at, is hole E with its captive nut slid right into the chassis rail and is hidden This is impossible as the bolt head + captive nut wont slide into the chassis rail as the combination is too wide see image Interesting the instructions refer to a singe hole at "F" but I have two, by the way either choice makes no difference I am beginning to wonder if I have the correct spacer bars Witter dont have a Help Line they direct you to the nearest Fitter for advice Thats a 30mile round trip for me, but I may have to resort to that journey and go and see them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bures Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 DIMWIT here has solved the problem Previously I had checked the chassis rail for holes I only found the end hole Today after using a wire brush to remove mud and debris I uncovered another hole which is designed to fit Bolt E So with this uncovered hole to fit this additional bolt, the problem has been resolved Looking at the schematic I was under the false illusion that the section D and E was eternal to the chassis rail The instructions said tighten bolt F into Chassis rail - it would have been far better if it said fit Bolts E and F into Chassis rail Anyway, thanks to all who took the trouble to leave their comments TOPIC CLOSED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 good you sussed it out in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb_engineer Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 I know this is an old topic but how did u wire it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eatonm112 Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 I used a relay box on my Fiesta as I was worried about causing electrical issues. The worst part with using a relay box is the perm supply that will need to be run up from the fuse box on the PS to the boot. Other than that it is an easy job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb_engineer Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 2 hours ago, Eatonm112 said: I used a relay box on my Fiesta as I was worried about causing electrical issues. The worst part with using a relay box is the perm supply that will need to be run up from the fuse box on the PS to the boot. Other than that it is an easy job. Cheers for that, did the fuse panel have to come out for it to be put in the backside or was it a fuse tap, as far as running the wire to the back I know that's not too difficult having done it for a reversing camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eatonm112 Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 16 hours ago, Neb_engineer said: Cheers for that, did the fuse panel have to come out for it to be put in the backside or was it a fuse tap, as far as running the wire to the back I know that's not too difficult having done it for a reversing camera I took my fuse box out so I could get to the wires on the back as I soldered a fuse holder to a main input from the battery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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