Fridge top load door - OUCH &$%£$%%^

Tintin

Tintin

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I came close to losing a finger today when some swell from a mobo knocked my top load fridge door down while my hand was in there getting a cold drink.

Am very worried about the kids fingers too.

Has anyone fitted a gas strut? How do I go about sizing them, and where to buy?

thanks for your help
CR
 
I fitted a couple of struts to my top loader doors. Mine are about 200mm long and were supplied pumped up to a very high load pressure. Once installed they have a grub screw bleed valve that allows you to lower the pressure and thus the force exerted. ( once and irreversible ) Struts are usually fitted so that once the hinged part is in the closed position the strut geometry is over-centred so the strut is helping to keep it closed, which is how I fitted mine initially. I have subsequently changed the geometry somewhat so that the strut is still loading the lid to make it somewhat 'lighter' when closed. My lids are 32mm chipboard, epoxy coated, with formica faces and a fibreglass moulded inner panel with insulation inside. Slamming one on your fingers would undoubtedly result in a medevac callout.
 
Giblets said:
Would have thought the type of struts used on car tailgates would suit. Any breakers yards near you?
Click to expand...

They are always the non adjustable type, and far too powerful. You would not be able to keep the door shut with one fitted unless you also fitted a positive door catch..

My idea on this is to fit a little block of wood on a hinge screwed just in front of the fridge opening and balanced or even sprung so that when the fridge door is lifted it falls into the opening and prevents the door fully closing until you lift it out. Of course sods law says your finger would get between the door and the block! Another alternative is to fit a sprung plunger at the hinge side so that the door's descent is slowed but not completely stopped. My own fridge doors just have catches to hold them open.
 
Google fails me!

Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
 
Or fridge used a spring to keep the lid open, but the slightest touch and it would drop like a guilotine, usely on my daughters head. On my fridge i've now fit a friction hinge designed to keep overhead kitchen doors open. Works great and cost buttons. You can also get small gas struts for a similar purpose but was I was concernd it would put excess load on the lid hinges, and would need complex brackets to support.

I've also fitted a gas strut to a large a heavy cockpit locker which my wife struggled to open, its an absolute joy, just lift it and it and it stays up itself.
 
johnphilip said:
Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
Click to expand...

A jeanneau that I delivered a few years ago had that. Brilliantly simple but so far cannot find it.
 
johnphilip said:
Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
Click to expand...

I had the same system which work great but the slightest nudge of the spring and it drops, typically on my daughters head or on more than one occasion trapped by her waist.
 
Comrade Red said:
A jeanneau that I delivered a few years ago had that. Brilliantly simple but so far cannot find it.
Click to expand...

I have one of these on the lid of my chart table. Personally I think it's a menace - the smallest knock on the side of the spring when getting out a chart puts it into 'collapse' mode. Think rat trap, where the rat pulls on the cheese.

However if it's not knocked it holds the lid open very firmly. It would do OK for fridge lid, I think, provided it was only to prop the lid up against boat motion. It would be an even more effective rat trap than my chart table if for example the user of the fridge nudged it while accessing something in the fridge.
 
johnphilip said:
Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same fittings on our top loading fridge and cool box. (SO45.2) Problem was the slightest touch on the spring (say your arm nudges it) and it comes down and you can do some serious bruising and pain. Took them off - put a hook on the lid lifting ring with a bit of cord with a loop which goes over a side window latch above - job done!

An old thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-200113.html
 
johnphilip said:
Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
Click to expand...

Comrade Red said:
A jeanneau that I delivered a few years ago had that. Brilliantly simple but so far cannot find it.
Click to expand...

There are loads online - just Google for stainless spring stay.
 
they work for us.

Steve Clayton said:
Exactly the same fittings on our top loading fridge and cool box. (SO45.2) Problem was the slightest touch on the spring (say your arm nudges it) and it comes down and you can do some serious bruising and pain. Took them off - put a hook on the lid lifting ring with a bit of cord with a loop which goes over a side window latch above - job done!
Click to expand...
Horses for courses I guess, we have never had an issue with accidental knocking of the spring. Fridge lid is small and unlikely to injure. Chart table tends to be just me doing the opening. I see force4 show them.
 
2copplane said:
Or fridge used a spring to keep the lid open, but the slightest touch and it would drop like a guilotine, usely on my daughters head. On my fridge i've now fit a friction hinge designed to keep overhead kitchen doors open. Works great and cost buttons. You can also get small gas struts for a similar purpose but was I was concernd it would put excess load on the lid hinges, and would need complex brackets to support.

I've also fitted a gas strut to a large a heavy cockpit locker which my wife struggled to open, its an absolute joy, just lift it and it and it stays up itself.
Click to expand...

Excuse Fred Drift but have you any hints on fitting the gas strut for the cockpit locker? I have a strut that is powerful enough but fitting it hasn't reached the top of the jobs list - partly because I've yet to get my head round how to do the positioning step :rolleyes:.

On the main thread issue, I'd like something for the coolbox lid, but would like to be able to take it off completely. Are demountable friction hinges available?
 
johnphilip said:
Both our fridge door and chart table lid have a brilliant simple strut comprising a stainless coil spring about 10 mm diam and 150mm long. One end fixed to lid the other to the side wall. As you lift the lid the spring snaps straight and holds the lid until you nudge it sideways and it bends double letting the lid drop. Surprised I cannot find on Google.
Click to expand...

Had that on the Benny galley lid, until we got sick of the slightest touch allowing the (large) lid to slam down, I fitted two small gas cabinet door stays from Screwfixwhich have proved perfect.
 
Once a friend asked me about the marks on my head...but then he offered The solution which I have in place.
When you open the top cover, a smsall piece of pipe at suitable length and width slips on its weight around the holding elbow, and is held in place by a vertical small screw. To close the cover you lift the pipe to expose elbow.
I still think it is brilliant and it works.
 
Last edited:
Hydrozoan said:
Excuse Fred Drift but have you any hints on fitting the gas strut for the cockpit locker? I have a strut that is powerful enough but fitting it hasn't reached the top of the jobs list - partly because I've yet to get my head round how to do the positioning step :rolleyes:.

On the main thread issue, I'd like something for the coolbox lid, but would like to be able to take it off completely. Are demountable friction hinges available?
Click to expand...

Tips on a fitting a gas spring? I'd start by measuring the extended and closed lengths of the piston. and select locations to mount that mean it can close okay , and when extend the lid be in a reasonably balanced position. I'd also be careful that when closing that nothing will put a lateral force on the piston and bend it. I bought mine off seascrew so was able to select a suitable lenght and strength. I guesstimated and selected 20Kg, I could have gone higher but thought it may put to much strain on the hinges when closed.

Pictures of locker and also fridge stay below, hopefully may prove helpful to someone.

locker stay.jpg

fridge stay.jpg
 
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