Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:10:10 -0800
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: spring/wire in pop top lift handle
In-Reply-To: <6E6A683F-5E3D-401B-B2D4-3A8E0A6B3DE0@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
The web page Stuart points is mine. I say this b/c for a point of
reference, AFAIK, the new cables I made (and had parts swaged on to)
are still holding. Shamefully, I have not used top in over a year.
With the top closed, the springs are under full tension.
At that time a cable failed, Phil Zimmerman (he's on this list),
suggested what likely had happened. I knew nothing of those parts
until that point.
The cables are NLA. My cable design is possibly a "first", so one
could likely improve the design.
With the top up and properly supported, I removed the strut assembly
as a unit. Top up, the springs should be fully UN-expanded so tension
on those parts is gone. One can feel if the cables are under stress
(they shouldn't be).
Drawbacks to this method: top stays up until new parts installed, top
is heavy and if no supported properly, is a huge liability.
If replacing the entire set of struts, inspect the cable in each set
of arms where they wrap around the elbow. My guess is that they
eventually fail at this point.
Even with a fairly strong pair of assist struts installed, and no
springs working, I still found the top tough to support on the last
1/3 - closing.
Neil.
On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 11:10 PM, Suzy Wojcik <suzywoj@comcast.net> wrote:
> On Feb 11, 2013, at 7:55 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:25:36 -0700
>> From: "Gary Lee vwrack.com" <gary2a@TELUS.NET>
>> Subject: re. Powder coating question--westy stuff
>>
>> I do a batch of powder coating several times a week, hundreds of batches =
>> over the years.
>> You will need to disassemble everything, remove springs and plastic, =
>> plug and cap threads. The parts being coated will be in an oven for =
>> about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If its for exterior parts =
>> being exposed to sunlight the top coat will need to be polyester powder =
>> to resist UV degradation. Interior parts can be epoxy. =20
>>
>> If you think the springs in the lifting mechanism in the pop top can =
>> withstand the oven heat, then you may be able to leave it together. =20
>> If you were local to me I=E2=80=99d do it for you. =20
>>
>> Gary Lee
>> www.vwrack.com
>>
>> ----------------
>> I was thinking about having my table legs powder coated in silver =
>> because
>> of the bits of corrosion and nicks that have accumulated on them over =
>> the
>> years. While I'm at it, I would like to powder coat the spring-loaded =
>> top
>> raising mechanism. Will this be possible without taking the thing apart?
>> From my dealings with these things loose out of the car, dealing with =
>> them
>> is like trying to fight an ostritch. I would not want to take one apart.
>>
>
>
>> ------------------------------
>> I live in Eugene, Or. Have an 1987 poptop Westy. I broke the spring in the top handle on the right side for lifting the top up. Actually, it looks like a wire. I found another at North Westy up in Renton. They are sending it down. I'm not attempting the fix, but will take her over to Miles at No Name garage. Are there any other parts I need to make this happen? Right now the pop top won't lift evenly and the broken side of the top hangs down lower until I get the handle pushed back and snapped into place. It's hard to push up. The gas lifters in the rear of the pop top don't seem to work as well as they should either. Is that because the wire/spring is broken? Thanks for any ideas.
>
> Suzy Wojcik
> 1987 Westy Bluebelle
> Suzywoj@comcast.net
>
>> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013
>>
>>
>> End of vanagon Digest - 11 Feb 2013 - Special issue (#2013-81)
>> **************************************************************
--
Neil n
65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
