Hydraulic arms/gas struts for lazarette hatch

paulineb

paulineb

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
28,468
Location
I no longer live in Hope
Visit site
So far the PBO and Lounge forums have been worse than useless.

Can anyone in here help ............ [not you LS]

The opening for my lazarette is 1150 x 850 with the hatch being slightly smaller. I'm not sure if I need hydraulic arms or gas struts, but what size would I need to get ?

My washing machine is in the lazarette and the hatch is very heavy for me to keep lifting it open and lowering it shut again.
 
If you look at any other hatches that have struts, to work out where the fixing points will be, then measure the maximum length of the strut required, then measure the smallest size it will need to retract into, take your measurements to a motor factors and find a suitable size. Or go to a scrap yard and get a used one, just to make sure it will fit, then take it to a motor factor to find a replacement.
 
It already has a strut thing on one side which clicks into place to stop it from accidently closing. If I buy a gas strut exactly that size, how do I know it will be able to cope with the weight of the hatch.

I need it to lift and easily as it possibly can. I know that one on each side will help. It's just know about the weight v size thing.

This all makes sense in my head.
 
If they are capable of lifting a rear tailgate of an estate car eg: on my Audi A6 estate, they should cope with a GRP hatch, two would be safer as it would stop the lid twisting. Don't forget though that they will have to retract unlike the clip on one, so you need to measure the smallest length they need to be.
 
Last edited:
mainmarine said:
If they are capable of lifting a rear tailgate of an estate car eg: on my Audi A6 estate, they should cope with a GRP hatch, two would be safer as it would stop the lid twisting. Don't forget though that they will have to retract unlike the clip on one, so you need to measure the smallest length they need to be.
Click to expand...

But you lift your tailgate from hip height ? I would think. This thing is below my toe height, obviously :D And I'm just a weak girly. Plus it's covered in all the woody deck stuck too.

David [Old Salt] has just given me an eBay link which looks like it will be a great help, so I'm now handing this over to MrB or Colin.

Thanks for your help xx
 
I'll put it here then...

paulineb said:
I've now been given some help elsewhere. But thank you to all those who took the time to read my message x
Click to expand...

Oooh you do want instant gratification, don't you :D

As advised 'elsewhere' you need to figure out where the gas struts can attach to, and then the 'open' and 'closed' lengths (N.B. if the 'open' length is heading on for 2 x the 'closed' length then think again...).

You normally try to arrange the geometry so that the strut points more or less away from the hinges when the hatch is shut so that the hatch doesn't fly open as soon as you release the latch.

You can buy adjustable struts - they are charged to maximum pressure, and you release it little by little until you get the action that you want. This is a one way process, though. You can't adjust it up again.

You need to have a rough idea of how much force is needed to know what diameter to get but the range of adjustment is quite large. I would have thought that two of the smallest diameter ones would be plenty.

I think that the ones for car boots will be too powerfull unless your hatch is very heavy. May be worth going for stainless ones??

I was looking for some recently, and found the following sites of use:

SGS Engineering - online ordering.

Struts Direct free design advice

Bought some cheapies off ebay in the end (still waiting for them to turn up, though :rolleyes: ) so I can't vouch for those companies.

Andy
 
djefabs said:
Hi Pauline
Try these people, they are very helpful and will help to spec the struts that you want.
http://www.gas-springs.com/
Say Hi to Mr B for me
Click to expand...

Derek darling
2dilvdl.jpg
............ thank you. How are you? It's about time you brought that boat out to the med for a while. It would be wonderful to see you again.

Or have a chat with Richie. He's coming out next month some time with D.C. Dickhead He may not have booked yet. It would be such fun.

I'll get Mr B too look at that site and tell him you said hi xxxxxxxxxxx
 
Last edited:
I bought a couple of struts from SGS. Stainless and they come with a tiny allen key that is used to bleed off the gas pressure to get them down to 'enough to keep the lid up'

As supplied they supported my 'not inconsiderable weight', once bled they hold up my cockpit locker lids safely and assist in the lift.

BTW this is a one way process, once bled they can only be regassed by a suitably equiped facility so dont overbleed them.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/shop/range/details/8mm-rod-18mm-body-2/path/gas-strut-adjustable-force-stainless
 
nimbusgb said:
I bought a couple of struts from SGS. Stainless and they come with a tiny allen key that is used to bleed off the gas pressure to get them down to 'enough to keep the lid up'

As supplied they supported my 'not inconsiderable weight', once bled they hold up my cockpit locker lids safely and assist in the lift.

BTW this is a one way process, once bled they can only be regassed by a suitably equiped facility so dont overbleed them.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/shop/range/details/8mm-rod-18mm-body-2/path/gas-strut-adjustable-force-stainless
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top