Selden Rod Kicker Gas Spring Replacement

[emandvee44]

I expect this subject has been covered before ?
Our Bav. 44 2002 model suffered a failure of the gas cylinder – it rusted away and so I removed it. From the Forum I discovered that replacements can be purchased from SGS engineering in UK (in stainless - preferable) or Selden in original form (mild steel cylinder. I have been in contact with SGS and they sent me a form with a diagram to be completed by me, re dimensions.
I think the original Selden part was 308-072 with a 14mm diameter push rod and a 2500N force.The problem is that the old part has no part numbers on it, or they have long since disappeared.I have measured it as accurately as possible,and it seems that the push rod of 14mm diameter corresponds to the Selden part number mentioned above.Unfortunately Selden do not give the piston/push rod length or cylinder diameter so that I can specify these in the SGS diagram.
Does anyone have experience of obtaining a replacement and do you think I am on the right track re original spec. sizing,force?
Thank you, M.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Send the old one to SGS and ask to quote for a new one in ss ?

 

[emandvee44]

Good idea - I will check the postal costs !
Thanks,
M.

 

[Mistroma]

The Selden strut failed pretty quickly on our 42DS and it was a stainless rod with mild steel body.

I looked up notes I made at that time

Gas Strut specs.
Aratron (Stockholm 08-40 41 600)
G28-250-1200N-02

Body Diameter: 28mm
Body Length: 310mm
Stroke: 250mm
Shaft Diameter: 14mm
Threaded end length: 12mm
Total length: 590mm

Threaded ends: M10

I think that I bought a replacement from Gas Struts, Design Service, UK Supplier (StrutsDirect) and it failed in under a year. I could have returned it for a warranty claim but we were in Spain and I was given a big discount on a replacement as that was easier.

I bought an all stainless unit and still have it about 8 years later. Pretty certain it was SDSS-04 - 250 from this list.

I can look for more details later today but it was pretty easy to measure the old unit and find a matching one online. It seemed to be quite common and I would be surprised if you can't measure your old one in the same way. I think that my original kicker was a Selden 058-036-16.

 

[emandvee44]

Thanks,
I think I have identified a suitable one by a process of elimination.
Selden item 308-072 has a 14mm diam. push rod and 2500N force. (note it is the only one with the 14mm diam rod)
My old one has a 14mm diam push rod and I have measured it and passed the measurements to SGS engineering and they have offered an all stainless one with almost the same dimensions and Force.
I now have to remember how to fit it as the old one was removed in 2018! Fortunately I did take some pics. of the disassembly - they are stored somewhere
M.

 

[Javelin]

I've replaced five or six of these now with SGS SS struts.
I've also flagged this up with Selden by email, phone and twice with senior reps at boat shows and they still think that fitting mild steel rams is a good idea.
Completley nuts!!

 

[Jungle Jim]

These guys might be worth contacting as well Nitrogen Gas Springs | Metrol Springs Limited
No connection but my machines have used their stainless struts for 15 years, good quality and they are very helpful.

 

[Mistroma]

These guys might be worth contacting as well Nitrogen Gas Springs | Metrol Springs Limited
No connection but my machines have used their stainless struts for 15 years, good quality and they are very helpful.

The people I used in 2011 were related to Metrol but I think that they have changed names since then. Pretty certain that Struts Direct in link I gave earlier are the same company.

The website for Struts Direct gives their address as:
Metrol Springs Limited
5 Clayfield Close
Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton, NN3 6QF, UK

The link is actually https://www.strutsdirect.metrol.com and is an online store where you can just pick the items required.

 

[Mistroma]

I've replaced five or six of these now with SGS SS struts.
I've also flagged this up with Selden by email, phone and twice with senior reps at boat shows and they still think that fitting mild steel rams is a good idea.
Completley nuts!!

I seem to remember Selden were rubbish when my unit failed after about 18 months. They took about 14 days to reply to an email and said that I'd need to contact a local dealer. The dealer was equally slow in returning my phone calls and then said it would take another couple of weeks to order the part as they did not keep any stock and I think the cost was around £180.

I ordered an identical mild steel unit with stainless body for about £50. It did fail but not because of the mild steel, just a dud unit. The replacement all stainless version has been great and discounted cost was only about £65 (because of the dud). I think it would still be about £100, much better value than the mild steel Selden unit. The stainless body is readily available and wouldn't really cost Selden much but they'd probably want to charge more than £250 in line with their exccessive pricing structure (unless they have reduced prices since 2011).

 

[Mistroma]

Thanks,
I think I have identified a suitable one by a process of elimination.
Selden item 308-072 has a 14mm diam. push rod and 2500N force. (note it is the only one with the 14mm diam rod)
My old one has a 14mm diam push rod and I have measured it and passed the measurements to SGS engineering and they have offered an all stainless one with almost the same dimensions and Force.
I now have to remember how to fit it as the old one was removed in 2018! Fortunately I did take some pics. of the disassembly - they are stored somewhere
M.

My unit was pretty simple to put back together. The only important point I remember is that it is inserted with the body uppermost and the ram pointing towards the mast. I guess that this means water will run down away from the seal.

 

[leanian]

Thanks,
I think I have identified a suitable one by a process of elimination.
Selden item 308-072 has a 14mm diam. push rod and 2500N force. (note it is the only one with the 14mm diam rod)
My old one has a 14mm diam push rod and I have measured it and passed the measurements to SGS engineering and they have offered an all stainless one with almost the same dimensions and Force.
I now have to remember how to fit it as the old one was removed in 2018! Fortunately I did take some pics. of the disassembly - they are stored somewhere
M.

Hello great forum I have a Bavarai 49 out in France and my kicker has failed and I am looking to take one down on my next trip as theye are very expensive from Seldon and they doent offer all stainless. would you still have the part number or dimensions please? many thanks Ian

 

[leanian]

I expect this subject has been covered before ?
Our Bav. 44 2002 model suffered a failure of the gas cylinder – it rusted away and so I removed it. From the Forum I discovered that replacements can be purchased from SGS engineering in UK (in stainless - preferable) or Selden in original form (mild steel cylinder. I have been in contact with SGS and they sent me a form with a diagram to be completed by me, re dimensions.
I think the original Selden part was 308-072 with a 14mm diameter push rod and a 2500N force.The problem is that the old part has no part numbers on it, or they have long since disappeared.I have measured it as accurately as possible,and it seems that the push rod of 14mm diameter corresponds to the Selden part number mentioned above.Unfortunately Selden do not give the piston/push rod length or cylinder diameter so that I can specify these in the SGS diagram.
Does anyone have experience of obtaining a replacement and do you think I am on the right track re original spec. sizing,force?
Thank you, M.
View attachment 94118View attachment 94119View attachment 94120

Hello Great post and I have the same issue on my Bavaria 49 out in France . I have the quote from Seldon and found these links and want to source the stainless version , but I dont have the body and strut length I dont know if you can help with yours as the POart number appears the same . thanks you Ian

 

[patrigo]

I have had over the years, a topping lift with a vang and a gas strut with a vang. I fitted a Barton Boomstrut with a vang a few years ago, and the quality of my sailing life has improved heaps. If I changed yachts I would throw away whatever it was fitted with and fit a Barton Boomstrut with a vang. A very easy to use, trouble free, and altogether great bit of gear.