Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 08:08:57 -0700
Reply-To: Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: fiberglass repair on poptop
In-Reply-To: <6e95da690809071838p228b862od0062a94532090b8@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Perhaps this method might help.
First perhaps having similar struts in different 'powers' is a good
idea for those heavily loaded days and those less loaded days.
Then, if you attach a suitable strap to the lifting mechanism, those
bits you push up upon to raise the top, you can step on the strap,
lean on the strap, or otherwise pull down the top by pulling down with
the strap on the lifting mechanism. This leaves your hands free to
latch it down, tuck the canvas or swat the occasional offending bug in
the process.
In a pinch you can use the strap loop as a swing, a place to hang the
laundry, a drying rack for sausage, a ferret challenge... the
opportunities are boundless. The strap folds neatly above the BZ
shelf when not in use. Pick colors to match your mood.
Breathe in, breathe out, move on. (Buffett, Jimmy not Warren)
Lyrics can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/6hmaax
On Sun, Sep 7, 2008 at 6:38 PM, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey, guys, no need to dump on Frank here! Since I bought the kit from him,
> I phoned him about the problems before I posted to the list. While he did
> get rather excessively defensive on the phone <g>, I was also able to
> quickly sort out the source of the problem, and Frank's comments didn't
> bother me at all.
> I'd also agree that installing the struts isn't rocket science. In fact,
> it's not even eighth grade earth science. It would have been pretty trivial
> if the instructions had been better. And once I sorted out the problems in
> the instructions, it was trivial to finish off the job. As anyone who has
> read my posts knows, I am zero as a mechanic, but it still was not hard to
> install.
>
> But for those considering putting these on vans for folks with poor upper
> body strength, you should definitely bear in mind the possible difficulties
> closing the top - it takes a lot more strength than without the struts, even
> with a kayak on the roof.
>
>
>
> Joy
>
>
> Sun, Sep 7, 2008 at 5:34 PM, Bill Glenn <idahobill@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 6 Sep 2008 06:39:51 EDT, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> >In a message dated 05/09/2008 9:11:58 A.M. Central Standard Time,
>> >LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>> >
>> > OK, gotta chime in here. I have installed a few of these pop top
>> >strut kits and have had absolutely no problems....geeze it's not rocket
>> science !!!!....
>>
>> Frank,
>> I agree that Mark is to be commended for putting together this kit to aid
>> those in need of help with the lifting of the pop-top; I have a friend or
>> two who could benefit from it. I am glad that your level of experience
>> allowed you to avoid the problem with the seemingly erroneous/confusing
>> installation instructions that caused Joy difficulty. She posted to the
>> list to provide a heads-up to others about the problem, and to seek advice
>> as to an appropriate remedey for the mistake that resulted. She received a
>> number of helpful replies; your "...geeze, it's not rocket science!!!!"
>> comment was not one of them.
>>
>> You make your living working on cars, have obviously done so for years, and
>> based on your postings to the list over the years, which are appreciated,
>> it would seem you could do most anything related to automotive work without
>> help from anyone. I doubt you really have need of the List, other than for
>> the plugging of your commercial offerings, which I, and surely others, do
>> not mind, or at least tolerate, if only because you often take the time to
>> share your knowledge as well.
>>
>> However, please be mindful that only a handful of the thousand members of
>> the Vanagon List likely possess your level of expertise in automotive
>> repair, and that the rest of the membership could benefit from some
>> patience and tolerance on your part, as well as your expertise. That fact
>> that the subject of a posting may not be a problem for you, or that the
>> subject was discussed at some point in the prior fourteen years of the
>> Vanagon List, is likely irrevelant to most of the membership. Members
>> seeking knowledge should be accorded a polite and civil forum in which the
>> free exchange of ideas and answers can occur; anything less hinders
>> participation, which may deny to the membership the benefit of others'
>> experience and knowledge, which is precisely the purpose of this forum.
>>
>> Bill
>>
>
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