After 10+ years, guess I should RTFM. (Read The "Darned" Manual
)
That thing should have no bearing on how secure your side panel is. Are the plastic tabs on the shroud in the front where the nuts tighten it down cracked or broken? They are prone to break.
I think I added washers to mine long ago to improve tightening.
I did add a couple pieces of weatherstrip and tubing on the tabs near the firewall to help just a little.
Neat, had no idea that was there. Would have been handy few times over the years. Just holds the hood at an elevation where you can get the lower shroud off.....there is no way to "make it work" unless you want to use it. Just an accessory.
There’s the little cuss. (The electrical cord is for my battery maintainer.)
Pull it out and slide over latch pin on hood. Keeps the actuator on the hood from going too high - - that way there's more room to slide the shroud forward and take it off.
Slide it back in when done..