Date:         Thu, 23 Aug 2018 10:57:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: pop top lift springs
In-Reply-To:  <19d201d43aff$a7ebffc0$f7c3ff40$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

I'm here! The link is below. IIRC, David Beierl posted info and images of this.

Caveat: materials, methods I used to repair to the "cut" bar and
damaged upper strut end, were not ideal. They were used-done to show
what an "every man" without a welder might do. At minimum, the copper
tube was a waste of time. Next time I'd weld new metal as Stuart
suggests. Link to images of what I did:

https://goo.gl/photos/Nt3JfzjD27jJRkZG6

The cables I made used cable and fittings from a local marine repair
shop. The shop swaged the ball onto the end of the cable. They were
installed ~ 2010 and still work. Since the top is down most of the
time (cables are tensioned) the swaged ball fit appears to be reliable
though a longer ball with more purchase to cable couldn't hurt ??
Image of cable I made:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/neBLZ48mFEGR5R6g6

With the top down the cables should have tension. (spring is compressed)

With top up, if the upper strut end juts forward and downward away
from the lower strut, the upper strut has likely cut into the lower
strut.

I installed medium strength gas cartridge struts to the pop top and
tested how the top went up-down with and without the stock springs.
IMO, the stock springs are needed. IF it were feasible to install the
gas cartridges further forward, that *might* negate the need for the
stock springs. Maybe..... That said, I really like the added gas
cartridges.


Neil.


On 8/23/18, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> It's usually the cable that breaks. Neil N once posted a nice cable repair
> on Picassa, but it's gone away along with Picassa. (Neil??)
>
> You'll need to find a used H-bar.  It's best if you can get the seller to
> take it apart (easy) and ship it. Then you can see if the center bar is
> cut,
> which can be fixed with welding and grinding.   If they won't take it
> apart,
> it has to be carefully double zip tied folded, and will cost about $100 to
> ship vs. 1/3rd that. (BTDT).
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of mike
> riley
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2018 7:23 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: pop top lift springs

> Anybody replaced the springs? Any info anywhere? I want to fix this not put
> a band aid on it with struts.



--
Neil n

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