http://www.sgs-engineering.com/help-advice/how-do-i-adjust-the-force-on-my-gas-strut/

On Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 12:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Thanks stu, I'll look at their listings.
>
> I had found some likely sources, some marine, and surprisingly ( for me)
> companies that sell stuff for tanning beds.
>
> It's one of those searches where one gets enthusiastic then beaten down :-)
>
> Ab
>
> > On Mar 29, 2017, at 2:25 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Alistair,
> >
> > McMaster-Carr has a reducible pressure gas spring that might work. If
> not, they've got hundreds of others: https://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-
> springs/=16yx01e
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Alistair Bell
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 12:46 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Hatchback struts
> >
> > You might be disappointed. With Simon's set up, the 1250N struts, it
> would hold up the hatch  with tire carrier and tire in place. But when I
> added the bike carrier and the bike to the hatch it would not hold things
> up. But it was close to holding, so I moved the tire mounting position up
> about 8" and that difference in load placement in relationship to the strut
> and hinge conformation was enough to make it work.
> >
> > The original placement of the tire mount on the rack was made as low as
> possible to reduce tire coverage of the rear window but not so low as to
> cover the tail light. When I moved the location upwards I also moved it to
> the left, outboard, to reduce the tire coverage on the rear window.
> >
> > Bottom line is that you need hefty struts to hold the hatch open with a
> tire on a hatch rack. I have a tire on the hatch and my struts which are
> the stock heavy duty ones will not hold the hatch open. I have to resort to
> the tube slipped over the strut hack to hold the hatch open.
> >
> > I'm looking for another source of high force struts.
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Mar 29, 2017, at 10:55 AM, Roman Haag <romanhaag@YMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >>
> >> Oh I like that, OlRivrRat. I think'tt work well. If it's strong enough
> to open it on its own once unlocked then I figure it'll make a loaded hatch
> easier at least.
> >>
> >>
> >> Sent from someone's plumbing
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Mar 29, 2017, at 13:50, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>      1 Additional Note though ~ These Struts are the 1st Set I have
> >>> ever that would cause
> >>>
> >>> the Hatch to Lift WithOut Help once the Lock is Unlocked ~ During the
> >>> Summer I have to be
> >>>
> >>> Sure & Not have My Chin in the way when I release the Lock ~
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> On 29 Mar , 2017, at 11:41 AM, OlRivrRat wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>    I'm in trouble now ~ I decided that I would go out this Morn' &
> >>>> Measure to know
> >>>>
> >>>> for sure ~ Keep in mind that it is only 50ºF this Morn' so the
> >>>> Struts are considerably
> >>>>
> >>>> weaker than on a Hot Summer Day ~ But ~ I Was Way Off ~
> >>>>
> >>>>    Went out with a 330Lb "Fish"Scale I have & only needed about 10%
> >>>> of it ~
> >>>>
> >>>> Out on the End of the Hatch it takes 30Lbs to pull it down & @ the
> >>>> Bottom of the
> >>>>
> >>>> Window it takes 45Lbs ~ I'll do the same test this Summer & let
> >>>> YouAll know ~
> >>>>
> >>>>    There Really have been times when it has seemed to take
> >>>> everything I had
> >>>>
> >>>> to get it to go down ~ But than I Am Old ~
> >>>>
> >>>>                                                    ORR ~ DeanB
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 29 Mar , 2017, at 10:39 AM, Neil2 wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I have about 7 new struts that look at first glance to be exactly
> >>>>> like those in the link above from GW's site.  I can send you the
> >>>>> identifier if you're interested.  I don't want to make any money on
> 'em.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On Tue, Mar 28, 2017 at 9:05 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Hi,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> My friend Simon bought some 1250 N struts from Germany for the
> >>>>>> similar reason. They're great, lifts his spare tire rack and bike
> >>>>>> rack ( with tire and bike) that I made for him.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Without anything on the hatch it's hard to close.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Unfortunately the German source has dried up, but I mention it so
> >>>>>> you will know that 1250N is strong enough for a good load on hatch.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Oh, and before anyone asks, it's been almost three years now with
> >>>>>> the struts and no adverse effect noted on the hatch.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I've been looking for similar struts but not found any yet.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Alistair
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Mar 28, 2017, at 7:24 PM, Roman Haag <romanhaag@YMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I recently got a Gary Lee multipurpose rack, which has my spare,
> >>>>>>> a gas
> >>>>>> can, and a hi-lift jack on it.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I need some stronger struts and am having a hard time finding
> >>>>>>> info about
> >>>>>> them.  Does anyone hear have any experience with them and could
> >>>>>> possibly recommend me some?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> All of the GoWesty/Bus Depot ones sound good, but they don't
> >>>>>>> really give
> >>>>>> nay specific information.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I've found these but I'm not even sure they'll fit.  I know the
> >>>>>>> Vanagon
> >>>>>> ones compress to 11.75", as well.
> >>>>>>> http://www.siraweb.com/gas-prop-c16-23835
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Any help is appreciated.  I'd hate to be the guy responsible for
> >>>>>>> our
> >>>>>> local Vdub mechanic getting hurt by a hatchback ;)
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Roman
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Neil2
> >>>>> '82 Diesel Westfalia (Ducky)
> >>>>> '86 Vanagon (SaVannah)
> >>>>> '08 170" 2500 Mega Roof Sprinter (Moby)
> >>>>> '90 Westfalia Subagon (SaL)
> >>>>> Fulltiming since August 2008
> >>>>> Nunquam Pendite Divendium
> >
>