Gas strutt replacement.

Submitted: Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 21:49

ThreadID: 89258 Views:2801 Replies:8 FollowUps:7

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Twinkles

I am replacing the gas strutts on my camper, but they need to be compressed about 15mm. How do you compress them. I can't move them at all.

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Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 22:37

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 22:37

Open the camper as you normally would , prop it up, take the old ones off and fit the new ones.

.

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Follow Up By: Twinkles - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 05:04

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 05:04

I did this. Even at the at the the point where the strutts are at the longest extention, they are not fully extended, so they need to be compressed about 15mm I can't compress them manually at all.

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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:33

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:33

Of course you won't compress the strut by hand, even the ones on a car bonnet you won't compress, I could bet you won't compress the ones that are still on or were on the camper either, did you buy new ones the same length as the old ones...
as I said, raise the camper take the old ones off after you get a prop to hold it up and fit the new ones, if they are the same length they should clip right on without having to compress them.

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Reply By: Wilgadene - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:16

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:16

Hi Twinkles,
I was stuck with the same problem on a pop top caravan some years back and a knowledgeable bush mechanic showed me how to compress them using a ratchet tie down strap by putting the strap around the ends and slowly tightening until you reach the desired length. Takes a little bit of fiddling at first but once you have practised putting the stap on it all seems simple. Worked for me anyway.

Cheers

AnswerID: 466128

Follow Up By: Twinkles - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:40

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 07:40

Thanks Wilgadene. I did try that. but kept slipping off. I shall persevere. The struts are the same length as the old ones. In the operation of the opening they don't open to quite the full length.

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Reply By: Rangiephil - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:44

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:44

The installers make up a tool by getting a bit of allthread, then making up two steel brackets/plates with 1 hole for the allthread to go through and another to fit the knuckle of the strut.

They then wind a nut against the bracket until the strut is compressed to the correct length. Usually they get sophisticatred and weld a bit of tube into the plate so that it stays perpendicular to the allthread but for a one off I think you could just have a nut and washer each side and turn them in tandem.
Regards Philip A

AnswerID: 466133

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:52

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:52

Did you check not only the length of the struts but the Nm of the old struts before buying the new ? If not you may find that the new struts have too much or too little compression/ extension power to do the required lift adequately.

AnswerID: 466134

Follow Up By: Twinkles - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 12:30

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 12:30

The old struets were tested for pressure. They wern't worn out, bent and stone blasted. The new ones have a steel ball and socket, so no bolt or nut to attach compressing thingy to.

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Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 09:35

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 09:35

I used a sash cramp as used in carpentry. A small block of wood with a countersunk hole as a pad at either end.
Worked a treat.

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Reply By: Rangiephil - Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 12:34

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 12:34

Imeant that you drill a hole in the steel that the round head of the socket will fit into, such as the other post which suggests a countersunk type hole.
Regards Philip A

AnswerID: 466243

Reply By: Member - Wayne B (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 15:08

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 15:08

I would have thought the only thing from stopping the floor from going to over 90Deg was the length of the strut when opened.

If you remove both struts you should be able to open the floor much further enabling you to fit the new ones..

When I fitted the tailgate ones on my 80 that is what I did took both old ones off first so I could open it further.

Cheers
Wayne B

AnswerID: 466255

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 16:26

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 16:26

Nah the struts on a Camp-O-Matic never actually get to FULL extension at any time.

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Follow Up By: Twinkles - Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 18:35

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 18:35

They are compressed the most when closed. Open as the floor opens then close up as the floor passes 90degrees. They get closer as you let the floor fall. It has a wind up belt on a winch winder to pull it closed.

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