Thanks, Neil. It appears that disassembly and inspection of the various
weak points would be a good idea. It also appears that disassembly and
reassembly might be tricky, there being weighted parts and springs which
can go crash and snap and p-TWANG! and possibly cause a real bad owie.

Can someone post a step-by-step "how to take apart and put back
together" procedure for those of us who are not-so-ept mechanically and
value our fingers and eyes?

--
Rocky J Squirrel
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR

neil n wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 9:38 AM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
> <camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>> David Beierl wrote:
>
>>> The basic cause of the problem is that the part of the hinge that
>>> bears on the center tube is much too thing and acts more like a knife
>>> than a bearing.  The rather frightening damage shown in the photos
>>> happened between 1984 and 2004.  Another cause is that as Scott
>>> points out, this stuff never gets preventive lubrication.
>> I can't find a post from Scott dealing directly with this. I eyeballed
>> the situation here and it's not clear where/how one lubricates the
>> problem area. And with what.
>>
>>
>
>
> Here's some more pics Mr. Squirrel
>
> My struts in pieces and repaired:  http://tinyurl.com/28vumgd
>
> there are more in that album. Just click the arrows.
>
> pics show what may be a similar, or same repair as David did. Just so
> you know the copper is not original. I lubed with wheel grease. i
> would suggest white grease to anyone with things apart/repaired.
>
> My best guess, all *stock* parts assembled, is that if one sprays some
> "stay put" type liquid lube (chain lube?) on the area where the two
> arms pivot, it may work it's way into where the top arm pivots on the
> the cross bar where it enters through the lower arm. My other best
> guess is that lube helps, but since it's such a narrow area rubbing on
> that cross bar, the wear will happen regardless.
>
> Neil.
>
>