TheSamba.com :: View topic - Deck lid spring / Decklid mounting tab thread

Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:25 pm

Well I found one of those elusive springs that helps close the engine lid on early buses. As I look at the engine prop elbow area it looks like there are 4-5 places where a spring might go. Does anyone have a picture of the spring installed or is realy good at explainations? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Oh, I have already checed the archives section and did not come up with anything.

Moderator note:
Here is a summary of the information in this thread:
Spring:

Operation:
When you lift up the engine lid, the prop tab (see photo) slides up the side of the engine compartment wall along the tab on the body. Once it gets to the top of the body tab, the spring pulls it towards you (or you pull it if you don't have a spring) and the tab ends up sitting on top of the body tab (bottom photo)

Tab on decklid:
(Note different positions of welded-on bracket)

1955-1959 style (reproduction tab but same as stock):

1960-1963 style, still for use with prop rod:

1964-up style with spring decklid:

Original bolt with shank and wavy washer:

Additional 1955-59 photos
Wade wrote: From my Dec '55-built deluxe.

Mounting tab locations from Kommerical
Kommercial wrote: The measurement I had on my website is; From the bottom edge of the bracket to the bottom edge of the decklid is 11 3/4" on passenger side of decklid. This is referring to the early style tab, 55-59. The 60-63 one is 10 11/16 from the bottom edge of the lid to the bottom lip of the mid style bracket. The 64 and later one is 12 7/8 to the sharp point of the bottom of the bracket but that bracket is a little less symmetrical then the two earlier ones so results may vary. These are all stock mounting points using correct brackets.

Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:06 am

Hey [email protected],

I have a great photo of an installed spring on my bus that I will put in this thread when I find it. I'll be right back.

Scott

Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:13 am

Here it is:

Hope that helps,

Scott

Sun Jan 11, 2004 10:10 pm

Dag Scott that photo is dead on. How in the world did you get that pic? Either you are a circus act performer or you are smallish and could fit inside the engine bay. Anyway you are THE MAN thanks !!!!!

Sun Jan 11, 2004 10:16 pm

Call me "Tom Thumb"...

Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:32 am

Wow, perfect photo.

That spring should be painted green though. Get on that!

Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:50 am

Scott, you didn't have to cut a hole in the corner of your bus just to get a picture for folks. Thats dedication. :)

Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:52 pm

Everett said:

Quote: That spring should be painted green though. Get on that!

I've got that spring down in my studio right now, sitting on my easel and I'm trying to match the green just for you Everett...

Scott

Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:55 pm

Scott's '63 23 wrote: Everett said:

Quote: That spring should be painted green though. Get on that!

I've got that spring down in my studio right now, sitting on my easel and I'm trying to match the green just for you Everett...

Scott
Actually, I wonder if the exposed areas would be green and most of it would be primer because the gun didn't hit it?

Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:58 pm

EverettB wrote: Wow, perfect photo.

That spring should be painted green though. Get on that!

And whatever you do, never paint it a hideous shade of yellow that your wife would hate. ;) (see other thread for details)

-Taylor

Mon Jan 12, 2004 2:42 pm

Everett said:

Quote: Actually, I wonder if the exposed areas would be green and most of it would be primer because the gun didn't hit it?

You mean they didn't farm out the springs to local artists in Germany who color matched them to the various buses? Where's that personal touch we have grown to expect out of the German assembly line?

Scott

Mon Jan 12, 2004 4:53 pm

Installed the spring this afternoon. I have never seen another bus that had one installed though I'm sure they are out there. Most do not know they have one missing.

for those who have know ideas what this is all about the spring adds tension to the elbow prop so all you have to do is push lightly on the tab of the lever to disengage the stay and down comes your lid. Previously I had to push and tug and finagle it loose.

Thanks Again Scott!

Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:05 pm

My '64 has the spring, but the prop is missing. :(

Anyone have one to sell?

Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:43 pm

YellowSplittie wrote: My '64 has the spring, but the prop is missing. :(

Anyone have one to sell?

I don't have any spare props, but I have about a dozen of those springs. if anyone needs one, email me.

Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:32 am

My 59 had the spring but I had to buy a prop for $50. Of course the prop swivel point was missing from the deck lid (Im sure where ever it is the prop is attached to it) so i canned (cannibulized) one from a later bus deck lid. I used that picture last year to figure out how the prop worked. I was use to the later style with the rollers and had never seen the early style before.

Thu May 05, 2005 8:07 am

can someone post a pic of the front side of this bracket that the stay and spring go on as it looks to me as though some of that is missing from my bus

Cheers
Arnie

Thu May 05, 2005 8:26 am

Does this help?

Thu May 05, 2005 8:29 am

Scott you rock so hard. great pics.

wasnt someone cranking out some repro springs?

Thu May 05, 2005 8:37 am

Thanks Bryan.

Yeh, everyone has the repro springs and the props now. Here's WW's links:

Spring:
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211827375

Prop:
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList_test.cfm?ID=261827361

Thu May 05, 2005 8:44 am

Great pic! yes it does help, need to get out and compare it now. My stay will connect to the bracket on the bus but comes off just as easily, will the spring hold it? In other words I've not been able to get the lid to stay up with the stay and no spring, still I feel i'm getting ever closer to the answer!

Thx so much!

Arnie