Hi EF Experts!

I have a question about the hatchback hinges on EFs. I have a wagon, but based on what I'm seeing the hinges are the same across all models for the hatchback so realistically anybody with an EF hatch can answer.

how tight should the hinges be? should you be able to move them up and down freely with no resistance? or should they be so tight that you can't move them by hand? or someplace in between?

I asked because I recently had a pretty bad experience where one of the hinges on my hatchback seized up and caused the entire hatch door to bend. I just bought a used pair, but these seem totally seized at least when I try to open them by hand. I have not tried to use any tools to work them yet, for fear of bending or breaking them (the hinge on mine actually broke from trying to free it up). when I got these hinges, I contacted the seller because they were seized up, the seller insists that the hinges should be very tight and I should not be able to move them by hand. of course that doesn't make much sense to me, because most of the motion should be regulated by the struts rather than at the hinge.

anyway I was thinking about drilling out the hinge pins cleaning out the inside real good and putting new hinge pins in (probably just bolts like what is usually done to fix hood hinges), but I wanted some feedback on how stiff these should be. alternatively, I could soak them in some rust remover and see if they free up (I will probably try this first) but it was pretty hard to get a new hatch so I don't want this to happen again.

let me know if you have any experience with how tight these hinges should be.

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Bump as i have the same question. Cant seem to find any info on it. One of the hatch hinges on my CRX snapped (thankfully it snapped instead of bending my hatch) and after taking them both off I noticed they seem seized same as yours.