Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 10:06:58 -0700
Reply-To: Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Subject: Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
RE: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped workingI would be concerned about
this approach for two reasons:
1. Aren't those struts pressurized? Seems dangerous to drill through there.
2. Since the diameter of the strut is not that great, I would have concerns
about compromising the integrity/strength of the stryt by drilling a hole
through it.
Have you actually done this?
Seems like a nifty-sounding idea (cleaner looking than the PVC tube trick)
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Demille
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM ; 'Brent Christensen'
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 9:53 AM
Subject: RE: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
here is a quick and effective fix for faulty struts that is quite simple.
simply drill a hole in the strut (at it's extended/open position-which would
be near the bottom(?) of the body of the strut) all the way through. this
hole should be large enough in diameter to accomodate a kotter type pin.
(not the type that's on the axle nut, but the kind that look similar to a
key-it's a piece of thicker guage steel wire bent on one end and comes
together on itself with a jog in the middle, but doesn't close at the end)
you secure a small link chain (or whatever) to one end of the key and the
other end is secured somewhere on the bus. this keeps the key attached near
the strut at all times. so, when you open the hatch, while holding it open
with one hand, use the other to insert one leg of the key into the hole,
past the jog, and it holds the strut and hatch open. works extremely well
and is very secure.
i hope the description is not too confusing. it's really simple, but email
makes it difficult to convey. if you have questions, i'm happy to help.
t
Tony DeMille
Creative Director/VW lover
Candesa Interactive
251 River Park Dr.
Provo, Utah 84604
----------
From: Brent Christensen
Reply To: Brent Christensen
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 8:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
Karl Bloss is the List member I was referring to. See below:
-Brent
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@enter.net>
To: "Brent Christensen" <brent@vanagon.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
> Brent,
>
> I'm off-list, but feel free to share this with the list:
>
> http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/hatch_strut_support.PDF
>
> It's a picture and instructions on how to make the PVC hatch strut thingy.
>
> I have a bunch that I give away or I'll be happy to ship them for $2 of
PayPal
> to US addresses.
>
> -Karl
>
> > You can either replace them or use the PVC pipe trick. (Search the
> > archives for the details - I think another List member also has
something
> > on their web site about it).
> >
> > I bought new ones from TBD about 18 months ago and they still will hold
> > the hatch open with a Paulchen rack attached to the back. (Make the
hatch
> > a little more difficult to close without the rack, though)
> >
> > Brent Christensen
> > '89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
> > Santa Barbara, CA
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "K. Taylor" <ktaylor@premier1.net>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 2:06 PM
> > Subject: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
> >
> >
> > > The back hatch struts on my '90 Westy stopped holding the hatch up
> > > yesterday. It seems like they went from 'working 100%' to not working
> > > at all in one step. Is this characteristic of struts that have
stopped
> > > working? Is there any adjustment fixes, or do they simply need to be
> > > replaced?
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> Karl & Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA - '87 Weekender "Bev" - 200K Miles
> http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
> VW Shop List: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/vwshops
> PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon
> Red Hat LINUX 6.2 - for IQs higher than 98
>
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