GoWesty lift-assist struts stuck in open position

[Capulina]

Howdy,
I already searched other threads but did not see my issue, so - new thread.
We bought the GoWesty Pop Top Lift Assist Strut kit. Had the kit sitting unopened for a couple of years. Upon opening the package, both struts seem completely stuck. The janky red plastic locking sleeves did not do anything when rotated.

Has anyone had this issue? Anyone from GoWesty out there that might be able to give me a call and check out the issue? (Please PM me)

-Alex

[16CVs]

Why not just pick up the phone and call them. They do lunch from 12-1. You can E mail them but it may take a day or so.
They are a friendly bunch and knowledgeable about their products, give it a try and see what they say and report back.


Stacy
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[Zeitgeist 13]

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[IdahoDoug]

I'm confused. A gas strut's "open" position is fully extended. It's closed position is fully retracted and due to shipping space this is often how they are shipped. If the latter is the case and you've removed any wire or strategy to keep them retracted then yes you have an issue.

But it sounds like you are saying they were shipped extended and now you find them locked extended?

If that is the case, you may not have messed with struts before to know that even a strong man cannot even move a fully extended gas strut. I just put new struts on one of my cars lightweight hood yesterday and I could not retract them a fraction of an inch. Something to hold a westy roof must be multiple times stronger yet.

So some clarity here would be good.
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[Ahwahnee]

[jackbombay]

A strut sitting in its extended position for a long period of time should have no effect on it.
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[syncrodoka]

Post a pic. Struts are usually shipped compressed.

[Capulina]

Yes, 16CV, - the struts came shipped in the extended position and seem locked in the extended position.

But possibly, as others suggested, it is simply that the struts are un-compressible without a load on them. I tried tapping with an impact hammer and they feel truly locked - no hint of movement.

My concern is going through the effort of the rivet inserts and mounting the struts only to find that the struts are not functional. Paranoid about forcing till fiberglass cracks.

I called GoWesty but expect I won't hear back until Monday. No worries. The wife and I together can put the pop top up with the rocket box empty (without hydraulic lift assist struts.

Thanks very much for the input. Much appreciated.

[Capulina]

Okay - i managed to get both struts to budge. They actually seem fine. My bad. It helped a lot to know that I needed much more force to get them budge. Thanks again.

[djkeev]

Glad you figured it out!

Life IS good! 👍💃🎉

Dave
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[cmayna]

One of the best things I did to our camper, installing struts.
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Craig

[wallanoise]

The video in the below link may help you as well:

http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=4514

[IdahoDoug]

Cool.
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