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Date:         Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Pop top springs.
Comments: To: Mervyn Readman <themervino@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2009111917402631@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

You could be referring to my setup - I do not have a site but I posted a list of part numbers, and a link to a picture with my van having it installed. Below is a copy of that email. Note that the weak point is the bottom bracket, I am not sure if that part can take a much hiogher load than the 100 springs. I would love to find a different source for this. Nice to know though if someone went this way - I thought no one was interested.

Florian

Here is the parts list for my poptop shocks. the bottom bracket is drilled into the van. the top one uses one of the mounting holes of an artificial rain gutter, preferably yakima. I made an additional steel plate behind the yakima gutter on the inside of the fiberglass to spread loads even more. the weakest point in this setup is the bottom bracket, which bends if you use shocks exceeding 100lb. McMaster sells a heavy duty bracket but that one is too heavy duty. If someone finds a medium duty, please let me know. However, it works just fine like that. 100lb springs will open the poptop by itself with roof rack and empty box. Closing requires a bit of a pull. If I add a canoe, opening the top requires similar force as opening a stock poptop with no load, and it will close without pulling, actually a little too fast. I believe that 100lb is quite optimum if yoiu use the same mounting locations like i did, obviously, if you move it foreward or backward, you change the power dynamics. all parts below are parts numbers from www.mcmaster.com They have excellent customer service and hassle free returns. I tried about four sets of springs before coming up with this combo. Changing the springs is very very easy, so if you hav very varying loads like a heavy hangglider, you might want two different sets. Another way to do is is to just take one spring out if you have no load at all and dont want to have to pull it down. I dont see this as necessary though. A pic of my van with the setup is at http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2234409180102149628orFyGu

1 9416K544<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=9416K544&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 EachGas Spring With Threaded Ends, 29.33" Extended Length, 13.77" Stroke, 100 Force 34185T12<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=4185T12&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 EachGas Spring Seal Protector, For .87" Cylinder Diameter

39416K75<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=9416K75&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 Each13 Mm Steel Ball Socket For M8 Thread 29416K79<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=9416K79&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 Each10 Mm Ball Socket, M8 Thread, Steel For, Gas Spring With Threaded Ends 3 9512K99<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=9512K99&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 EachBall Mounting Hardware, 304 Stainless Steel 13 Mm Ball Stud 49512K95<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.asp?searchstring=9512K95&sesnextrep=786782370072955&tab=find&FastTrack=False&WRCntxt=OrdHist> 2 EachBall Mounting Hardware, Steel, 90 Deg Angle Inverted Ball Bracket

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 2:36 PM, Mervyn Readman <themervino@gmail.com>wrote:

> Hey all. I am trying to find a web address for the spring/struts that I > have > on my pop top. It was a site I got from the list. It puts the springs in > the > middle of the top not toward the rear like the person we see selling the > kit. I am trying to put a more powerful spring on mine and the site had all > the info and part numbers like the size of the pivot points and stuff. I > went to Mcmaster/Carr to try to figure it out on my own but its a no go. So > any one know of this site. Sorry to be so vague but it's been a while. > Thanks Merv >


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