I can attest to what Karl says. It worked for me before I snagged a used
piston (you see, I still didn't spring for a new one!). Just one "new" used
piston was enough to "get my hatch up" (no rear wiper mind you).

I still have the carefully made plastic pipe, all smooth edges rounded. You
know, a sterling silver one should be listed in the Abercrombie and Fitch
catalogue.

Alistair
--
'82 Westy -> diesel converted to gas in '94
albell@uvic.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/albell

on 23/10/02 8:38 AM, Karl F. Bloss wrote:

> Probably a winter thing...not enough pressure to keep the hatch all
> the way up when colder weather plays havoc on the PV=nRT equation.
>
> Get yourself a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe about 8-3/16" long.  Remove the
> circlip on the frame side of the piston, pull the piston off
> (careful: the hatch is heavy!), slip the PVC pipe on, and put the
> piston and circlip back on.
>
> The PVC pipe drops down on the piston when the hatch is opened and
> hooks against the cylinder.  The hatch is now "locked" open.  To drop
> the hatch, pop the pipe so it slips over the cylinder and it hides
> nicely.
>
> I give these away at campouts and when I see sagging hatches.  It's a
> great social ice-breaker.  :-)  I can even send some out for the
> price of postage.  P-mail me if you're interested.
>
> When the struts are totally shot, I recommend you go to a list vendor
> and buy a new set of struts.
>
> Regards,
>
> -Karl
>
> Karl & Kristina Bloss - Hurricane, WV
> '85 Westfalia Camper "Fred"
> '93 Eurovan MV "Amelie"
> WV VW Club:  http://WVVW.ORG
> "Bound to cover just a little more ground..."