Selden Rodkicker gas spring

[Laysula]

Got a new gas spring to fit and apart from stathering it with grease, any other tips for longevity.

 

[Martin_J]

Have you checked what's there at the moment and how worn are the plastic inserts usually fitted to the ends of the gas strut?

I would replace the plastic end pieces anyway. You don't want them shattering due to old age at an inopportune moment.



You will also see the photo that the aluminium section can wear once the edge of the plastic has worn too much. It is easy enough then to shorten the inner aluminium piece by an inch and then use a spare plastic spacer inside the outer to take up that missing inch.

Is your new strut adjustable pressure?

 

[Laysula]

Cheers for that. Aluminium and plastics all good at the moment.It's a fixed pressure spring, just a direct replacement.

 

[dunedin]

Do a google search as lots of previous threads on this one. And may be a bit late, but the common recommendation is to get an S/S strut from SGS rather than the mild steel rubbish that came from Selden.

 

[Martin_J]

This website from another sailor gives a reason (with photo) as to why replacing the plastic inserts is a good idea.
Selden Rodkicker – Seastream Yachts

 

[Martin_J]

With the topping lift hoisted to just the right amount, all the weight will be taken off the clevis pins at each end making the removal and installation of the upgraded kicker quite easy and pain free.

 

[dunedin]

With the topping lift hoisted to just the right amount, all the weight will be taken off the clevis pins at each end making the removal and installation of the upgraded kicker quite easy and pain free.

Topping lift ? With a rod kicker? Surely you mean the main halyard!

 

[Martin_J]

Topping lift ? With a rod kicker? Surely you mean the main halyard!

I meant a rope to the clew end of the boom from the masthead.. Surely that rope would be called a topping lift when used for that function since at the time it won't be hoisting a sail ( even though its normal use would be as a halyard).

 

[Martin_J]

Although we have two internal main halyards, both equal diameter to the masthead so neither is defined as topping lift or halyard.

Darn - I already called them two halyards in starting this reply!!

 

[Laysula]

I do have a large penny washer between the insert and the spring to spread the load.