Seldon Rodkicker Gas Strut

[Cspirit]

I have purchased a new gas strut for the above from SGS (as recommended here). It fits perfectly but I have to adjust the pressure from 2500n to. 1200n - it is a Rodkicker 10. I know that I have to reduce pressure in one second bursts, each burst reducing pressure by 30n. My question is this: when I have made say, 30 bursts, thus reducing the pressure by around 900n, should I be able to compress the strut by hand, or can this only be done with the tackle on the Rodkicker? I’m trying to get a sense of how low I can go without making the strut too weak to hold the boom.

 

[kblomster]

As far as I know, the nominal/rated strength of a gas strut is measured on the decompression stroke, 5 mm from the fully uncompressed position. If you've decreased the force by 900 N on a 2500 N spring you'll have at least 1400 N to deal with, plus overcoming the initial resistance of the spring. That's probably at least 150 kilograms of force. I don't know about you but I wouldn't be able to exert that kind of force on a gas strut just by hand.

 

[Tim Good]

I’m fairly sure you can’t compress by hand. Not close. At least in mine it has to hold up a really heavy one piece boom so there’s no way it could be compressed by hand.

 

[Martin_J]

Put the strut together for each test and fit whilst supporting the boom to the right height with a topping lift. .

Just ensure that you don't have a topping lift supporting the boom as you're checking after each release of the extra pressure... or once you've realised it was still supporting the boom, it'll be too late.

Also, remember to have the mainsail and the cover on, or you'll end up reducing pressure and when you then add... well, you can guess.. there will not be enough support.

To be honest, it might seem to be a bit of a faff putting the strut back together each time but you're likely to find it's only two or three releases (a couple of seconds of poofh) before you're happy.

I'm light but do need to hang on the end of the boom a bit to pull it down (when stowing the halyard onto the end).



Did you replace the plastic Selden end fittings? It's not pleasant if they fail suddenly.

 

[Tim Good]

I'm light but do need to hang on the end of the boom a bit to pull it down (when stowing the halyard onto the end).

Same here.

Did you replace the plastic Selden end fittings? It's not pleasant if they fail suddenly.

Happened to me but wasn't on the boat at the time. Just came back to find the boom limp on the deck.