On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
<camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks, Neil.
>
> I'll print this out and have a go at disassembling my poptop struts to see
> how badly the crossarm is worn out in a couple weeks. I dunno how the new
> gas shocks I installed will affect the various forces and in what directions
> the poptop will want to take when the bolts start coming out. Only one way
> to find out!
>
> This is wiki material if you are so inclined . . .

Aw shucks. Thanks. Yes. Feel free to post it on VanagonWiki.

As per David B's post, you might be able to judge how worn things are
by the amount the upper arm is showing below the lower arm.

His pic:   http://tinyurl.com/278xu8r

Mine was poking down and out too. Still. It just makes sense to fix it
sooner than later.

Do you have the Jack Bombay assist kit?  If so, which strength? Please
post if you find that pop top lifts "easily" w/o the stock assist
(both sides disarmed. Ha! "disarmed") IMHO, that kit is the right
answer to a broken cable(s) on the spring assist. They come in 3
different strengths of gas cartridges.

Neil.

--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines