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Date:         Thu, 10 Aug 2000 15:03:03 -0400
Reply-To:     Puzerewski <Puzerewski@email.msn.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Puzerewski <Puzerewski@email.msn.com>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject:      Re: rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working
Comments: To: Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>

Tony has a good idea.

If the struts have stopped working, then they aren't pressurized anymore. I have seen people use a little clamp on the rod that telescopes in and out of the strut, and when they open, just tighten it down. Also, cheap.

I have new struts on mine, but truly appreciate anyone that has the ingenuity to save a few bucks.

Adam Puzerewski 81 westy 74 beetle 86 cabrio Vanagon Partsmobiles ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brent Christensen" <brent@vanagon.com> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 1:06 PM Subject: Re: [VANAGON] rear hatch STRUTS on '90 Westy stopped working

> 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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