Tony has a good idea.

If the struts have stopped working, then they aren't pressurized anymore.  I
have seen people use a little clamp on the rod that telescopes in and out of
the strut, and when they open, just tighten it down.  Also, cheap.

I have new struts on mine, but truly appreciate anyone that has the
ingenuity to save a few bucks.

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brent Christensen" <brent@vanagon.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working

> RE: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped workingI would be concerned
about
> this approach for two reasons:
>
> 1. Aren't those struts pressurized?  Seems dangerous to drill through
there.
> 2. Since the diameter of the strut is not that great, I would have
concerns
> about compromising the integrity/strength of the stryt by drilling a hole
> through it.
>
> Have you actually done this?
>
> Seems like a nifty-sounding idea (cleaner looking than the PVC tube trick)
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
> Santa Barbara, CA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tony Demille
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM ; 'Brent Christensen'
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 9:53 AM
> Subject: RE: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
>
>
> here is  a quick and effective fix for faulty struts that is quite simple.
> simply drill a hole in the strut (at it's extended/open position-which
would
> be near the bottom(?) of the body of the strut) all the way through. this
> hole should be large enough in diameter to accomodate a kotter type pin.
> (not the type that's on the axle nut, but the kind that look similar to a
> key-it's a piece of thicker guage steel wire bent on one end and comes
> together on itself with a jog in the middle, but doesn't close at the end)
> you secure a small link chain (or whatever) to one end of the key and the
> other end is secured somewhere on the bus. this keeps the key attached
near
> the strut at all times. so, when you open the hatch, while holding it open
> with one hand, use the other to insert one leg of the key into the hole,
> past the jog, and it holds the strut and hatch open. works extremely well
> and is very secure.
> i hope the description is not too confusing. it's really simple, but email
> makes it difficult to convey. if you have questions, i'm happy to help.
> t
>
>
> Tony DeMille
> Creative Director/VW lover
> Candesa Interactive
> 251 River Park Dr.
> Provo, Utah 84604
>
>
>
> ----------
> From:   Brent Christensen
> Reply To:       Brent Christensen
> Sent:   Thursday, August 10, 2000 8:13 AM
> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:        Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
> Karl Bloss is the List member I was referring to.  See below:
> -Brent
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@enter.net>
> To: "Brent Christensen" <brent@vanagon.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 7:25 PM
> Subject: Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
>
>
> > Brent,
> >
> > I'm off-list, but feel free to share this with the list:
> >
> > http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/hatch_strut_support.PDF
> >
> > It's a picture and instructions on how to make the PVC hatch strut
thingy.
> >
> > I have a bunch that I give away or I'll be happy to ship them for $2 of
> PayPal
> > to US addresses.
> >
> > -Karl
> >
> > > You can either replace them or use the PVC pipe trick.  (Search the
> > > archives for the details - I think another List member also has
> something
> > > on their web site about it).
> > >
> > > I bought new ones from TBD about 18 months ago and they still will
hold
> > > the hatch open with a Paulchen rack attached to the back.  (Make the
> hatch
> > > a little more difficult to close without the rack, though)
> > >
> > > Brent Christensen
> > > '89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
> > > Santa Barbara, CA
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "K. Taylor" <ktaylor@premier1.net>
> > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 2:06 PM
> > > Subject: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
> > >
> > >
> > > > The back hatch struts on my '90 Westy stopped holding the hatch up
> > > > yesterday.  It seems like they went from 'working 100%' to not
working
> > > > at all in one step.  Is this characteristic of struts that have
> stopped
> > > > working?  Is there any adjustment fixes, or do they simply need to
be
> > > > replaced?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > Karl & Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA - '87 Weekender "Bev" - 200K
Miles
> > http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
> > VW Shop List: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/vwshops
> > PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
> > Red Hat LINUX 6.2 - for IQs higher than 98
> >